The Epitaph
Homestead High School 21370 Homestead Rd, Cupertino, CA 95014 · Volume 60 · Issue 6 · April 7, 2023
A closer look at racial imbalances in FUHSD
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Chandra said they used public data to examine district zones on a national level, with the goal of using computational models to assist districts with redrawing boundaries and reducing segregation. Currently, this research project is an ongoing collaboration between MIT, Harvard University and Northeastern University.
At MVHS and LHS, approximately 79% of enrolled students during the 2021-22 school year were Asian and 8% were white, while only 3% were Hispanic, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. In contrast, 40% of students in FHS were Hispanic, whereas 33% were Asian and 18% were white.
Chandra and Gillani’s preliminary study revealed the FUHSD ranks 25th nationwide for intradistrict segregation between Hispanic and non-Hispanic students out of 222 districts with over 10,000 students each, Chandra said.
“The more north you go, the poorer it is and the more brown it is,” Chandra said. “The more south and the more west you go, the richer it is and the more white it is. It’s a different problem to fix in terms of residential segregation, but what we can change are the boundaries.”
In the FUHSD, school attendance boundaries have remained the same since 1981, following the closure of Sunnyvale High School,
By Brian Ling
After several weeks of interviews and written applications, junior Elisa Floyd was nominated to become the next student board representative and will assume the position’s responsibilities beginning in May.
The junior said she initially learned of the position opening up from the school’s weekly bulletin and morning announcements, and decided to apply after being involved with the Fremont Union High School District Climate Action Team which she helped to develop last year.
“[A goal I have is] utilizing social media, which is something that students check a lot more than the website [and is] an easy way to get information out there, but I think what’s
eventy years after the Brown v. Board of Education ruling prohibited state laws establishing racial segregation in public schools, certain districts across the nation remain segregated by race and socioeconomic status, according to USC’s 2022 Segregation Index. For the past 10 months, senior Kumar Chandra has been working with Nabeel Gillani, an assistant professor at Northeastern University, to study school segregation.superintendent Graham Clark said. Prior to the closure, Sunnyvale High School was one of six schools in the FUHSD, located on Britton Avenue. While declining enrollment was the primary reason for its closure, Clark said schoolwide segregation was another cause.
Although redrawing boundaries is a quick and effective way to mitigate intradistrict segregation, Gillani said, this solution is not always politically or socially viable. Certain families purchase homes in a specific attendance area with the intention of enrolling their children at its corresponding school.
“There’s a tension between drawing more integrative boundaries and imposing large travel burdens on families,” Gillani said. “[When] you start to change the boundaries, that upsets a lot of parents, particularly parents who have more means to decide where to live and send their kids to school.”
Since controversy can arise from boundary shifts, the district allows certain families to voluntarily send their kids to schools outside their attendance areas instead. However, these policies are in place primarily to combat declining enrollment, rather than segregation, Clark said.
Still, programs that facilitate the exchange of students across school boundaries can arouse concern in the community. For example, in 2015, the Board of Trustees proposed a slight shift in LHS’ boundaries, allowing students in a small section of the CHS area to attend LHS. From 2016 to 2018, these CHS students could choose whether to switch schools, but the shift would become permanent at the beginning of the 2018-19 school year.
However, this effort was widely protested by Lynbrook residents, who garnered over 3,700 petition
signatures in support of open enrollment instead, according to the petitioning group’s website, Better Lynbrook. The community opposed this proposal for a variety of reasons, such as sentiments that LHS was overcrowded, a desire to maintain small class sizes and the misconception that elementary or middle school students could “lose their spot,” Rachel Zlotziver, the coordinator of communications at the district office, said.
These concerns spurred over 1,500 parents and community members to attend board meetings regarding the district’s proposal. After widespread protests from LHS families, the district ultimately decided to create an area of choice, rather than a permanent shift, which is still in effect.
Despite the FUHSD’s unsuccessful attempt to alter school boundaries, individuals like Chandra and Gillani continue to actively work toward mitigating segregation in districts throughout the country. In addition, Zlotziver said the FUHSD recognizes the differences in racial demographics that exist across the five schools.
“FUHSD does have a desire to balance enrollment between our high schools in order to keep them comprehensive,” Zlotziver said in an email. “Diversity is certainly one factor that we would consider in this process.”
While closing the achievement gap is an important reason for redistricting, more important is the effect it will have on students’ perceptions of others, Gillani said. According to USC’s Segregation Index, school segregation is one of the key barriers toward social mobility and equal opportunity.
Monta Vista Homestead
“How can we expect to have a better tomorrow if our kids are not engaging with people who are different from them?” Gillani said. “If our networks are isolated from the earliest stages, it’s going to be very difficult to have a healthy society.”
more important than [that] is letting students know how they can contribute their voices,” Floyd said.
The selection process began at the school level to decide which student from a pool of applicants would advance to the next level, Floyd said.
The Hispanic population makesup40%of FHS,butonly3%ofLHS. (MapbyJossBroward)
ElisaFloydwillserveasstudentrepresentative.(PhotobyBrianLing)
InfographicbySairaAhmedandEmmaYu.DatafromtheNationalCenterforEducationStatistics,2021-2022
By Lia Klebanov and Brevin ReedInitially planned for March 10, this year’s Spring Fling celebration has been canceled due to low tickets sales. In order for school-sanctioned dances to be financially viable and permitted, assistant principal Susan Rocha said 150 students, at minimum, must show interest through sales.
Freshman Alyssa Kolin was one of the 11 students who purchased a ticket and said she was looking forward to attending the event with her friends after they were all unable to go to the Winter Formal held in January.
Kolin said she was surprised to hear of the cancellation a week before the scheduled dance, which she felt was too sudden considering the timing.
“It kind of let us down because we were all looking forward to it as our first high school dance,” Kolin said. “It was just the fact that the dance was
Sophomore class cabinet member Sophie Park said the dance was pushed forward to early March due to other school events such as BOTC and multicultural week occurring near the original intended Spring Fling date. Outside of school, activities like the March SAT may have discouraged students from attending, Park said.
“There was a rule where we had to have sold a certain amount of tickets early enough to pay for everything,” the sophomore said. “There was miscommunication around that and so we weren’t aware of some logistical details.”
See Spring fling, Page 2Intramural sports return to HHS
Sports offered include basketball, football, cricket
By Niyatee Jain, Keshav Kumar and Rajiv VenkateshWhen the athletic season ends, but the urge to play sports persists, students can find an outlet in intramural sports. JV softball coach Jerome Holloway and varsity basketball coach Shawn Hook have overseen various sports games during lunch, including basketball, football and cricket, since last year.
Intramural sports give students who want to be active during lunch a way to do so, principal Greg Giglio said. The program, which is funded by the PTSA, also allows students to play against friends in a non-competitive manner.
“Intramurals are supposed to be loosely organized,” Giglio said. “It’s whoever wants to go out and play, can play. It’s something we do in spring because spring is when people get a little squirrely and the weather starts turning nice. It hopefully gives kids a chance to run around and do something other than look at their phones.”
The program has been in the works since before the pandemic, however Holloway and Hook started implementing the
Board rep
Continued from page 1
“Each school held a preliminary round, which required writing a few essays about why you wanted to be an SBR and what you’d be able to contribute,” Floyd said. “At HHS, we submitted an online application. After that, the vice principal and a few ASB members [of each school] reviewed those applications and held interviews.”
The next round of interviews were at the district level, Floyd said, with a panel consisting of two Board of Trustee members, the Intra District Council lead and officers and the current student board representative.
Assistant principal Susan Rocha, who has played an integral role in the HHS selection process, said the qualities she was looking for in a potential candidate included having goals, communication skills and being able to represent the entire district.
“[Elisa is] an excellent communicator,” Rocha said. “She has a clear vision and she has worked to enact some of that vision [with] the environmental issues and climate [initiatives] that she’s a part of. In her interview, she talked about being the voice of all the students in the district. There were a lot of students interviewed that did a really great job, but ultimately, [Elisa] showed herself a step up.”
As the new SBR, Floyd said her main responsibility is to act as a voice for students and to express their concerns during meetings with the board of trustees.
“Twice a month [the SBR] meets with IDC commissioners to get updates from each school and figure out what current events are going on [and] what student bodies need,” Floyd said. “Then they go to board meetings and voice these needs.”
Beyond this task, Floyd said she aims to make herself accessible to all students and to ensure there is better communication between FUHSD’s student bodies and board members.
“I want to hold Zoom meetings, so [students] can talk to me if they don’t want to voice their concerns to the board themselves, but want me to speak about it for them,” Floyd said.
Overall, principal Greg Giglio said he was happy with the results and believes a SBR is an important outlet the district provides, as it allows students to voice their opinions on decisions that affect them.
“You can’t have a HHS student [as the SBR] every year but it’s been a little while [since we last had one],” Giglio said. “ I think Elisa’s great. She’s done a lot of great things for the school [and] for the district, and [is] a knowledgeable and energetic individual, so if anyone can keep up with the Board during late nights, it’s probably her.”
program last year, Giglio said. This year, the coaches used student input to decide which sports they would host. Since there has been a larger demand for basketball, with about 25 to 30 students attending every day, much of the available time has been dedicated to basketball tournaments in the field house, Holloway said.
Additionally, Holloway said one benefit of intramural sports is that students who enjoy playing a sport, but are not on the HHS team, can do so.
“You get some kids that don’t make the basketball team and this is another way of getting them in here to run a little streetball,” Holloway said. “This is an opportunity to improve from being passive and timid when they’re playing an organized sport. What happens here is that when students play streetball, it gets them more aggressive. It brings out the competitiveness in players.”
Another benefit is the diversity of playing styles, which Holloway said gives players the opportunity to see how other people play basketball and other sports. In turn, this allows them to improve their own skills and help each other grow.
As intramural sports grant players more freedom, students can create and coach their own teams to compete in basketball tournaments, which allows them to learn the structure of a team and exposes them to
the challenges of coaching, Holloway said. Each tournament consists of teams that have six players and a coach, with Holloway and Hook as the referees.
“[The best part] is the amount of creativity you can have here, since there’s no serious
Spring fling canceled
Continued from page 1
Similarly, freshman Kadrian Gurchiek said he was disappointed to hear of the news and only learned of spring fling after its cancellation was announced, but would have bought a ticket if he knew. Since Gurchiek said he does not have social media, he said the advertisements did not reach him.
As the assistant principal in charge of activities, athletics and AP testing, Rocha said there has been a steadily decreasing trend among students’ attendance in the less conven-
tional events, which includes spring fling. Although the issue persists, Rocha said there is no identified leading cause, but she believes ASB is working diligently to combat such issues through various methods, such as extensive advertising.
“I go to the assistant principal of activities meetings in the district and in general, there is less of an interest in dances districtwide outside of homecoming and proms,” Rocha said.
“I’m not sure [why this is happening], but many schools are
coaching or anything like that,” junior Harjeet Singh said. “We can do what we want.
If we want to try super hard, we can do that.
If we want to walk on and off the court, we can do that. There’s no pressure, so you can have fun.”
[having this problem]. Most of the schools in our district don’t have dances in between proms and homecoming.”
In 2020, both senior and junior proms were canceled due to COVID-19. The following year, tickets sold out with approximately 500 attendees for each event. However, the ticket sales for junior prom this year struggled to meet the 350 minimum required, financial specialist Candi Marugg said in an email.
Ultimately, the decision to
cancel spring fling was made by Rocha, leadership teacher Jessica Kirby and Marugg after careful consideration of finances and prospective participants, Rocha said.
The class cabinets had already made orders for food and beverages, but not enough tickets were sold to make up the cost before the deadline for cancellations passed.
“We were not able to keep it going and I know the freshmen and sophomores were very disappointed,” Rocha said. “They worked really hard on advertising and putting things together and making plans, so I think it’s been hard for everybody.”
While the news may be upsetting for underclassmen, Park said the sophomore class cabinet is planning on hosting spring-themed fundraisers to continue raising money for future events, such as next year’s junior prom.
Additionally, Park said ASB is continuously evolving in the post-pandemic era to adjust to new student preferences regarding school spirit.
“One of the big challenges coming out of the pandemic is that everyone’s a bit hesitant to do a bunch of activities,” Park said. “ASB is trying to figure out new ways to include people who don’t normally come to dances. In the future, we’re going to try to [spread] positive news around spring fling.”
By Erin Lohnouncing its need to raise $2 billion in capital, customers began rapidly withdrawing funds as SVB stock fell 60%, according to The New York Times. The collapse of SVB on March 10 marked the largest bank failure since the 2008 financial crisis, but customers were relieved once the government assured that no funds would be lost, according to The New York Times. As a bank that primarily serves companies, SVB’s customers included many local small businesses and start-ups.
