Winston Le drops 10 seconds off his record
“We’re meeting students where they’re at, meaning that, even in the class, you could see kids on different points in the program. This course is designed to meet them there with a program that adapts to their skill level.”
— Assistant
“The discrepancy [in English and math skills] existed before students got here, so we do our best to catch up on skills. It’s the first year we’re running this class to see how we can close some of that gap for students.”
— Principal Denae Nurnberg
“We provide pinpointed interventions using a research-based program to help with the instruction of reading and math, and then we supplement the teaching in areas they have issues with.”
—English teacher Jon Vranesh
Aiming to support students’ reading and math comprehension skills, a new Academic Foundations course is being offered to freshmen this year, principal Denae Nurnberg said.
The demand for this class arose after Literature and Writing teachers observed concerning results in the Gates-MacGinitie Reading Test that is administered annually to assess freshmen reading level, English teacher and former Literature and Writing team lead Natalie Owsley said.
“We started noticing that a handful of students were coming in with low reading levels and that there were no set supports for those students,” Owsley said. “There wasn’t a specific class we could put them in. There weren’t any curriculum changes we could really give them, so we were doing our best to help them be successful in our classes. A lot of times, those ended up being the students who were not successful.”
Instead of focusing solely on one subject, the class aims to balance both English and math learning, expanding on the model of the Algebra 1 Workshop class, Nurnberg said.
“It was one of those situations where students who struggled in math wouldn’t necessarily want to do double the amount of math, so it was just a mismatch of a model,” Nurnberg said. “We’re hoping to find a little more success with this model, where students are given half the time but more targeted support.”
Throughout the course, student learning in both English and math is guided by the MyPath platform, English teacher Jon Vranesh, who teaches the new Academic Foundations course, said.
MyPath uses AI to adapt online instruction to each student according to their performance on an initial assessment, Vranesh said. Any gaps in students’ knowledge are then addressed through traditional teacher instruction.
“MyPath is very individual learning,” Vranesh said. “They’re on their own on the computers. Everybody’s at a different spot because everybody has strengths and weaknesses. They’re working on their lessons, and then it’ll tell me if they don’t pass a lesson or to review it, so I’ll pull people
off on the side, working one-on-one with them on lessons that are related to what they were doing.”
Rather than electing to take the class, freshmen are selectively placed in the course based on teacher recommendations from middle school and previous standardized test scores, Vranesh said.
“In the regular Academic Foundations classes, [they teach] student support, organizational skills and student skills, and that’s what kids need,” Vranesh said. “But sometimes, coming in as a freshman, they don’t have that foundation in mathematics and reading, so that’s why they decided to do this different type of Academic Foundations.”
Standing out from more lockstep teaching styles, assistant principal Mayra Valdivia said the course’s flexibility ensures freshmen succeed in core classes early on in their high school journey and keep students on track to meet their graduation requirements.
“Students can take their time because we’re meeting them where they’re at,” Valdivia said. “The program, by design, either slows down or speeds up for them in both areas. What Vranesh is finding now is that some students are speeding up in English, a little bit slower in math or the other way around. Knowing the baseline, he’s also able to offer that in-person support so students can continue to progress.”
Math teacher Phil Lee, who taught the Algebra 1 Workshop last year, said implementing additional academic support systems is crucial to ensuring students’ long-term success in core classes such as math.
“If the students buy in, and if the teachers create an environment where students can succeed, then [students will benefit],” Lee said. “A lot of students don’t get the support at home or things like that for them to be successful. The more resources that we have at school to be able to help various students, the better.”
While the effectiveness of the new course is yet to be determined, Valdivia said she is optimistic about students’ outcomes and is looking to track the impact of the class on its students’ trajectory over the next four years.
“We’re already seeing results with the program. I see it expanding or, at least, continuing,” Valdivia said. “I see this program as an opportunity for us to identify students needing support across these two core areas students need across their entire high school years, sooner rather than later.”
hhsepitaph.com
Band classes shift practices while staff solve rat problem
Following a recent surge of rat sightings within the E Building, all music classes have moved to other locations for practices as staff and parent volunteers clear the infestation, director of instrumental music Ben Scharf said.
The rodent problem was first observed in early 2024 in the form of noises and droppings, Scharf said.
“We found out that the rats had chewed through some of the wiring in our HVAC unit, which limited air flow and caused a buildup of carbon dioxide in the room,” Scharf said. “We were able to bring up the issue more urgently with the school, and that’s when we started to investigate more.”
Since then, the infestation has expanded to a point where the band room is no longer safe for students to practice in, Scharf said.
Once staff identified a concrete infestation within the building, both staff and parents began taking action, Scharf said. Staff have begun work to seal entry points, clean droppings and clear all rodents from the building, Scharf added.
Henry Hu See Rat infestation, page 2
Immunologist Fred Ramsdell added to list of
Sachin Chandran and Aviv Matas
In his quest to tackle rheumatoid arthritis, 1979 graduate Fred Ramsdell won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicines on Oct. 6. He played a role in the discovery of a gene that prevents autoimmune diseases.
Adding to a list of storied alumni and accomplishments, Ramsdell’s win brings pride and motivation to the student body, principal Denae Nurnberg said.
“You might not know what you’re capable of here as a high school student, but then you look at somebody like [Ramsdell],” Nurnberg said. “Knowing that you have the potential to have that level of impact in our society is really meaningful.”
Ri-Chee Chou, a friend of Ramsdell from the same graduating class, said he was elated when he heard about Ramsdell’s achievement. During their time together in their accelerated classes and NHS leadership, Ramsdell displayed a combination of intellect and a friendly personality, Chou added.
“[I was] very excited and proud of him,” Chou said. “I sent him an email to congratulate him. He responded back to me pretty quickly, and we have exchanged a few emails since then.”
Continued from page 1
“We had an amazing team of parent volunteers who have been documenting all instances of where they noticed the rat droppings and recording the readings on our carbon dioxide meters around classes,” Scharf said. “Once we showed that to the district, [cleanup] was able to move a lot faster.”
While staff are cleaning up the band room, students are learning how to best adapt to shifting practice locations and schedules, wind ensemble two player, senior Vivian Kim said. Most bands have settled on practicing in the cafeteria for the time being, which has led to logistical and timing issues affecting student performance, Kim said.
“We have to move to the cafeteria, bring all the instruments, move all the cafeteria tables and
set up music stands and the chairs by ourselves,” Kim said. “Our class time decreased because we need time to set up and clean up everything, so we don’t utilize the entire 90 minutes.”
The lost practice time is detrimental for multiple reasons, mostly as students now have less time to prepare for the upcoming winter concert, french horn player, sophomore Isamu Kanagy said. The lost time, combined with consistently moving around campus, is testing students and their ability to adapt, Kanagy added.
“It may take three or four weeks to improve, [which] is kind of a shame. Judging from how our band class went today, I imagine it is going to be difficult to get our pieces ready for our winter concert,” Kanagy said. “Today was our first time moving to the caf-
eteria, and it was very chaotic and inefficient.”
Despite obstacle with efficiency, Scharf said students have to put effort to adapt well to the changing circumstance and ensure that band practices run smoothly.
“The students have been flexible and understanding of the situation because they also want their rooms to be as safe and clean as possible,” Scharf said. “It does take up a considerable amount of class time to move all of our equipment to and from the cafeteria, but [our students] understand that this is happening because the school and the district want our space to be safer.”
Students, staff participate in No Kings protests
Aashka Nagarkar and Malar Raguraman
Across the Bay Area, students and teachers protested against president Donald Trump’s policies from Oct. 1118 as a part of the nationwide No Kings protests, senior Anya Klingner said.
During the large protests, participants held up signs and encouraged
people driving and walking by to support their cause, Klingner said. While protesters were angry about Trump’s policies, the atmosphere of the protest remained positive, Klingner added.
“A lot of people at that protest were definitely people who were less impacted by what Trump’s doing,” Klingner said. “We’re pretty privileged in Mountain View and in the Sunnyvale area, and we still chose to go out there and protest for the people who couldn’t be there. I think that’s really empowering and patriotic.”
Despite counterprotestors’ attempts at instigation, photography teacher Edmond Kwong, who attended a protest in downtown San Jose, said protesters maintained peaceful methods to express their ideas.
“The way to react is just let them go and stick with your core belief to peacefully protest,” Kwong said. “We were there for people to hear our voices, perspective and complaints, but we were not there for a physical fight.”