National: LA school workers stage strike for higher pay Los Angeles school workers went on strike for three days starting on March 21, forcing the LA Union School District to shut down, according to the Los Angeles Times. The strikers wanted a 30% increase for school employees, including bus drivers, custodians and special education workers. Calling the strike their “last resort,” union members said they were fed up after a year of unsuccessful bargaining with the district.
International: Protestors in France battle raised retirement age
Protestors in France took to the streets in March to express their anger at the government for raising the retirement limit from 62 to 64 years old without consent of the Parliament, according to NPR. The measure, which was introduced in January, has been unpopular from the start, but President Emmanuel Macron said raising the limit was necessary to mend the shortages of workers.
American Heart Challenge raises heart health awareness
Workshops include guest speakers, CPR training
By Seoyoung Hwang, Christine Kim and Lindsey SteelIn honor of a staff member’s life being saved from a heart attack on campus last year, the American Heart Challenge took place throughout March, hosting a variety of workshops, presentations and guest speakers discussing heart health. The activities, which were held during alternating tutorials, were planned by junior Neel Sudhakaran.
Having worked with the American Heart Association for years prior to this event, Sudhakaran said he hoped to kickstart the challenge at HHS to draw attention to a meaningful cause.
While the American Heart Association works with high schools around the country, Sudhakaran said he tailored the event to make it more engaging for HHS students.
“We wanted to do something different because we didn’t feel like [what the AHA typically does] would captivate students in the way that we hoped,” Sudhakaran said. “We wanted to bring some speakers in and have CPR work-
shops. We also wanted to incentivize students to come [by holding] a raffle and [offering] volunteer hours.”
Principal Greg Giglio, who worked with Sudhakaran in the planning process, said the American Heart Challenge supplies participants with critical life skills.
“When Mr. Lavelle had his incident, we were trained to respond,” Giglio said. “It was a pretty intense situation, but [CPR training] helps you know what to do or who to turn to. [HHS] is about more than just math and science. We also give kids practical things they can use in their life.”
Aside from CPR training, the challenge also consisted of cardmaking, yoga workshops and pig heart suturing, Sudhakaran said. In addition, Sudhakaran said the challenge featured talks from medical professionals.
Senior Emily Choi, who participated in the cardmaking event, said the event helped foster a sense of community as it provided an opportunity for students to support others in times of need.
“I wanted to make cards because they are for children in the hospital, and it’s a simple way to make someone’s day better,” Choi said. “It encourages students to perform small acts of kindness and to give back to their community.”
With a turnout of around 30 to
40 students per activity, Sudhakaran said any audience is valuable, regardless of the size.
“We really appreciate the turnout, however small it is,” Sudhakaran said. “If it touches even one person, I think it’s worthwhile.”
Ultimately, Sudhakaran said the American Heart Challenge was a valuable opportunity for students to not only recognize a health crisis, but also be equipped with the first-aid skills to address it.
“Our overall goal was to partake in the American Heart Association’s mission of spreading awareness about the importance of hands-only CPR and knowing the signs of someone having a cardiac arrest or stroke,” Sudhakaran said. “[We wanted to] engage students in something that’s not strictly academic, [so we had] professionals in the industry come in and speak, and that kind of learning is better than the learning that you can get in a classroom.”
Cafeteria enforces ID mandate to increase lunch line efficiency
By Parth Dhaulakhandi and Nathan GuCafeteria staff are now enforcing a previously instated policy requiring all students to have some form of student ID. This includes having a physical copy or a photo of a current or old ID card to receive meals.
The policy has two main purposes: to improve the efficiency of the lunch line and accommodate the new lunch checkout system. Without an ID card, the process for lunch checkout is far more tedious and time consuming, food service manager Terri Fortson said.
“We have a new system that tracks all our kids that come in, and [when] students don’t have an ID, we have to stop the six lines that we have going to look up that student by name and then charge them,” Fortson said. “By doing that, 15 kids could have gone through, and when we’re trying to feed 1,000 kids for brunch in 20 minutes, there’s no way we can do that.”
Principal Greg Giglio said while the new system can speed up the process of the lunch line, it does not accommodate students without IDs efficiently. However, Giglio said it should not be such a troubling issue, considering that students can take a photo of their ID card or have the barcode with them and still be allowed to get lunch.
Still, requiring students to have their IDs to pick up their lunch is not a new idea, Fortson said, as
District adapts new board election policy
By Nicole Pimenta Innecco, Gabriela Salazar and Faith WattersIn compliance with the California Voting Rights Act, FUHSD will finalize a new process for electing board members starting in the spring of 2024.
The goal of the election policy is to better represent the diversity in the district, superintendent Graham Clark said.
According to California Legislative Information, the CVRA, passed in 2001, prohibits at-large voting processes if the process will hinder representation of certain groups.
Instead, the act requires elections be divided into subunits to ensure all areas are represented.
By adjusting the board election process to be more aligned with the CVRA, FUHSD reduces the risk of a lawsuit, Clark said.
Board president Rosa Kim said board members will represent specific geographical areas within the district, called trustee areas.
In addition to government entities such as the city of Sunnyvale, school districts like the Sunnyvale and Cupertino elementary school districts and the Foothill-De Anza College system have already implemented the sector system, Clark said.
Concerns regarding fairness of representation have been raised in the past, Kim said. For example, the board recently received feedback from community members in Northern Sunnyvale.
“There’s no board members that reside in Northern Sunnyvale currently,” Kim said. “So having a board member who understands the experience of students in North Sunnyvale would be helpful.”
The most significant downside to the new policy is that trustees may focus only on benefitting their sector rather than the whole district, principal Greg Giglio said. In order to mitigate this issue, Kim said the board discussed having trustees rotate between schools.
“While we are assigned to a school, we are invited to go to events and visit that school more, which helps each board member better understand that particular school,” Kim said. “It will help us represent [the school] and we can make a better decision for the entire school district.”
To implement this new policy, trustee areas must first be mapped, Clark said. During the pre-mapping stage, the board will hold community meetings to get parent and student input.
this ground breaking policy has been in place since the beginning of the school year.
“We just were very lax making sure that students had ID’s [earlier this year],” Fortson said. “I even went to [the ASB office] on my own time to make [ID cards for students without them] and they still did not bring them. So, we put our foot down and now you need an ID to get in, or you will have to wait at the end of the line to come in to get food.”
Student conduct liaison Louise Garces manages the brunch and lunch lines every day to make sure students bring a scannable form of ID.
Garces said she has been trying to enforce this policy at the door so the check stands can charge students more efficiently.
However, not all students view
the ID check as a positive improvement to the system.
Freshman Kadrian Gurchiek said he believes the ID check is redundant and wastes time.
“It’s annoying that they check the ID twice,” Gurchiek said. “Why check it [outside of the cafeteria] if you’re going to scan it [at the registers]? Two checks make [the process] longer because people aren’t expecting to have it checked at the end of the line. It takes forever, and [the check] bottlenecks the whole situation.”
However, Fortson said the policy is successfully preventing line delays and making the process significantly quicker.
“It is amazing,” Fortson said. “The students [who] regularly forgot their IDs now have IDs. No more frustration, and students go [through the line] quickly.”
“[For candidates,] it would cost less money and would take less organization because there’s less people that you need to talk to,” Clark said. “And hopefully this can also make it more intimate because you have a higher chance of knowing the person that is your trustee.”
In addition to making sure areas are equitable, other factors are also taken into consideration, such as school attendance areas and natural barriers including freeways or landmarks.
“The goal is to give wider representation so that every person feels like they have somebody that’s representing their area,” Clark said. “A lot of the trustees that we have come from the same area, and this is a way to spread it out a little bit.”
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.
The Epitaph welcomes letters to the editor but reserves the right to edit submissions. Letters should be limited to 300 words. Include contact information.
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Staff Editorial
The key to navigating adulthood: teaching life skills in high school
Education lays the groundwork for success and provides individuals with the skills necessary to make informed decisions. While HHS teaches students advanced and rigorous topics in academic subjects, there are limited opportunities to develop life skills such as financial literacy, vocational planning and post-secondary options. This knowledge is essential for students’ post-graduation plans, and HHS must help students learn these critical skills to ease the transition into adulthood.
One essential skill students must master is financial literacy. As adults, we will have to manage loans, debt, taxes and retirement planning. Although this subject is briefly covered in AVID and business classes, it requires more thorough exploration through a program available to all students.
Currently, 89% of 219 students surveyed by The Epitaph feel they lack sufficient knowledge about investment and retirement. Financial literacy helps students make smart
choices that have the potential to transform their futures and increase their quality of life. The fact that an overwhelming majority of students are about to enter adulthood without knowledge of these topics is hugely concerning and demands action.
Furthermore, students will need to apply for jobs after graduating, or even during high school and college. However, 88.1% of survey respondents be- lieve HHS has not educated them properly about the job hiring process. To combat this, HHS must teach students about creating resumes, applying for positions and preparing for interviews.
By educating students about these topics, HHS can prepare students to enter the workforce and increase their chances of success.
One way to incorporate the teaching of these skills is by adding them to existing curriculums. For instance, financial literacy can be taught in economics, a class that is required for all seniors. When schools teach this skill, students are more likely to spend responsibly, pay bills and save for retirement as adults, according to Forbes.
Students must also be taught soft skills in high
school. Cooking, for instance, is used in everyday life and is an imperative skill for students to cultivate. Given this, it is essential for students to obtain this knowledge before they graduate and live independently.
To ensure students develop these basic survival skills, classes such as culinary arts must be resumed at HHS. Prior to 2021, HHS offered three culinary arts courses for students on campus. These courses addressed many aspects of food preparation, including safety and sanitation, measurement basics, kitchen tools and uses, basic food science and meal planning and preparation according to Assistant Principal Terri Hanigan. Reintroducing these classes would give students greater confidence in their ability to live independently.
Awell-rounded education is essential to the success of students in their adultlife.(IllustrationbyAnushrutiNagarajan)
Healthcare system requires reform
By Madhavi KarthikHealthcare is a fundamental human right and must be made available to everyone. Yet, this basic standard of life continues to be unattainable for many, as marginalized communities continue to suffer from inadequate access to necessary medical care.
Racial inequities in the healthcare system can be traced back to times of slavery, when plantation workers endured harsh living conditions and lacked access to health
facilities in comparison to their white counterparts, according to the National Library of Medicine.
These systemic imbalances perpetuate the harmful idea that healthcare is a privilege, a mentality that continues to be pervasive today. Ultimately, people of all backgrounds deserve access to medical services whenever they need them — without discrimination.
according to the San Francisco Health Improvement Partnership.
Although our academic education is important, we must ensure our school gives us the tools we need to succeed in all areas of our lives. By doing this, we can build a more stable, successful future for ourselves.
Healthcareorganizationsmustworktoalleviateracial inequities.(IllustrationbyMadhaviKarthik)
The disparities marginalized communities suffer from extend far beyond the healthcare industry, limiting their access to housing, education, wealth and employment, all of which play a large role in one’s health, according to the CDC. These disparities become especially apparent in expensive regions like the Bay Area, where the cost of living is high. For example, despite only making up 6% of San Francisco’s residents, Black individuals comprise 37% of the city’s homeless population,
Due to these economic disparities, marginalized communities face a greater risk in public health crises, with Black populations being twice as likely to die from COVID-19 than white individuals, according to the University of Minnesota. This heart-wrenching statistic is just one of many. It is simply unethical to brush this issue aside when the primary goal of healthcare is to protect patients, yet the system is harming those who need it most.
To combat this issue, training for healthcare professionals must properly educate them about prevalent healthcare inequities to ensure marginalized communities are heard when voicing their health concerns. For instance, internal medicine doctor Denise Connor encouraged a patient of hers, a Black man who experienced multiple strokes, to take blood thinning medication. However, he was hesitant to comply with her advice, due to the fear of being experimented on, accustomed to historical breaches of
trust in medicine like the Tuskegee syphilis study, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges.
This highlights the importance of looking at the social context of each patient to provide them with appropriate resources, which establishes a trusting relationship that can improve health outcomes for vulnerable populations.
Medical curricula should focus on integrating equity in all facets of health education, an initiative currently underway at University of California, San Francisco. For example, classes will address how certain data was gained from experiments conducted on Black people without medication, and they will teach students to note patients’ social determinants of health when recording their medical history.