Before the protest itself, attendees used paper and cardboard to make signs with unique phrases describing their reasons for protesting, Kwong said. These signs condemned the handling of issues such as climate change, immigration and healthcare, Kwong said.
“Making signs really expresses the part of the protest that resonates with
Continued from page 1
After high school, Ramsdell said he did not initially pursue science and instead opted for a theater major. Although this career path did not pan out, Ramsdell said he discovered his passion for science through time spent in the mountains, which also taught him useful advice.
“Pay attention to what you’re doing and be open to ideas,” Ramsdell said. “For me, that has always worked out really well. I haven’t spent a lot of time pre-planning what I am going to do, and half the time, when I think I know what I want to do, it changes anyway.”
Ramsdell said the award-winning findings, made in collaboration with fellow Nobel laureates Mary Brunkow and Shimon Sakaguchi, are based on 25-year-old research. This research had been
developing with technology and was made possible due to modern medical advancements, Ramsdell added.
“We can now think about using this cell population that we all have and then re-engineering it a bit in the lab so we can focus on specific diseases,” Ramsdell said.
Specifically, Ramsdell said he and his colleagues discovered the gene which encodes the production of body cells that regulate the immune system. Prior to their discovery, there was uncertainty around how these cells worked
“This gene controls these cells, and these cells control our entire immune system. It was the new paradigm,” Ramsdell said. “When we figured out these cells are a tiny fraction of the cells in our blood and all our tissues, we dis-
you because with the political climate now, there are just so many issues,” Kwong said. “Seeing the signs around me at the protest made me think, ‘Oh yeah, there’s that.’ It’s good to see that so many people are affected by this in different ways.”
After attending a No Kings protest in June, Kwong said he was contacted to attend a similar protest in the area by the organization Mobilize No Kings. The organization promoted the initial protests through social media and sent emails to participants, Kwong added.
“[Mobilize No Kings] not only incentivizes, but they let people know when [protests] happen. There might be people interested in participating, but they don’t know where and when to go,” Kwong said. “It was a good ve hicle for the general public to know what’s involved.”
Previously, sophomore Sofia Es pinoza said she had shown support for protests and advocacy, but being more involved and hands-on ulti mately made the protest a fulfilling experience.
“I was surprised at how lively it felt,” Espinoza said. “We were stand ing there, holding signs, playing music and standing all together. When drivers pass by, honk their horns, wave at you and smile at you, it feels like a community, and it makes you feel very connected to the all people around you.”
covered these cells just controlled everything.”
With new technology, the team’s discoveries are being applied to oncology and utilized in therapies for autoimmune diseases, Ramsdell said. Inhibiting the regulatory cells in certain cancer patients may help treat cancer, he added.
“We are treating people with rheumatoid arthritis,” Ramsdell said. If [the treatment] works, and we’re right about this, then I think we’ll be able to tailor therapies to individuals who have diseases, and treat the disease in a holistic manner, basically resetting their immune system so it doesn’t see what is that’s being targeted.”
Culminating his life’s work, Ramsdell said the Nobel Prize was unexpected, but is a tremendous
Know what is going on 360 degrees around you and look out for your surroundings. If anything seems suspicious, tell a trusted adult or authority figure about it. Don’t be afraid to speak up if you feel unsafe.
According to Human Rights Campaign
Be knowledgable about the protest location and plan multiple ways out. Set a meeting location with your friends. According to
honor for him and his colleagues.
“I feel great for that team, because we worked really hard,” Ramsdell said. “We knew it was important, but we didn’t ever think it would come to this. They’re excited, so I am happy for them because of their work over the years.”
If you are confronted by the police, you have the right to assemble and to speak up. Call a lawyer if you are detained.
Choir, orchestra, wind ensemble perform concert
Henry Hu and Catherine Yang
In collaboration with orchestra and wind ensemble one, choir performed the annual Major Works concert on Oct. 21 in the auditorium, combining two unique music fields under one original piece, music department lead Jeff Morton said.
This year, the music tells the story of Gonzalo Guerrero, a conquistador who became a prominent Mayan warrior after being shipwrecked on the Yucatan Peninsula, Morton said.