While it may be impossible to fully erase the healthcare system’s racist roots, we have the ability to make a tangible impact. Racism is a public health crisis, and we must continue to actively strive for equity — especially when countless lives are at stake.
Limited AP offerings disadvantage students
By David LinThe importance of offering advanced coursework to students cannot be overstated. These classes provide opportunities for all students to challenge themselves academically and prepare themselves for the rigor of college. However, students at HHS do not receive the same opportunities as their peers across the district when it comes to advanced coursework.
For example, LHS and FHS are the only two schools in the district to offer AP Language and Composition. While students who have not taken the AP Language and Composition class can still take the AP exam, the resources offered to self-studying students are minimal. The fact that HHS does not
offer this course places many students at a disadvantage, particularly those who are interested in pursuing careers in the humanities.
Additionally, three of the five FUHSD schools have AP economics courses. With HHS being a hub for finance and economics enthusiasts, given the high membership of clubs like FBLA, an advanced economics course would provide students with the opportunity to delve deeper into this field than the regular economics curriculum permits.
The discrepancies in AP course offerings are even more apparent when comparing the classes at FUHSD to neighboring districts. For instance, Mountain View High School offers humanities and social science courses,
such as AP world history and AP psychology, both of which are not present at HHS.
Offering more AP classes for all students in the district gives
students the tools they need to succeed. It is time to invest in students’ futures by providing them with equal opportunities, regardless of which school they attend.
A work in progress
ASB elections are evolving to increase fairness, equity
By Helen TamEach year, students in all grade levels compete to earn a spot in either their class cabinet or in the Associated Student Body (ASB). Usually around April, it is common to see students campaigning around school with poster boards, reciting their campaign speeches and aiming to win the most votes.
In the past, I have not always found the election process to be fair and democratic, because the “popular” students were most likely to win elections, as more students would vote for them, even if they were not qualified or had the right intentions for the student body. However, in recent years, ASB has been improving their elections to break that stereotype.
Furthermore, ASB elections set multiple requirements that candidates must meet. Incorporating interviews ensures candidates have sufficient leadership qualities that align with ASB policies and are qualified to take on a leadership position.
For example, ASB treasurer, junior Grace McGoran had to attend a mandatory information meeting, prepare and record a one-minute speech and create a digital flier for the ASB Instagram page, on top of campaigning at school. Before a student is chosen for a position, it is required for them to have a basic understanding of what leadership requires and be confident in their ability to take on the responsibilities.
McGoran also had to be familiar with the administrators she would be working with as the ASB treasurer before actually getting elected. Therefore, once she was ASB treasurer, there was an established connection between
How honest is too honest? Honesty is not always the best policy
By Anushruti NagarajanCOLUMN — I was taught from a young age that I should always tell the truth, no matter the consequences, and that “honesty is the best policy.” Honesty promotes trust and openness, as it is a way to clearly communicate one’s perception of a situation.
However, in certain cases, being completely transparent can backfire and hurt others more than help them. Nonetheless, honesty is the foundation of trust, and when demonstrated, it shows great integrity.
When we are truthful with others, they are more likely to trust us and feel comfortable confiding in us, according to an article published by Penn State. Honesty can also promote authenticity and openness in our interactions with others. By being fully transparent, we can avoid misunderstandings and confusion that can arise from
However, while honesty can be
beneficial in many sit uations, it can also have its downsides.
For in stance, being honest can lead to uncomfortable or difficult conversations that may hurt others’ feelings or damage relationships, especially when it involves sharing difficult or un pleasant truths, according to Psy chology Today.
In some situations, dishonesty may actually be the more ethical choice.
For example, if a lie protects you or someone else from harm, it is acceptable to bend the truth. Hence, many people tell white lies in both their personal and professional lives to maintain social harmony and cordiality in relationships.
To determine whether it is appropriate to lie, it is important to evaluate the intentions behind honesty. Honesty can be used as a weapon to hurt or manipulate others.
In some cases, it can even be used as an excuse for cruelty or insensitivity. On the other hand, dishonesty can sometimes be used to protect people from harm or to avoid causing them unnecessary pain.
Ultimately, honesty is not a simple matter of right or wrong — rather, it requires careful consideration of the situation, the potential consequences and our own motivations.
While honesty can be a powerful force for good in our lives, it is important to use it with great responsibility and empathy.
Prioritize our mental health
Mental health excused absence policy needs
When a student feels sick or unwell, they are repeatedly told to stay at home to take care of their health and themselves before returning to school. Just like physical illnesses, mental health struggles are a prevalent issue on campus that must be supported with a similarly official and well-publicized school-wide mental health
Not only is the excused absence policy critical, but it is also supported by a 2021 California law which allows public school students to take up to five days of excused mental health absences, according to the Parent Institute for Quality Education. In order for the student body to be educated on this recent change, the school must brief the community, so students are aware of their rights. As
cades of progress
By Keshav KumarOur leaders often make promises they cannot or will not keep. Although these betrayals benefit those in power, their costs are borne by the powerless, who have no voice in the decisions that affect them the most.
The Biden administration approved the Willow project, a proposal to drill for oil on the Northern coast of Alaska, on March 13. The plan will open three new drill sites and 199 oil wells, which will be operated by the ConocoPhillips company, according to The Associated Press.
This decision breaks a key campaign promise campaign made by President Joe Biden: that he would end new oil and
and conviction for this issue.
Biden’s decision was partially motivated by a desire to avoid a long and costly legal battle. If the administration had challenged the Willow project in court and lost the case, a judge could have forced the government to pay ConocoPhillips as much as $5 billion for breaking a contract that gave the company the right to drill on government-owned land, according to The New York Times.
However, this price pales in comparison to the environmental and human cost of the Willow project. Given the severity of this project’s
of now, on the HHS website, there are no specifications for mental health concerns under their full and partial absence policy.
According to a survey conducted by The Epitaph, over 75% of 189 respondents reported that they struggled with their mental health this past school year. Although mental health is a highly emphasized topic in school advisories and email bulletins, students’ psychological needs must be addressed further with concrete, listed adminis trative policies.
77% of over 1,000 par ents who responded to a Very Well Mind survey felt that taking a mental health day had a positive impact on their child. Aside from students them selves, parents have the clear est indicator of their chil drens’ needs. If the school is worried that students will use this opportunity to miss class when they do not actu-
tionby KarunaChandran)consequences, Biden should have done everything he could to fight the proposal and prevent the damage it will cause.
The plan will release 9.2 million metric tons of carbon pollution per year, which is about as much as 2 million gas-powered cars, according to CNN. This completely undermines any previous effort to address climate change. Additionally, the decision places a massive burden on future administrations and generations, who will have to undo the harm being done in the present.
The Willow project will also be catastrophic for Indigenous communities in Alaska. For example, the Native village of Nuiqsut, which is near the drill site,
will face greater food and water insecurity, as well as a higher risk of health problems from pollution, according to the Bureau of Land Management.
Biden’s refusal to fight for the suspension of the plan is yet another failure in the government’s relations with Indigenous peoples. The approval of the proposal shows a blatant and disturbing lack of concern for human life. At the end of the day, the profits of massive international corporations should never be prioritized over the well being of these communities.
The only way we can keep politicians honest is by holding them accountable. We have a collective responsibility to denounce those who abandon their ideals in pursuit of money or power. By doing this, we can ensure that when our government makes promises, it keeps them.
ally have mental health concerns, the administration should realize that it is worth the risk. The new law is limited to five days and allows the school to identify students that need the most support and provide additional counseling from a school-based therapist. Ultimately, students must be educated on this recent change so they can put their mental health above all else, academics included. TheapprovaloftheWillowprojectharms
We have a humanities problem
Misconceptions about humanities majors fail all of us
By Emma YuThe rift between the humanities and STEM subjects feels as old as time itself: arts versus science, Romanticism versus the Enlightenment, utilitarianism versus hedonism. But no matter how you put it, there is a clear winner in today’s world — and it is not the humanities.
The trend of declining enrollment in humanities subjects, such as English, history and philosophy, has continued for nearly ten years. At colleges, English and history enrollments have fallen by a third in the last decade, with humanities enrollment declining by 17% overall, according to The New Yorker.
HHS is no exception to this trend. As students in the midst of Silicon Valley, many of us were raised on the gospel of Big Tech, creating the idea that success must correspond with the technology and business industries. I have observed among my peers that computer science, engineering and business are some of the most popular intended majors. On the other hand, interest in the humanities is low, with its majors often viewed as frivolous or a waste of time. In fact, I have only met one other senior who plans to major in English and none planning to major in philosophy or history. But, why is this the case?
As higher education continually veers toward specialization, young students are pressured into choosing a single discipline to focus on for the rest of their lives. Given the exorbitant costs of college, majors with promises of financial security right out of graduation might seem like the safe option to many who are still unsure of their future plans. Consequently, free exploration and intellectual growth are
AnexcessivefocusonSTEMsubjectsminimizestheimportanceofthe humanities.(IllustrationbyEmmaYu)
less of a priority, and liberal arts educations, which require holistic learning of all subjects, are increasingly unpopular, according to Forbes.
These trends are worrying because at its core, a humanities education instills a completely separate set of skills from the practical ones of other majors — new ways of viewing and interacting with the world that extend beyond basic inputs and outputs. Studying the human experience through deep reading and questioning cultivates not only a deeper understanding of the world, but also empathy, creativity and critical thinking.
One common criticism of humanities careers is that they do not pay well and are thus less useful — you can either become a tenured professor or a Starbucks barista. However, this assumption is simply not true. People who major in the humanities still find jobs in many industries, as there is always demand for someone who can write and communicate well.
Education, law and management are the three most common fields that humanities majors work in, according to a 2021 study from the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Studies have also shown that humanities majors, who are well versed in communication and analytical skills often end up in leadership jobs, accord-
Betrayal of the media
By Veronica Zhao
The year is 2020, the date Nov. 3. Presidential election results were still coming in, but misleading information had already started circulating. In the middle of the night, large batches of ballots were opened, changing the lead in key states from Trump to Biden. Social media influencers and politicians immediately jumped to conclusions, without proof, that the election was being tampered with.
Donald Trump tweeted a question that fueled conspiracy theories regarding a rigged election. Predictably, multiple right-wing media outlets then ran with these baseless theories and called the fairness of the election into question for millions of viewers. Trump
Refugees beware
U.K. asylum policy restricts refugee rights
By Zeinab RakhshandehrooFleeing dangerous conditions, thousands of refugees depend on the U.K. for shelter and safety. The U.K. received the fifth most asylum applications in Europe as of 2022, according to Eurostat.
guishes the right to seek refugee protection for those who arrive irregularly, no matter how genuine their claims are, and with no consideration of their circumstances.
poured the gas, and the news media ignited it. This is a prime example of partisan bias – the tendency to lean toward a particular political party over independently evaluating the facts themselves.
However, partisan bias in the news media was apparent long before 2020. Sources such as Fox News, a right-leaning outlet, and CNN, a left-leaning outlet, have long employed celebrity hosts who seemed to cover the news, but whose shows were really filled with a mix of opinions, jokes and stunts that could more accurately be called entertainment.
Biased reporting creates a vast division in this country, influencing citizens to act irrationally based on the information that they consume, according to Brookings.
ing to the New Yorker. In this age of impending technological and cultural shifts, educations that emphasize intercommunication, ethics and creativity might actually be the logical choice for the future.
So, what can be done to encourage students to find interest in the humanities? HHS can start by offering a wider variety of humanities courses — for example, despite offering nearly all STEM APs, we still do not have AP psychology, AP world history or philosophy classes. Exposing students to a diverse variety of disciplines will undoubtedly generate more interest in these subjects.
More importantly, students must recognize the validity of the humanities in higher education. Most major colleges still have hu manities requirements, but so long as the negative stigma surround ing these subjects persists, they will remain just another checkbox on the graduation list.
Ultimately, the answer to this debate lies in whether the pur pose of education is to cultivate the mind or to train students for the workforce. I would argue that there is innate value in learning for learning’s sake, in reading and considering centuries’ worth of hu man thought at its best. We need to learn the humanities because that’s exactly what the humanities teach — to be human.
Preconceptions contaminate not only the daily news on TV, but also the social media feeds of younger generations. According to Morning Consult, 68% of Generation Z adults turn to social media for news at least once a week. However, Gen Z’s trust in the media is notably low. Research from Feb 2022 shows that 47% of Gen Z adults do not trust social media platforms much or at all.
Furthermore, social media is the most commonly used platform for news among United States adults (50%), while also being the least trusted. 58% said they trust social media “not much” or “not at all”, according to Morning Consult. Clearly, reliability is an issue for the sources by which many Americans get their news.
The prejudices that influence social media almost create an echo effect, where citizens only listen to news that reaffirms their own preconceived notions, according to Brookings.
The high consumption rate of partisan media harms the public’s ability to discern controversial situations and overall destroys the foundation of truth amongst citizens. News should not be saturated with partisan bias. For the U.S. to take a step forward in history, the country needs to be united: in both principles and future goals, and that starts with agreeing on the truth.
However, these people are threatened by a new asylum policy in the U.K. The Nationality and Borders Act, passed in April 2022, undermines the right to seek asylum, according to the International Rescue Committee (IRC).
Previously, asylum seekers were only allowed to apply for asylum upon arrival in the U.K. This meant people were forced to make dangerous journeys to claim asylum, crossing the English Channel in unsafe boats.
Now, under the new act, those who arrive through these “illegal routes” on small boats may not be able to apply for asylum, or will only receive temporary protection, according to the IRC.
Furthermore, the U.K. and Rwanda have signed an agreement that allows the U.K. to deport some of its asylum seekers — specifically, those who traveled
Many asylum seekers who use the illegal routes are desperate refugees who have no other choice, according to UNHCR. Denying protection to these people due to factors out of their control is a cruel and immoral action by the U.K. government.
To make matters worse, Rwanda has committed many human rights abuses. Violations of due process and freedom of expression are prevalent, along with enforced disappearances, torture and excessive force, according to Amnesty International. Deporting refugees to a country with such a violent record is incredibly dangerous and may simply take them from one deplorable situation to another.
The U.K. claims the new asylum policy addresses the unsafe and illegal ways asylum seekers reach the country, preventing refugees from using them, according to CBS. However, this policy only prevents vulnerable refugees from reaching safety, leading to harmful repercussions. Rather than turning away these refugees, the U.K. must create new, safer routes for asylum seekers to arrive legally.
ThenewpolicyharmsrefugeeswhoarrivetotheU.K.illegally,suchas thosewhocrosstheEnglishChannelinsmallboats. (Illustrationby AmberBirrell)
Tardiness troubles
By Harshitha VijayakumarWhile high school students are notorious for never being on time, current tardiness policies at HHS unfairly penalize students for factors that are often beyond their control.
In several courses, students with several tardies are at risk of receiving detention. However, these punishments disproportionately harm students who rely on public transport, as they are likely to be tardy due to unreliable transportation methods.
The inconsistency of the bus system is a major contributor to tardiness. In my experience, despite being scheduled, buses often fail to arrive at their designated times, causing significant disruptions to students’ schedules.
takes the bus because I do not have my own car, and I live too far away from school to walk. Based on my experiences, most students who take the bus have limited means of transportation.
difficulties these students face and
guarantee equal access to education instead of creating more barriers to their success.
To ensure that students are not punished for tardies that they cannot control, HHS can provide resources and support to individuals who struggle with tardiness, such as counseling or flexible scheduling options.
Furthermore, teachers should be more understanding of the circumstances that cause students to be late. Teachers must offer flexibility in their attendance policies, allowing students to make up missed work or attend tutorials to catch up on the material.
Rather than punishing students who are already at a disadvantage, FUHSD needs to confront the causes of tardiness and promote equity.
Theunreliabilityofthebussystemandotherexternalfactorsoften contributetotardinessandcreateinequitablebarrierstoeducation. (IllustrationbyHarshithaVijayakumar)
Ethnic clubs empower students
Club presidents discuss impact of cultural clubs on campus
By Brian LingWith HHS having such a diverse student body, one method students have found to express themselves and learn more about cultures is through ethnic clubs.
French club co-president, senior Lela Hanson said she joined French club because she enjoyed learning the language and wanted to share her skills with others. Hanson said she believes cultural clubs help students enhance their linguistic abilities.
“For the [cultures] which are aligned with the languages [offered at school like] French, Spanish, Japanese and Chinese, [the clubs] are critical because they offer a whole bunch of cultural and chatting opportunities that you don’t manage to get in a structured class,” Hanson said.
As an officer, Hanson said her primary goal for the French club was to complement the French language class by hosting cultural activities and offering service opportunities to support the French community.
However, Hanson said she believes ethnic clubs that do not have their language offered by the school still play a significant
role on campus.
“It is really great to have spaces for everyone to explore different cultures and learn more about the people in this area, especially in big events like multicultural night,” Hanson said.
Apart from supplementing language classes, ethnic clubs also give students the opportunity to gain a broader perspective of the world, Spanish club co-president Amelia Craciun said.
“I think [ethnic clubs] are really important because you can learn about so many different opinions and views on the world and how different people live,” Craciun, a senior, said.
Craciun said she began learning Spanish in her freshman year. She decided to join the Spanish club and become an officer because she saw it as a continuation of what she had been learning in class. In addition, Craciun said she wanted to help other students better understand the Spanish-speaking world.
“We aim to bring a community to HHS where people can explore Spanish cultures and [learn about] Spanish-speaking countries,” Craciun said. “We [also] want to engage in fun activities together to build friendships with people who are also interested and also [want to] learn.”
Vietnamese student association president, senior Theresa Vu said she founded
Appreciating nature’s bounty
Wilderness adventure club unites students through wildlife
By Helen TamAfter arriving at the campsite, a group of high school students set up their tents for the first overnight camping trip of the school year. Although the sun begins to set, their day is not over. The group prepares for their night hike, one of the most highly anticipated activities.
The wilderness adventure club’s (WAC) overarching mission is to help high schoolers appreciate the tranquility and serene beauty of nature, club president Laura Robleto said.
Robleto, a senior, said she encourages members to take time to explore local natural spaces, enjoying the outdoors and forming connections with fellow nature lovers.
After being in the club since freshman year, Robleto was chosen to be president after the senior officers graduated, and she said it has been a fulfilling role of hers because she enjoys being responsible for a club she is passionate about.
A lot of clubs have an emphasis on the outdoors, but Robleto said she finds many
of them focus extensively on volunteering and getting service hours. The WAC, however, creates an opportunity for students to prioritize connecting with nature through activities like hiking and overnight camping trips, she said.
Vice president Clara Heinz said she is in charge of creating slideshows for the monthly general meetings, which teach students about different topics involving the environment.
For example, Heinz said she has made presentations on invasive species, local ecological zones and native plants, thus far.
“[All] the topics [I choose] are those I’m interested in and I have a lot of fun doing the research for the slideshows,” Heinz, a senior, said. “I hope I can encourage others to be more aware of the environment, like the recent rain storms.”
As a regular member of the club, senior Tiffany Yu said she joined because she enjoys hiking with friends.
“The club is a unique experience because there’s not many clubs that provide students [an opportunity] to hang out outside of school, especially in a mentally refreshing kind of way, like hiking,” Yu said. “My favorite memory was when we went on a sunset hike and it was the most beautiful sunset I’ve ever seen.”
Due to restrictions during distance
the club to provide an outlet for students to learn more about various aspects of Vietnamese culture, such as food, language and fashion. On top of this, Vu said she wanted to involve members in Vietnamese activities such as Bau Cua Ca Cop, A traditional Vietnamese multiplayer betting game using dice. However, the club does not use real money, their goal is to let participants experience the game.
In general, Vu said she believes cultural clubs are important to educate students more about their own or other cultures.
“There are people who have the same culture, but sometimes they don’t know as much about their culture even if they want to,” Vu said.
Although ethnic clubs are centered around specific cultures, Hanson said she believes these clubs are open to everyone interested.
“Especially with cultural clubs, it’s important to remember that everyone’s welcome,” Hanson said. “You don’t need to have that particular background or that particular language if you want to just explore it.”
Wildernessadventurecluborganizedanovernightcampingtriptoenjoynatureafterdark andcreatelifelongmemorieswithfriends,Robletosaid.(PhotoscourtesyofLauraRobleto)
learning, Robleto said attendance dwindled during that school year. However, the club has had an increase in membership after public health restrictions were loosened, Robleto said.
Before the school year ends, Heinz and Robleto said they hope to coordinate another overnight trip as it was their favorite memory in WAC, because it allowed club members to bond with each other on a personal level. In October, the club traveled to Sanborn County Park, where members deepened their connection with wildlife
through hiking at night and building campfires, Robleto said.
As the second semester is more than halfway done, the club officers aim to continue getting more people outside and interacting with nature for longer, as well as building and reinforcing strong relationships between all of the club’s members, Robleto said.
“We hope to introduce more people to the wonders of our environment and allow friendships to blossom through their mutual appreciation of nature,” Robleto said.
One of the most influential bonds in a person’s life is often their relationship with their parents. between passing Down values and having tough conversations, Kids and parents must learn to navigate the world together.
Passing it down the line
For many teenagers from immigrant families, discovering their own identity comes with embracing their cultural heritage. Parents often assist them in this journey of keeping in touch with their family roots.
In a world of & i
When we start the [religious] ritual, I stand next to my mom and help her with the things that she needs. [Since I was] born I’ve been going to the temple and it’s just a part of me now.”
When it comes ships, something passing down of values. in a liberal society, than the istan.
American, [American
A Conversational D i V i D E
It’s no secret: Teens do not always align With their parents’ wishes. When kids begin to drift, the presence of difficult conversations in households or the lack of them can play a large role in shaping the parent-child relationship.
“
I haven’t come out to [my parents], not because I think I would be unsafe or they would hate me, but just because it wouldn’t be the same. They presume I am straight, they’ve talked about wanting grandkids. Even if it was subconscious, they wouldn’t treat me the same afterwards. I wouldn’t be me anymore. I would be me, but gay.
I think it’s normal to have really tough conversations, especially religion wise, [like] discussing that I don’t want to get baptized or that I don’t want to go to a shrine. It’s tough when your parents realize that you start making your own decisions, and stop following their way of life.
“
Identity
During the pandemic, I had a really big mental breakdown. My anxiety was risen [sky high] and one day, I just lost control of everything. And I broke into yelling and tears. I think my parents’ turning point was when they saw me at such extreme, uncontrollable emotion, and they were like, ‘Oh, I think we messed up.’
“
I am majoring in music and computer science. Both [my parents] are computer scientists, so that’s the path I’ve been set on by them. It’s not like they didn’t want me to do music, they just wanted me to have a ‘backup plan,’ a ‘real career.’ It’s com promising between what they wanted and what I wanted, and it worked out.
to parent-child relationsomething that’s difficult is the values. As someone raised it’s completely different conservatism in Afghanistan. I don’t want to become American, but I want to apply [American values] to my life.”
Hossna Adel (11)
In Ethiopia, there was a war. My dad grew up with it, and he fought in it. Because it was such a huge part of his life, he wants us to understand it. Learning about the history was learning about my dad.”
Alex Tefera (12)
My parents bring me to Russian festivals where you dress in traditional clothing. It [helps me] feel like my culture is not my imagination. It’s a good reminder that I am part of a community.”
Arina Shpin (11)
We always speak Mandarin or Taiwanese in the house. Going to college, one thing I’ve thought about was, ‘What if my Mandarin skills go down? What if I feel disconnected from that side of my identity?’”
Yenting Lin (12)
Setting boundaries, Balancing privileges
Parents, students discuss evolving family dynamics throughout high school
By Erin Loh, Nicole Pimenta In-
and Gabriela Salazar
From infancy through high school, a child’s relationship with their parents constantly changes.Parents and children often learn to negotiate which liberties must be granted and which boundaries must be set forawiderangeoftopics.
Independence
For some high schoolers, independence comes in the form of a debit card or getting their driver’s license. For others, it may be the ability to go to bed as late as they want.
For sophomore Cassie Manjarrez, independence came in the form of being given the freedom to hang out with friends after school when she wants to.
Even with new privileges, however, Cassie’s parents, Tony and Jessica Manjarrez, said in a phone interview that they still expect their daughter to provide enough information for them to ensure she stays safe.
“We need to know who, when and where,” Jessica Manjarrez said. “Who are you going to be with? Do we know their parents?”
Adding on, Tony Manjarrez said, “Obviously, there’s some things where it’s an absolute no, [like] if I don’t know their parents or the friend. I try to keep her where she’s not put into a sit-
Tony Manjarrez said Cassie’s increased independence as a high schooler has allowed him to trust her to take care of her siblings.
Cassie is the oldest of three currently living at home, and seeing her take charge has been rewarding, he said.
“I see the way she is with them, the [same] way I was with my brothers and
sisters, and it makes me proud,” Tony Manjarrez said. “[It’s like,] ‘Oh, Cassie’s around. We don’t need to be watching over them like a hawk.’”