“The concept for the piece is 20 years old,” Morton said. “I spent a lot of time composing in my little office space at home. At our final exam period last year, I had my students see part of the first movement, and I was like, ‘Oh, this is a keeper, I'll crank this out.’”
Unlike previous concerts focusing on music by famous artists like George Frideric Handel, this year's Major Works solely featured Morton’s pieces,
leading to greater performer motivation and concert success, soprano, senior Noemi Liu said.
“The first time we sang it, I felt emotional because it was very vulnerable,” Liu said.
“We've been hearing a lot of feedback from parents that the movements Morton wrote were really moving.”
Preparations began at the start of the school year, when the selection of string and wind players was made, euphonium player, senior Catherine Li said.
Rehearsing different groups between tutorial and after school, most of the practices for the performance were separate, Morton said.
“Every year, I work with my personal schedule,” Morton said.
“I've had [performers] come play with the choir a few times to help get us ready, and Scharf has run some of the movements with orchestra. We rehearse separately and then a little bit together. We rehearsed the night before the show to make sure everything was in good order and to make sure the mics were all good.”
Another major change with this year's performance was that choir members were equipped
with collar microphones, strategically spread out to capture clearer sound, soprano choir member, senior Ashna Yadav said.
“This year, some [singers] wore lapel mics, which meant we didn't have to scream our lungs out, and the audience could still hear us, which is wonderful,” Yadav said.
The concert pushed players to grow as they adapted to unfamiliar music styles, culminating in a harmonious performance, Li said.
“It was an interesting experience playing with instrumentals that weren't necessarily part of my niche,” Li said. “I've never experienced that anywhere else.”
In the future, Morton said he hopes Major Works inspires other choirs to explore pieces based on compelling stories rather than composer popularity.
“Having [students] know the story and chipping away the dominant paradigm of history is a good thing,” Morton said. “Music is engaging at a high school level.”
Ethan Xue and Alan Zhang
Collaborating with other East Asian cultural clubs, the Taiwanese Student Association will host a night market event in the quad from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 14, social media manager, junior Ashley Chao said.
Featuring activities and food across rows of decorated stands, the night market aims to celebrate East Asian culture by replicating a popular Taiwanese tourist attraction, Chao said.
“We picked the night market in particular because it’s a super well-known Taiwanese experience that is customizable to HHS but can still represent the environment of the real thing,” Chao said.
In contrast with most cultural events, the night market will have a self-directed format, NCHS secretary, junior Rachel Chen said. Strolling between table booths, attendees can engage in popular children’s games or purchase tickets and food, Chen said.
“A lot of people are really into food, and if they want to spend more time focusing on food, that’s perfectly fine,” Chen said. “In the end, it’s a lot more engaging
and rewarding than if they were forced to visit booths they would forget once the night is over.”
In particular, junior Aarav Almaula said the night market will be more enjoyable by not having attendees participate in required activities to gain prizes like previous cultural events had.
“There are a lot of benefits to it being largely unstructured,” Almaula said. “Whenever we have an international night and I’m given some card to fill out, I usually throw it away and walk around.”
Although the night market was also hosted five years prior, TSA has struggled with arranging around conflicting plans, leading to postponement over past years, Chao said. In early September, officers reintroduced the idea and began organizing it once again, Chao said.
“At the start of the year, most officers have more open personal schedules,” Chao said, “We were able to bring it up, meet and focus on fleshing out details to make the event actually happen.”
Soon after holding initial meetings, however, TSA officers faced recurring challenges with adapting to strict ASB logistical guidelines for game and food safety that gradually set the event back, Chao said.
“Some traditional games are more aggressive, such as [pop-
ping] balloons with needle darts,” Chao said. “We overcame [this] problem by coming up with other games that are creative and entertaining at the same time.”
Additionally, communication issues between involved organizations delayed coordination early on, Chao said.
“Not every club checks their email often, leading to [postponement] of meetings because they don’t show up,” Chao said. “For ASB and our adviser, they need to go back and forth with revisions.”
To address these problems, Chao said TSA officers held meetings to solidify event activities, plan budgeting and supervision. Additionally, officers expanded interclub communication from Gmail to Discord and Instagram to expedite planning, Chao said.