For Tony Manjarrez, staying overnight at a music festival is an example of something he would not allow Cassie to do, which freshman Shannon Wu has a similar limitation for.
surrounding academics tend to follow suit.
For junior Max Bonne, parental pressure to earn good grades has increased during his sophomore and junior year compared to his freshman year and middle school years.
If you don’t fail, you won’t learn to make decisions that are better and more wise than the previous decisions you have made.
Wu said it took a lot of effort to convince her parents to let her go on the robotics team’s Fresno trip, and even though they let her go in the end, she was held back from attending the club’s second trip to Monterey.
“I want to go with my friends, and I would feel FOMO [fear of missing out] if I didn’t go,” Wu said. “My parents want to know the details of everything that’s gonna happen on the trip — on day one, day two, day three. If I’m not communicating with them about what the trip entails, they’ll be skeptical about it. At the end of the day, their opinions outweigh mine.”
While Wu’s parents keep her from attending certain trips, sophomore Itamar Zohar said his parents’ philosophy is to give him “a ton of freedom,” so he can explore for himself what constitutes a good versus bad decision.
“Mistakes that students create will [help them] learn how to avoid them next time,” Zohar said. “If you don’t fail, you won’t learn to make decisions that are better and more wise than the previous decisions you have made.”
Academic pressure
As schoolwork ramps up from kindergarten to high school, parental expectations
“I’m pretty open about [school] with my parents,” Bonne said. “I let them know what’s coming up or I’ll ask them for help sometimes. They’re pretty helpful when I have questions. [Sometimes] I let them tell me what they think is the best idea, and I’ll do whatever I feel is right and hope they line up.”
However, for students like freshman Yashasvi Chitela, parental expectations regarding academics are more difficult to live up to. Chitela said his parents expect him to earn all A’s and impose consequences for lower grades, including taking away his phone or access to video games.
“A B is not bad,” Chitela said. “While going home, my dad talks about my grades. It’s annoying hearing it every day, even though my grades are just fine.”
Dating
According to a 2015 Pew Research poll, 35% of high schoolers have some dating or
relationship experience.
Many parents debate whether high schoolers are too young for relationships or if high school is a valuable time to gain relationship experience.
While Cassie is currently not in a relationship, she said she would be open to dating in high school and said she agrees with the level of protectiveness her parents uphold for her.
“My mom is definitely very supportive,” Cassie said. “She’s like, ‘if there are any boys, you have to tell me about it,’ but my dad has more boundaries. He’s like my protector, so he wants to make sure I’m not getting hurt.”
Jessica Manjarrez said as parents, they will always be on the lookout for their daughter, but they trust Cassie to find a partner who treats her well.
“My parents were strict, so I did a lot of things behind their backs,” Jessica Manjarrez said. “I don’t want that for my girls. I’m pretty open with [my kids], and I want them to be open with us. If Cassie ever came home and said, ‘I like this boy and he asked me to be in a relationship,’ I definitely want her to [tell] us.”
While they do not expect Cassie to be perfect, Jessica Manjarrez said she and Tony Manjarrez trust her to make smart and thought-out decisions.
“For me, [the hardest thing] is the independence, like ‘I don’t need you anymore, mom,’” Jessica Manjarrez said. “It’s a good thing, but it’s like letting her go. She’s doing amazing things and soon she’ll be out of the house.”
TonyandJessicaManjarrezsaidCassie’sresponsiblecharacterallowsthemtotrusthertotakecareofhersiblings.(PhotosbyErinLoh)
Itamar Zohar (10)
Harry Guan (12)
Rediscovering the classroom
Teachers share what made them pursue education
By Joss Broward
The Epitaph sat down with teachers to ask them about their journeys in education.
Media arts teacher Edmond Kwong:
Following a career in high tech, Kwong took an offer for employee retraining for alternative careers at Cisco, the company he worked for.
“Sometimes life doesn’t take you down the path that you think, but I felt like I got an opportunity with Cisco,” Kwong said. “They offered me money to help me through my credentialing program. One of my classmates was Mr. Logie, and during my very last class, he said, ‘There’s an opportunity in the business department at HHS.’”
Kwong said he incorporates the experience he has from the tech industry and professional freelance photography into the classroom to best educate students about what their future careers may look like.
“I always say that students’ success is a reflection of my success,” Kwong said. “I feel the best when former students come back and tell me specifically what they learned from my class that they use on the outside. That makes it all worth it.”
English teacher Megan Rupe:
From early childhood, Rupe said she knew she wanted to become a teacher. After pursuing a degree in single-subject preparation for English and getting a teaching credential, Rupe finally accomplished her dream.
Rupe said she likes being an English educator because she leads a variety of lessons, unlike other subjects she said can end up feeling repetitive.
Rupe, who has been a teacher for a decade, said making connections with students and receiving genuine thank yous are her favorite parts about being a teacher.
“I think being an educator is about being a guide,” Rupe said. “I do believe teaching people how to read and write is important to my job, but I also think it’s about guiding students to meet their own goals and to understand their own values and place in the world.”
A little birdie told me
Russo discusses the world of birding
By Saira Ahmed and Parth Dhaulakhandi
History teacher Gregory Russo has seen almost 350 different species of birds over the past three years, and he said he hopes that number climbs to 500.
Russo started birding during the COVID-19 pandemic after a random incident with an annoying bird outside of his window, he said. When he fi nally saw the elusive bird after days of waking up to its call, he took a picture and went to Reddit to identify the spe cies and found it was a dark-eyed junco. It was from that moment, Russo said, he realized birding was the perfect hobby.
“Most people who start birding have some sort of spark bird,” Russo said. “Either it is a cool or an annoying bird you see that sparks your interest, and you fall down this rabbit hole of ‘collecting’ birds.”
Collecting is one of many kinds
of activities one can do within the birding community, Russo said. There are listers, who try to find as many bird species as possible, or photographers who actively seek unique photo opportunities.
In addition to collecting, Russo said he also spends time looking through field guides and completing online courses to learn about different species.
Russo began bird watching during weekends and found fellow birders, who were easy to spot with their binoculars, telescopes and cameras on trails, he said. Eventually, they all formed a group of birders that meet on Sunday mornings.
“You have to go [birding] with a group that matches your style,” Russo said.
“Our group is casual and pretty chatty, but there are other groups of people that are very serious and silent.”
Russo said he enjoys interaction with all birders, regardless of whether or not they know each other, because of their common goal: discovering as many species as possible. To keep track of his findings, Russo uses an app called eBird.
“I’d say that 99% of birders are really helpful,” Russo said. “When you get an alert on your phone from eBird to report a rare bird has been spotted in the area, you drop everything and race out there and you’ll see a gaggle of people all looking through their telescopes. Everybody’s trying to help each other get to [see] the bird.”
Additionally, Russo said birding is a great hobby because of its versatility. Birding is a hobby anyone can participate in, regardless of where they are, he said.
Engineering and CTE teacher
Richard Porticos:
Originally starting off as a chemical engineer for Dow Chemical and Clorox, Porticos said he became interested in pursuing a teaching career to make a more direct impact on people’s lives through personal interactions.
“When I was working at Dow and Clorox, I would volunteer to be a mentor to new engineers and show them what it took to be successful,” Porticos said. “I thought that was a great role, a great feeling to allow younger individuals to reach their potential.”
Porticos said his favorite part about teaching is getting the chance to expose students to new concepts and helping spark their interest in science and technology.
“It’s cool to hear back from students who said, ‘I never really enjoyed science’ or ‘I had no idea what engineering is all about,’ and to hear they are enjoying taking more of those classes or even majoring in those fields,” Porticos said. “That’s really the most fulfilling aspect to me.”
TeachersRichardPorticos,EdmondKwongandMeganRupesaidtheybecameeducatorstomakeapositiveimpactonothers’lives.(PhotosbyJossBroward)
Going for gold
Students advance to next round of STEM olympiads
By David Lin and Rajiv VenkateshScience courses are a requirement at HHS, even for those who do not plan to pursue the subject in the future. However, for students like senior Roshni Parulekar-Martins, courses in the subject are not enough.
Like Parulekar-Martins, science lovers may choose to channel their passion into olympiads, where they can test their knowledge of subjects including biology, physics and chemistry, against competitors from across the nation and around the world.
Fuelled by their passion for a specific branch of science, many olympiad competitors are involved in the field in a number of ways. For instance, Parulekar-Martins, who placed fourth at the International Medicine and Disease Olympiad and advanced to the semifinal round of last year’s USA Biology Olympiad, said she and many other compet itors conduct research, assisted by the solid foundation that olympiads provide.
USABO gave her the opportunity to challenge herself. Shinde, who advanced to the semifinal round of this year’s competition by scoring in the top 10% on the initial exam, said she is especially interested in genetics because of how much scientists can predict about a person based on their genes. While Shinde and Parulekar-Martins participated in biology-oriented competitions, junior Ishwar Suriyaprakash competed in F=ma, a nationwide physics olympiad.
In preparation for the competition, Suriyaprakash spent about four hours a week working through physics problems. Along the way, he said he was motivated by the intrinsic joy of solving seemingly difficult problems, which he said helped him qualify for the next round of the olympiad.
In the weeks leading up to competitions, Parulekar-Martins said she studied for around 30 hours a week by reading a variety of textbooks and contacting past competitors to learn the best strategies. On the other hand, Shinde said she studied very little for the biology olympiad, instead relying on knowledge gained in biology
classes and extracurriculars to qualify for the semifinal round.
While success at the competition is undoubtedly rewarding, Parulekar-Martins said the preparation can be just as meaningful.
“Studying for such a rigorous competition really teaches you a lot about how you learn, because you really have to know yourself and how you problem solve in order to do well,” Parulekar-Martins said. “People have a misconception, particularly about USABO, that it’s all memorization, but for a lot of problems, you have to really sleuth out the answer.”
After competing in numerous olympiads, Parulekar-Martins said she encourages other students to participate to further their love for science, but advises them to remain dedicated.
“Get ready for the grind,” Parulekar-Martins said. “Don’t just do it because your friend said that olympiads are good for college applications, do it because you really love the subject. Treat it as an exercise in self-exploration to figure out what you want to pursue in the future and what you are passion
Russogoesbirdingatlocations likeBaylandsandShoreline. (PhotocourtesyofGregoryRusso)
“You can do it from just sitting in your living room, traveling the world or going out once a week as I do,” Russo said. “There is a whole world around us that I don’t think people even think about. It is rewarding to study things and see them and appreciate nature. I find a lot of joy and tranquility in it, and intellectual satisfaction.”
“Olympiads are a labor of love,” Parulekar-Martins said. “You really can’t do them if you don’t love the subject because they take up a lot of time and energy, but it’s worth it if you’re actually passionate about the subject and want to learn more about it.”
For freshman Mugdha Shinde, participating in
FreshmanMugdhaShindeandjuniorsArnavChakravarthyandNathanGuadvancedat theUSABiologyOlympiad.(PhotoillustrationbyEllaChanandDavidLin)
Striving for success
Quiz bowl aims to improve ranking at nationals
By Evelyn WangWinning two tournaments in the past year, quiz bowl qualified for nationals for the ninth consecutive time. At last year’s national tournament, the team placed 15th out of 272 teams, but they are working to improve their ranking, vice president and junior Payton Chung said. This year, quiz bowl will head to Atlanta for the annual competition, which takes place from May 26-28.
“I’ve had former students who are in Saratoga High School’s quiz bowl and Monta Vista High School’s quiz bowl, and when I told them I’m the teacher who is coaching for the HHS team, they were really impressed,” math teacher, quiz bowl adviser Mantagi Rajamani said. “HHS is really good, and qualifying for nationals is definitely very prestigious.”
To prepare for nationals, Chung said the varsity team has competed in both online and in-person tournaments throughout the year.
“These tournaments allow us to practice and get a feel for how we stand compared to other teams,” Chung said. “We’ve consistently
placed highly at tournaments, and we compare favorably to other teams,.”
Aside from attending tournaments and self studying, one tactic the team has established includes splitting up the 10 fields of study, activities director Mira Haldar said.
“For example, Payton studies biology, music and visual fine arts, while I study physics and religion,” Haldar, a junior, said. “Field distribution is really important, as it ensures all topics are covered.”
Although the team was successful at nationals last year, they encountered adversities along the way. Similar to other clubs, Haldar said, quiz bowl experienced difficulties finding a long-term adviser.
“We love our advisers — every single one of them has been a valuable resource to us, but the ratio between the pool of teachers interested in advising clubs and the amount of clubs that [need them] is off,” Haldar said.
Despite the challenges, Rajamani said she credits the club’s
success to the officers, whose leadership and tenacity have allowed them to overcome hardships.
“The officer team is on top of things and knows exactly what they’re doing,” Rajamani said. “I’ve learned a lot from them, and when the kids practice in the room, I can tell there’s a lot of cohesiveness.”
Since last year’s nationals, Chung said the team’s bond has strengthened, which has helped improve not only their team chemistry, but also their overall performance at tournaments.
“We went to Sacramento on Jan. 21 for a tournament, and it was a good bonding experience,” Chung said. “The synergy we have helps us cover each other’s weaker areas, which I’m proud of.”
Exploring beauty in origami
By Gabriela SalazarFrom the delicate folds of a paper lily to the curved creases of a lion, origami allows us to create beautiful art. At its core, origami is much more complex than simply folding paper, origami club treasurer Audrey Ip said.
Origami club enables students to tell authentic stories through their creations and explore new paper-folding techniques. Ip, a senior, said the smallest sheet of paper can be transformed into the story of an animal or person.
“It’s fun to teach [club members] new things,” Ip said. “Watching them fold their little creations, their eyes lighting up when they figure out something, is really cool.”
For origami club vice president Rishi Jani, the unique experience
of teaching others is the most enjoyable part of the origami club. Getting to know members of the club as he teaches them the different methods of folding has brought him closer to the art community, Jani, a senior, said.
“I love folding the paper in different ways and understanding how different techniques come together,” Jani said. “I like to make my own creations from my imagination, rather than following a tutorial online or following instructions.”
This year, the origami club has hosted numerous events, such as a recent collaboration with the National Japanese Honor Society. The club held this event on March 29 in hopes of teaching participants to make their own designs, president, senior Lela Hanson said.
At the beginning of their meetings, which occur every Tuesday during lunch, the officers prepare a presentation describing an origami artist and featuring images
of the different pieces they are known for. One such example is Shuki Kato, who is famous for his use of visual references for his work, Hanson said. Kato sits and observes the animals he uses for his inspiration, watching them for hours and taking in their distinct features before moving to sculpt the animal itself with paper, which Hanson said she finds to be inspiring.
“By tracing the history and origins of origami, you can get a really interesting perspective on history,” Hanson said. “It’s important to not take a form of art for its aesthetics and ignore its history — I want to make sure that the club is not completely surface level.“
As an origami lover herself, Hanson began creating at a young age. In second grade, she watched her mother following a tutorial of how to fold a paper crane, which sparked her interest to teach herself this art form by watching online videos.
“There are a lot of artists who are pushing the boundaries of what can be done with a piece of paper,” Hanson said. “Giving people inspiration shows that you can go beyond a crane.”
Hanson said one origami artist she admires is Robert Lang, due to his ability to use math and engineering to fold mind-blowing and intricate designs.
Ultimately, origami does not fit into the stereotypical art or cultural club activities, but it is nevertheless a sophisticated and beautiful form of expression infused with a unique culture, Hanson said. Through this club, Hanson said she hopes to continue inspiring students to learn more about the craft while also fostering a welcoming community.
“Origami, as a discipline, is so different from most other arts,” Hanson said. “You can create so many incredibly different things from the same starting position. With the club, I wanted to create a space for people who want to learn origami by trying it.”
By Macy LiWords matter. When I was young, books of all colors lined my shelves, and the scent of new novels drifted through my room.
As a child, I stowed journals and notebooks in my nightstand, each brimming with free-verse poetry and vivid stories. Claiming my voice as a young writer, I crafted my own tales, in hopes of sharing my perspectives with the world.
All my life, writing has been my happy place. As a small child with a big imagination, I fell in love with the power of storytelling and the beauty of words. When I wrote poems and stories, I had the opportunity to channel my creativity and transform it into art. With a pen and paper, I built imaginary worlds, infused with whimsical characters and mystical creatures.
In high school, my love for words inspired me to join The Epitaph. When I became a reporter, I was simply hoping to develop my writing skills and explore the intricacies of journalism. But now, four years later, I have gained so much more.
In my very first article, I had the opportunity to raise awareness for the struggles of homeless populations during the onset of the pandemic, while also documenting the efforts of students to protect these communities. Soon after, I published an opinion article about the Black Lives Matter movement, casting light on the linger-
POV: My journey through journalism Finding his faith
ing impacts of racism and the everlasting need for change.
Experiences like these have kindled my passion for journalism. By writing lifestyles articles, I have connected with inspiring individuals in my community and uplifted their narratives. Through op-eds and editorials, I have advocated for positive change on campus, promoting inclusivity, diversity and equity for all.
As a journalist, I am constantly using my platform to combat injustice, while also providing others with a voice. Because of journalism, writing is no longer just a creative hobby, but a source of empowerment and a means of advocacy.
I will always be someone with an unwavering love for stories. I still keep a brimming bookcase in my room and journals strewn across my nightstand. As a writer, I am always striving to make a difference through my stories. And so, with words, I fight for change.
By Hope Saena and Emma YuAlongside his pencil pouch and notebooks, you may find a Bible in sophomore Anthony MacDonald’s backpack. While MacDonald, who has been Roman Catholic since birth, was never an avid member of his church growing up, he now plans to become a priest, an ordained minister of the Catholic church, he said.
“It’s indescribable, but one day I woke up and was like, ‘I want to be a priest,’ Well, how do you become a priest? You go to Mass more often,” MacDonald said.
MacDonald said he finds comfort in the rituals of church, as well as its communal warmth.
“It’s hard to find a sense of community,” MacDonald said. “But in church, everybody asks how your weekend has been or how your week was. In my parish, everybody’s really supportive, so that grounds me.”
Rather than at tending a tradi tional universi ty, MacDonald has been pre paring to at tend seminary school, he said.
“I’ve been getting more in vested in reading and annotat ing my study Bible and
understanding the church’s teachings,” MacDonald said.
MacDonald’s friend, sophomore Hannah Lin, said she was shocked when MacDonald mentioned becoming a priest.
“Being a priest doesn’t exactly give money,” Lin said. “I admire his passion, because as a Christian myself, it inspires me to go further into my faith.”
While Lin, a nondenominational Christian, said she may not agree with all of MacDonald’s beliefs, she believes he is meant for this role.
“He could meet someone for the first time and end up having a good conversation,” Lin said. “A big part of being a good priest is creating strong connections. Not everyone can do that.
Aayushma Adhikari, another one of MacDonald’s friends, said she envisions MacDonald excelling in any path he chooses.
“He’s so passionate,” Adhikaari, a sophomore said. “My advice to him is to not be afraid of trying different things, explore life and keep being bubbly.”
Although MacDonald is just beginning his journey, he said he is exhilarated to be following the path he believes God has chosen for him.
MacDonaldisalwayscarrying
“I’m most looking forward to the sense of fulfillment,” MacDonald said. “It’s less that I want to become a priest, and more like something is calling me toward it. When I finally become a priest, it’s going to be a fulfillment.”
Origami club promotes a platform for an overlooked art
Sophomore hopes to become a priest
Seeing myself on the silver screen
Oscars embrace Asian American narratives
By Macy LiA flurry of hot dog fingers, villainous bagels and multiverse-hopping Chinese immigrants, “Everything Everywhere All at Once” is certainly not your typical Oscars contender. But on Hollywood’s biggest night, this quirky yet heartfelt film made history.
The 95th Academy Awards marked a historic triumph for Asian American representation on the silver screen, with “Everything Everywhere All at Once” garnering seven wins and Malaysian-born actress Michelle Yeoh taking home the best actress award.
Standing proudly on the Oscars stage, Yeoh became the first Asian American woman to accomplish this feat, according to The New York Times. Her co-star, Ke Huy Quan, won the best supporting actor award, making him the second Asian recipient in Oscars history.
For Asian Americans nationwide, Yeoh and Quan’s wins are ours, too. These actors are beacons of hope for little children with big dreams, who can finally see themselves represented at the highest
tier of Hollywood cinema. This unapologetically Asian American film is truly everything I’ve been waiting for, all at once.
For decades, Hollywood has neglected and fetishized Asian stories. On screen, Asian Americans are often chained to the same tropes: perpetual foreigners and exotic immigrants. These negative portrayals shape the public’s perception of Asian Americans, while also tarnishing their self-image, according to Vice.
Today, Asian Americans are still grappling with severe under representation in Hollywood. In the past decade, only 3.4% of 1,300 popular films featured Asian American leads or coleads, according to a study by USC. Since the beginning of the Oscars, less than 1.3% of all acting nominees could be identified as Asian — and merely six have won, accord ing to The New York Times.
The film’s trailblazing suc cess signifies Hollywood’s long-awaited embrace of Asian stories and creatives. By capturing the lives of seemingly ordinary immigrants, this film affirms that Asian narratives are worth hearing. In a white-domi-
Reunite with reading
nated industry, the film’s success casts light on a promising trend: the diversification of the tales told on television.
Yeoh and Quan’s accomplishments inspire the younger generation to feel comfortable in their own skin and to dream without limits. As they shatter glass ceilings and transcend societal limitations, they empower Asian Americans like me, allowing us to see ourselves in our heroes.
Why you probably do have time to read
By Emma YuReading makes you a better person: smarter, worldlier and more empathetic. Still, I often hear people lament that although they used to love reading when they were younger, they simply cannot anymore. Many people wish to read for pleasure, but do not end up doing it, often either because they are too busy or because they find it boring.
Less than 20% of U.S. teens read a book, magazine or newspaper daily for pleasure, whereas 80% use social media every day, according to a 2018 study from the American Psychological Association. Reading as a hobby is less popular now than ever. However, it’s not that people who don’t read books are necessarily reading fewer words — captions, messages, tweets and Reddit threads add up quickly. Rather, we are reading tiny fragments of text, which are instantly gratifying, instead of comprehensive articles or novels, which are more fulfilling in the long term.
Stop tearing women down
Bieber, Gomez drama promotes toxic comparisons
By Lia KlebanovAs an avid Selena Gomez fan since the age of five, I grew up thinking “Jelena,” Hollywood’s ship name for Gomez and Justin Bieber, was the ultimate couple. After
an on-again, off-again romance lasting eight years, the two singers broke up for the last time in 2018.
In September of that year, Bieber married Hailey Baldwin, now known as Hailey Bieber, crushing all hope for another reunion, according to Vogue.
After the wedding, many fans continued to compare Gomez and Hailey Bieber, while still shipping “Jelena.” However, all seemed relatively peaceful between Gomez and Bieber, with the two even being photographed together at an event.
Things took a sharp turn at the beginning of March. Soon after Gomez posted a TikTok detailing her recent eyebrow lamination, Kylie Jenner posted an Instagram story featuring Bieber seemingly making fun of Gomez’s appearance.
Since then, Bieber and Jenner have both been branded as the “mean girls,’’ and have even disabled comments on some of their social media posts.
Spreadinghateontheinternet should never be allowed.
(IllustrationbyLiaKlebanov)
I was shocked when I opened my Instagram on March 24 and saw stories on both Gomez and Bieber’s accounts detailing their recent communication and plead-
ing with the public to refrain from escalating the drama any further. While this particular “eyebrowgate” may have fizzled out, other celebrities must speak up against the toxic internet culture that pits women against one another.
Women and their love lives are often plastered on the covers of gossip magazines, and they all seem to have one thing in common — a mention of their exes, along with a comparison to the new girlfriend. It is unfortunate that Hollywood’s habit of exploiting people’s personal business bleeds into public comparisons of women in private matters.
Although preferring one celebrity over another may be acceptable, the internet must move on from long-ago celebrity relationships and be courteous to all involved.
We often forget fame does not make celebrities immune to the immeasurable amounts of hate they receive, which can wreck their mental health and relationships. While I personally support Gomez, taking to the internet to spread hostility is never acceptable, and as fans, we owe it to everyone to stop tearing women down.
Basic, banal and bewildering
terspersed with repetitive action scenes that I fought the urge to skip over.
By Zeinab RakhshandehrooAfter two seasons of dynamic character relationships and multidimensional villains, I had sky-high hopes for the third season of “Outer Banks.” But as soon as I watched the first episode, I knew this season was heading downhill. The season lacks real substance, replacing the complexity and originality of the previous episodes with dramatic, uncompelling plotlines.
One of the greatest pitfalls of this season is its lack of cohesiveness. Events occur very rapidly and the central plot points constantly shift from episode to episode, in-
When the show finally does settle on a main storyline, the search for El Dorado, it finds itself without any sense of where to go next. In the first two seasons, finding Denmark Tanny’s gold and cross was a compelling goal because the audience gradually uncovered clues with the characters. On the other hand, El Dorado was introduced abruptly and lacks relevance to any of the main characters, so I cared very little about the characters finding it.
Coupled with the weak storyline, the villain of this season, Carlos Singh, was another disappointing addition. Singh is shown to hurt, kidnap and kill people, but is not at all intimidating. With incompetent lackeys who do nothing
more than constantly miss during gunfights, Singh is an uninteresting and bland villain, a jarring contrast to the multifaceted Ward Cameron from previous seasons.
Rather than revising these weak plotlines, the “Outer Banks” writers created unnecessary dra-
The positive effects of reading have likely been parroted to all of us dozens of times, but regardless, we should keep in mind that reading not only makes us smarter, but is also one of the greatest acts of empathy we can practice alone. To read is to step into another person’s psyche, to literally view the world through their lens. There is no better way to pass time.
Often, high schoolers cite a lack of time as a primary reason for not being able to read as much as they would like. But for the vast majority of students, there are likely enough moments of idle time
throughout the day to carve out for substantial daily reading, such as empty tutorials, an hour on the weekends or that period of time after you get home from school and do nothing.
Substituting time otherwise spent on passive entertainment like social media with the active entertainment of reading might seem like a daunting change, but can quickly become a habit. I think of reading as no different from watching a TV show or scrolling through social media, because as simple as it may sound, that is what books are and always have been — entertainment. A good book can be equally, if not more, compelling as one’s favorite movie or TV show.
Additionally, from personal experience, I can attest that it is entirely possible to balance a heavy school workload with daily reading. My junior year was a typically horrible and exhausting year, with AP classes, extracurriculars and SAT studying. Yet, I continued to read, because it kept me intellectually stimulated on my own terms and made me smarter, but above all, because it is fun. During that school year, I read 74 books. While no one is asking anyone to read 74 books during their busiest year of high school, my experiences are proof that it is possible to still read, at least a little, while busy.
Nowadays, reading is more accessible and personalized than ever before. We have libraries, bookshops and the infinite powers of the internet to find the perfect book for each person. Why not do it? As the great literary critic Harold Bloom once said, “The ultimate answer to the question ‘why read?’ is that only deep, constant reading fully establishes and augments an autonomous self. Until you become yourself, what benefit can you be to others?”
ma between characters. Most infuriating was the ridiculous conflict between Sarah and John B, when Sarah cheats on him with her ex-boyfriend, a choice that is completely out of character for her.
Weigheddownbyanuninspiredplot,“OuterBanks” isamind-numbingwatch.(PhotofromNetflix)
The haphazardness of this storyline abruptly takes the reader out of the narrative. It seems as if their conflict was pulled out of nowhere just to create drama for the audience to be invested in. However, since the characters’ decisions were unaligned with their personalities, they only frustrated me.
Despite its many flaws, there were strong parts of the season. One of my favorites was Pope’s character arc, in which the injustice of losing his treasured inheritance sends him down a dark path. The turmoil he experiences feels real and relatable, making it one of the few emotionally substantial parts of the season.
However, even this positive aspect of the season is ruined by the unsatisfying way the arc comes to an end, with him easily letting go of his anger after being comforted by Cleo, transforming his moving storyline into a plot device for romance.
Ultimately, Season Three of “Outer Banks” is a lackluster addition to the series. Although enjoyable for basic entertainment, it lacks the substance to be a worthwhile addition to your watchlist.
Season 3 of ‘Outer Banks’ is a disappointing addition to seriesYeohandQuan’shistorictriumphsempower AsianAmericans.(IllustrationbyMacyLi)
‘Next in Fashion’ is my kind of fashion
Season Two mesmerizes with fashion designers’ creativity
By Hope SaenaFashion nowadays seems bizarre to me. From MSCHF’s big red boots to Crocs, I did not see the appeal of it until I was introduced to “Next in Fashion.”
Released on March 3 by Netflix, the show is hosted by fashion designer Tan France, along with fashion model Gigi Hadid. The competition features 18 designers from across the country, striving to win $250,000 and the opportunity to showcase their work on Net-a-
Porter, a fashion retailer site.
From start to finish, I could not get enough of the looks constructed by the designers. While the neon colors and intricate denim patchwork were intriguing to look at, I am most impressed by the designers’ creativity and ingenuity. Their ability to take scraps and turn them into something mesmerizing yet wearable in such a short time frame was captivating.
I especially enjoyed the pieces created by Nigel, a competitor on the show. He takes denim fragments and braids, stitches or sews them together. Crafted using various techniques, the patterns on his pieces are complex and enchanting to look at.
As the designers faced numer-
ous obstacles, such as working with difficult fabrics, I gained a newfound respect for their work over the course of the season. Each designer came in with a story of hardship, and it was inspiring to see how they transformed their struggles into art. Ultimately, I learned it takes confidence, perseverance and an understanding of oneself to excel in such a harsh industry. While the fashion industry is still an unfamiliar world to me, “Next in Fashion” left me feeling like an expert. I enjoyed making my own critiques as France and Hadid made theirs. By the end, I began seeing fashion as more of an art form, rather than nonsense. From sewing elaborate dresses to strut-
Colorblind casting: a mixed bag
By Keshav KumarAt the root of all art is a desire to recreate life. This holds especially true for film and television. Whenever I pick a new show or movie to watch, I hope to see some of my own experiences being portrayed. This is why it is so important that casting includes actors from a diverse array of backgrounds.
For much of film and television’s history, casting practices have underrepresented actors of color. However, this is changing due to a practice known as colorblind casting, which selects actors without regard to the race of the characters, according to The Root.
This trend has given more actors of color high-profile roles. For instance, Black actress Halle Bailey is set to portray Ariel in a live-action adaptation of “The Little Mermaid.” Similarly, Yara Shahidi, another woman of color, has been cast as the fairy Tink in “Peter Pan & Wendy,” according to Entertainment Weekly.
These choices are a welcome reversal of Hollywood’s traditional casting policies, especially because they are for films targeted at children. As a result, increasing diversity and representation can have lasting impacts on their viewers.
When people of color are only cast in supporting or antagonistic
roles in children’s television, many young viewers internalize harmful stereotypes. However, when minority actors are given positions of prominence as fully developed characters, children who are watching gain a greater sense of racial pride and awareness, according to The Conversation.
However, colorblind casting is a double-edged sword. Just as it can provide opportunities to actors of color, it can also take them away. For instance, in the 2017 film “Ghost in the Shell,” white actors like Scarlett Johansson portrayed characters meant to be Japanese, according to The Guardian.
In addition, directors should not completely ignore race, as doing so can weaken the social messages of certain pieces of fiction. Characters’ experiences can rep -
“NextinFashion”competitorsusedvarioustechniquesintheirwork, creatingcaptivatinglooksandinnovativedesigns.(PhotofromNetflix)
See Sargent, see Spain
use of people of color in traditionally white roles can highlight their historical contributions.
For example, in the musical “Hamilton,” people of color played American founding fathers, which emphasized the role of minorities in the development of the United States, according to The Guardian. Without the diversity of the cast, much of the work’s meaning would have been lost.
Although colorblind casting can improve representation in certain cases, it is an incomplete solution. After all, race can never be ignored. Ultimately, directors must ensure their casting choices promote diversity, rather than limiting it. By taking this step, we can ensure everyone feels represented when they turn on a television.
Legion of Honor exhibit aims to capture spirit of country
By Rajiv VenkateshAs I settled into my seat on a flight home from Bangkok, Thailand, a wave of doubt washed over me. I had tasted the food and seen the sights, but did I really understand the city?
“Sargent and Spain,” an exhibition of artist John Singer Sargent’s work at the Legion of Honor, seeks to answer the question of whether an outsider can truly grasp the spirit of a country. The American painter showcases the power of both art and travel through a visual feast of paintings depicting varied facets of life in Spain, including dance, religion and nature.
Stop rigging K-pop survival shows
By Seoyoung HwangCOLUMN – A popular way for K-pop idols to debut is through survival shows. In these shows, trainees compete to win the hearts of the public, and the contestants with the most votes at the end of the show get to debut. However, these shows are heavily rigged and unhealthy for K-pop trainees to par ticipate in.
“Boys
Planet” is an ongoing survival show produced by Mnet, a Ko
rean TV program that previously aired the “Produce 101” series. Each year, the produc ers of “Produce 101” have manip ulated the votes throughout the series to create a debut group to their liking, according to Yonhap News Agency. Due to the rigged results, many trainees who were supposed to debut lost their deserved opportunities.
When Mnet returned with “Boys Planet,” the staff stated the voting system was fair and transparent. The voting system was audited by Samil PwC, a company focused on business advisory services like assurance. Nevertheless, Mnet continued to indirectly rig the show through other methods.
For example, the screen time of each contestant varied. In episode six, contestant Yoon Jongwoo had 18 minutes of screen time, whereas multiple contestants got none or just a few seconds. The continuous exposure to certain contestants allows viewers to remember them and connect with them more, causing them to earn more votes.
In fact, Yoon’s ranking has been rising rapidly since the first episode, demonstrating how more screen time allows certain trainees to gain greater popularity. This is unfair to the contes-
tants who are not favored by the producers and lose their chance to debut, especially when many of them are talented and deserve this valuable opportunity.
Another example is the concept of “evil editing.” Mnet has been biased, editing multiple contestants they dislike in an unfavorable way, to eliminate them without directly rigging the votes.
For example, Lee Da-eul was portrayed as selfish on the show. Despite not practicing enough or being skilled, Lee wanted to keep his major role in a performance, even though everyone encouraged his team to change the positions. This led many netizens to stop voting for Lee, causing his ranking to drop from 13 to 46 in just a week, and he was eliminated from the show.
Although survival shows serve as a final chance for many trainees to debut and achieve their dreams, the manipulation and favoritism throughout these shows creates a biased environment. The K-pop industry must ensure survival shows are fair and welcoming opportunities to give every trainee a fair shot to debut.
Throughout his entire lifetime, Sargent visited Spain seven times, traveling to some of the country’s most iconic landmarks and natural wonders. No matter the subject, nearly every scene captured my attention because of Sargent’s unconventional use of perspective in his work. In one particularly striking painting, Sargent elevates a simple depiction of a dusty city street by painting it from a caravan, making the viewer feel as if they are racing down the road themselves.
By visiting both overlooked regions of the country and popular destinations, Sargent gained a more accurate understanding of the country, which he captured in a painting of a hospital in the city of Granada. In just a few brushstrokes, Sargent seems to give each patient a story, portraying the empathy and attention to detail that make his paintings so compelling.
Sargent also sought to engage with Spanish culture by studying the country’s most famous paintings, inspired by renowned artists such as Diego Velázquez. Unfortunately, Sargent’s attempt at duplicating these paintings was the most disappointing aspect of the exhibition. I expected them to at least approach the artistry of the originals, but ultimately, they lacked both the depth and care of the pieces they were based on, especially in the case of Velázquez’s “Las Meninas.”
Instead, a more significant product of Sargent’s studies were the paintings inspired by the techniques of great Spanish painters like Velázquez. In particular, “Street in Venice” evokes the same sense of depth and action in the paintings Sargent studied, making it feel like a still from a movie. For Sargent, trips to Spain represented an escape from America, where he produced his most famous works, mainly portraits of wealthy socialites. In Spain, he had the opportunity to apply the same sensitivity in those portraits to ones of the Roma, who have historically been subjected to oppression and stereotypes. By creating these nuanced depictions, Sargent not only rejected the harmful stereotypes that influence many tourists, but also worked to dismantle them.
While outsiders may never be able to fully understand a foreign place, this exhibition highlights the importance of trying. “Sargent and Spain” has the power to carry viewers to an entirely different place, just as visits to Spain helped Sargent leave behind the pressures of his career. If you ever feel the need to escape, this exhibition may be just what you need.
Grade: B. Open at the Legion of Honor until May 14.
Brothers take on golf
Ashe twins bond on the golf course
By Brevin Reed, Rajiv Venkatesh and Annabelle YipBasketball, baseball, soccer — together, seniors Kyle and Nicholas Ashe have played them all. Now, the brothers have reunited to play golf.
“At first, we resented each other a little because our parents used to compare us,” Nicholas Ashe said. “But as we got older and went into high school, there was a special connection between us because we’re twin brothers. The trust we have helps us play really well together.”
Kyle Ashe said he played basketball throughout middle school and into his freshman year of high school, though he eventually stopped due to the pandemic. However, after playing sports all his life, he said it felt strange not to play one.
“My dad told me [to choose a sport], and I [decided to] try out for the golf team,” Kyle Ashe said. “It wasn’t that serious at the start, but it’s been one of my best decisions throughout high school because I got to meet a lot of new people and discovered a passion that hopefully carries on throughout my life.”
With the guidance of their father, who has played golf for many years, the brothers began playing the sport at the age of seven. However, Nicholas said it was not initially a priority for him compared to baseball and basketball until this year.
“Last year, I was exclusively
King of the court
playing baseball and kept dislocating my left shoulder while swinging, but that actually wasn’t what stopped me from playing,” Nicholas Ashe said. “I was in the gym and was lifting when I dislocated it again, and after that I just couldn’t play baseball because it would just hurt so much.”
However, Nicholas Ashe said he found he could still play golf despite his injury, so his brother convinced him to join the team. While the sport involves less physical exertion, players must confront mental obstacles, Kyle Ashe said.
“If you hit a bad shot and just keep digging yourself in a hole every time you [perform badly], getting over that mental block is really tough,” Kyle Ashe said. “When you don’t play with confidence, you often don’t play as well.”
Although most people see golf as an individual sport, Kyle Ashe said the team’s score is based on the performance of all players, so supporting one’s teammates is important.
“We have tee times where we get to play together on a hole,” Nicholas Ashe said. “It’ll be me, Kyle and whoever else is there, and we’ll just play the hole together. We’ll play through the course, and we can ask each other for advice on how to approach a shot.”
Ultimately, Nicholas Ashe said playing together on the team has brought him and his brother closer in their senior year.
“Kyle and I have three things in common: we live in the same house, we play video games and we play sports together,” Nicholas Ashe said. “Playing golf has definitely given us more things to talk about.”
Volleyball sets sights on second NorCal win
By Macy Li, Hope Saena and Lindsey SteelIn a 3-2 victory, varsity boys volleyball defeated Bishop O’Dowd High School in the CIF NorCal Division III championship last year. As reigning champions, the team feels determined to conquer another season, team captain and middle blocker Kiran Dias said.
“We got along with each other [last year], and that chemistry made our team strong,” Dias, a senior, said. “Training and serving, which I think are one of the most important aspects of the game, were also our strengths.”
This season, Dias said he hopes to qualify for CCS and place top three in SCVAL, but the team needs to overcome a series of obstacles to reach these goals.
“Blocking is one of our main issues right now,” Dias said. “We also need to bring more energy, even if we’re sitting on the bench.”
Additionally, outside hitter, senior Kevin Choi said the team needs stronger communication on the court, an integral part of the game.
Teamwork and communication are essential in helping the team obtain a second NorCal win, coach DannyChansaid.(PhotobyLindseySteel)
“Something we’re talking about in practice is the mental [aspect] of the game,” Choi said. “Sometimes, we blame each other for
making a mistake, but [in times like this], we need to become one.”
Throughout this season, the team experienced ups and downs, but Choi said he believes the new varsity coach, Danny Chan, will continue to motivate the team.
“He’s more technical than last year’s coach, and he will get mad at us if we don’t play well,” Choi said. “That pushes us to want to become better players.”
As head coach, Chan said he hopes to be a mentor for his players, and help them develop into stronger athletes throughout this season.
“I want to instill the love of the game [in the players] and teach them about strategy,” Chan said. “[I want them to know] why we set up our defense and offense [the way we do] and what we do based on the personnel that we have.”
Ultimately, Chan said he wants to continue the team’s tradition of success as the players work toward another victory in CCS and NorCal.
“We’re in a tough league this year, and the boys are thinking about the three losses we’ve had this season,” Chan said. “But after each match or practice, we’re learning and reflecting on how we can get better.”
A blunder in the sports world
Chess is not comparable to sports
By Helen TamThere has been a long standing debate of whether or not chess is a sport. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has even recognized chess as a sport, although it is not an official event at the Olympics. However, the IOC and a major population of the chess community have made a mistake on this subject.
Many players argue that chess is comparable to a game involving physical activity due to its competitive nature and the fact it requires skill, strategy and mental endurance, according to several chess forums on chess.com. There is also a definite set of rules that players must follow, similar to any sport.
However, the definition of a sport is “an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment,” according to the Oxford Dictionary, a definition that
Smashing the birdie for the win
Badminton team discusses sport’s physicality
By Brian Ling, Zeinab Rakhshandehroo and Veronica ZhaoAnyone can whack a birdie. But having the dynamic movement, power and agility to succeed in badminton requires a variety of skills, badminton coach Gumaro Diaz said.
Badminton team manager, sophomore Celine Park said the sport’s competitive nature makes it difficult to master.
“[If anyone believes badminton is easy, that is] not very accurate, at least at the higher levels,” Diaz said. “It’s physically exhausting [and] demanding. Obviously, if you
get a few beginners together, it’s gonna be easy to hit [the birdie] back and forth, but as the level increases, the physical demands increase as well.”
Additionally, in order to perform well, JV player, sophomore Shiva Chitta said the sport requires players to constantly be ready, including receiving different types of shots in order to get points.
“I play singles,” Chitta said. “I have the whole court to [myself], which means I have to defend the entire court by myself. So it’s pretty tough to run around.”
For those thinking about joining the badminton team simply because they think it would be an easy way to receive PE credits, Park said she thinks they should reconsider.
“[Ask yourself]: do I know enough [tactics] to actually play?” Park said. “I [would] think about
reconsidering [joining the badminton team] and ask [myself] if I know all the skills that are actually needed in the game.”
Though badminton may be an enjoyable sport to play for leisure, professional badminton is much more serious, Park said.
“Playing just for fun isn’t at all the same as playing in a competitive match because there’s a lot more pressure on you,” Park said. “You need to know all those skills before playing, or it’ll go really badly.”
chess does not satisfy.
Chess requires a great deal of mental activity and strategic thinking to succeed, according to OFC Chess. The game also needs a great deal of concentration and mental energy to fully appreciate the nuances of each move, as well as visualizing multiple moves ahead to make the best decisions. These factors show how chess focuses more on mental and academic skills rather than its few physical demands.
Chess, in the end, is just a board game that has grown famous and has become a household activity. It should not be in the same category as sports like volleyball, basketball and soccer. While board games and card games have rules and
require strategy, skill and mental endurance, they are not sports. Those who advocate for chess to be considered a sport do not realize how any activity can essentially be considered one if a person is passionate enough about it. With enough dedication and time, any activity can be competitive and draining. Therefore, those traits should not determine what is or is not a sport, and chess should definitely not be considered one, either.
Badminton 7 - 3
We have a lot of new players, so we have to start from the beginning, but that’s totally fine. Like [my] coach said, we’re building up, and we want to [do well].
— Sanghyuk Ko (10)SPRING START
baseball 5 - 8 softball 2 - 6 3 - 4 Boys tennis 1 - 3
The season is not going as well as it should be for us, but we’re trying to fight through. The team just doesn’t connect very well, but once we snap together, we’re going to be winning a lot of games.
—
JUNIOR OWEN COBLIN
- 4
We were looking forward to a strong season [with] many wins, since we have a great team of fast swim mers. The varsity boys medley relay looks to break the school record and hopefully qualify for states.”
— Owen Coblin (11)
Logan Christianson(10)
[The season] is going better than I anticipated. We’re playing pretty strong — we just have to work on hitting. Luckily, this year, we do have a good [team], because everyone knows each other from last year and from club.
boys volleyball
17 - 5
We are unofficially ranked number 11 in NorCal as of now. We’re playing well, but we have not hit our full potential.
ATHLETE OF THE MONTH
Senior
Boys golf
We lost seniors from last year, so it was difficult to get that team chemistry, but now that it’s the second half of the season, we’re picking things up. We’re playing solid all around, and our matches have been close.
—
Alon Hutt(11)
The season is going pretty well. We have a lot of new players, and they’re always trying to get better with [the rest of the team], which is nice.
to victory
By Faith WattersStrong leadership is an integral part of any team, and this is no exception for the varsity boys volleyball team, which is led by co-captain, senior Kiran Dias. As a middle blocker, Dias not only has exceptional athletic skills and the highest hitting percentage on the team, but also stellar leadership abilities, head coach Danny Chan said.
“Dias is respected by his peers, as they all chose him to be team captain,” Chan said. “He leads by example and has a big presence.”
In addition to his role as a team
leader, Dias is a tenacious athlete and one of the most proficient blockers in Northern California, Chan said.
“Other coaches and players know that he is a threat and often have to send multiple people to slow him down,” Chan said. “It doesn’t matter how many blockers are in front of Dias — he will still find ways to score.”
Furthermore, Dias’ speed and athletic capabilities are essential for matches, setter Brian Ip said.
“[Kiran is] quick compared to other middle blockers, but he is everywhere on the court,” Ip, a junior, said. “He can adjust [to] any type of play in his general area and can twist it [to his favor].”
Ultimately, Dias’ competitive nature is an inspiration and driv-
ing force for the team, co-captain Parsa Bastani said.
“Dias’ competitive mindset serves as a motivation for the team to constantly improve,” Bastani, a senior, said. “By setting high standards and pushing for success, Kiran inspires others to work harder, leading to bigger success in matches.”
After leading the team to victory in NorCal last season, Dias said his biggest piece of advice is to maintain confidence throughout matches, regardless of the situation.
“[It is important to] stay aggressive and never get down on yourself,” Dias said. “Keeping [your] confidence up is a big key to succeeding. If you don’t, the other teams can take advantage of you.”
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Diasscoresamatch-winningshot.(PhotobyMacyLi)
Feel the beat
From traditional Asian styles to modern hip-hop, students share impact of dance on their lives
Styles of dance
Dancers discuss diverse styles of dance
Eugene Cho (10)
Cho joined KREW in his sophomore year.
Find a group of friends that will [dance] with you, because I think that will make your experience a lot more enjoyable. Dancing “Maniac” by Stray Kids felt like dancing with friends rather than dancing with a club. I like performing a lot, [and] I don’t get that much stage fright.”
Q&A:
Senior Mikey Diffenderfer reflects on third year choreographing BOTC class dance
Diffenderfer danced hip-hop competitively until his freshman year. With his experience, he has choreographed the class of 2023 BOTC dance for the last three years.
How did you approach teaching the choreography?
Brevin Reed and I made different parts of the choreography. From there, we had practice, and it took only two hours to get.
Lea Shemy (9)
Shemy has been dancing jazz, lyrical and hip-hop for seven years.
I like the styles of dancing that I do, because [they] challenge me technically, especially the ones that are more ballet based and allow some artistic expression and stylization.”
PhotocourtesyofLeaShemy
Jacey Tang (10)
Tang has been dancing since preschool and joined the Equestriettes freshman year.
[Dance is] a good way to stretch or warm up your body. I think it’s really fun dancing jazz or lyrical because I get to show my emotions and express how I feel [in the moment].”
PhotocourtesyofJaceyTang
Q&A:
Sophomore Robin Fischer discusses love for dance and potential of pursuing it professionally
Fischer has been dancing for two years and joined KREW as a sophomore. He was recently noticed by Clover Red, a Bay Area dance company that was impressed by his moves and style.
How did you start dancing?
“I’ve been a self-taught dancer for two years. I’ve been doing K-pop dances at home in my bathroom, just looking in the mirror. But I got into KREW starting my sophomore year.”
How did it feel to be noticed by Clover Red?
“[It was] honestly very exciting, and I felt kind of proud because I put so much effort into KREW, and I’m glad that it’s showing through by being scouted out.”
Why do you love to dance?
“I think a lot of it is the friendship and closeness you can [get] with your fellow members. I think [it] just improves the dancing overall, the energy and environment.”
As a choreographer, what did you enjoy the most?
I love teaching. It was super interesting watching others learn the dance moves.
How did you feel about the final performance?
I was unsure of how things were going to go, but in the end, I was proud. I enjoyed it.
David Dai (11)
Dai has been breakdancing since 3rd grade.
At first I thought that breakdancing was just cool. But after some practicing, I realized that it was my own way of expressing my style and creativity.”
Aditi Ghosh (11)
For ten years, Ghosh has practiced Bharatanatyam, an ancient Indian style of dancing that originates in the southern state of Tamil Nadu.
I like traditional dance more, because there’s a big storytelling aspect to it. You tell stories not only about mythology, but also about current events. There are a lot of technicalities behind the traditional forms that you don’t necessarily see within more modern styles of dance. I really appreciate the specificity behind it.”
Cyn Wang (11)
Wang has been practicing classical Chinese dancing for 13 years
There are many different cultures in China, and the smaller tribes have unique practices. People usually think traditional Chinese dancing is weird or funny, but I just think it’s really cool to see.”