“Because we had lengthier meetings in the past few weeks, we had more productive discussions to adapt details and ultimately get ASB approval,” Chao
said. “We also used other online platforms to foster communication so there wouldn’t be more delays.”
While overarching event preparation was managed by TSA, involved clubs are managing their own event booths to ensure authenticity, Chen said.
“Each individual club is more well-versed in their distinct region, so it’s going to make each booth more immersive and representative of the cultures,” Chen said.
By uniting East Asian clubs, the night market will spotlight their shared cultural themes and lay the groundwork for future collaboration, Chen said.
“We each have our distinct cultures, but in the end, we’re interconnected and should support each other,” Chen said. “I hope that persists in years to come because togetherness is an important [cultural] aspect people need to keep in mind.”
1. In which subject did Fred Ramsdell win the Nobel Prize?
a. Physiology or Medicine
b. Economic Sciences
c. Literature
2. Which of the following subject pairings is being addressed by the new Academic Foundations class this year?
a. Math and English
b. Science and Math
c. History and English
3. Which civilization does the character of Jeff Morton’s piece originate from?
a. Mayan
b. Inca
c. Aztec
Ethan Xue
Local: Silicon Valley provides free laptops to local families
To address regional technological access disparities, the Foothill-De Anza Foundation and several Silicon Valley nonprofits partnered with AT&T and Human-I-T to provide 250 refurbished computers to pre-selected local students and families, according to Cupertino Today.
The Foothill-De Anza Foundation, Sunnyvale Community Services, the Bill Wilson Center and the Asian Pacific American Leadership Institute collaborated in this effort to boost workforce development and education for underserved local communities, according to Cupertino Today.
National: SNAP benefits halt on Nov. 1
Amid the ongoing government shutdown of nonessential programs, the Department of Agriculture posted a website notice that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits will stop being issued on Nov. 1, according to NBC.
Although SNAP benefits, widely known as “food stamps,” have been federally funded up to this point, states individually issue them, according to ABC.
Impacts of the SNAP cut will consequently vary across states, as they will not be federally reimbursed for any actions to maintain SNAP and have been instructed to stop providing information on SNAP eligibility, according to USA Today.
Through the November funding lapse, the roughly 42 million low-income Americans relying on SNAP benefits can look to food banks and local meal programs for nutritional assistance, according to USA Today.
International: Hurricane Melissa hits Jamaica Hurricane Melissa hit the southwest coast of Jamaica Oct. 28, according to NPR.
Initially a tropical system, the storm quickly intensified to a life-threatening category five hurricane due to particularly warm waters and surrounding air, according to BBC.
The strongest storm this year and in Jamaican history, it is bringing winds of up to 185 mph along with heavy rain, according to BBC.
While millions shelter in place, Jamaica faces widespread flooding, landslides and communication outages, according to Fox.
As deaths approach the dozens, planes continue to track updates, according to CNN.
Volume
Editors-in-Chief
Parth Dhaulakhandi Alicia Liste
Web Editor-in-Chief Amanda Boles
Print Managing Editor Maya Dutt
News
Danielle Feldsher Ethan Xue
Opinion
Sachin Chandran Adam Orrin
Lifestyles
Matas
Alan Zhang
Arts & Culture
Jason Lai
Malar Raguraman
Sports Editors
Olivia Levesque Ouellette Selina Wang
Copy Editors Ethan Xue
Alan Zhang
Photo-Illustration Editor Isabela Guilardi
Design
Multimedia
Dutt
Guilardi
Aashka Nagarkar
Social Media Editor
Reporters
Bandil Alexander Cao
Chang Krist Ferreria Ivy Guo Henry Hu
Sanjeet Jayaseelan
James Jiang
Elina Li
Saachi Nangare Luna Pitl
Kanmani Raguraman
Advay Ranade
Julia Song
Ethan Tan
Chloe Wang
Catherine Yang
Yichen Yao Kaylin Yi
Adviser
Natalie Owsley
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Despite the need for limitations and regulations surrounding generative artificial intelligence in schools, a solid policy has not yet been put in place by the district. To uphold FUHSD’s standards of academic integrity and create an equitable learning environment, the district must create clearly defined AI-usage policies for its students.
Though it can act as a powerful learning tool, AI has also been shown to negatively impact students, most notably by reducing critical thinking skills, according to a study conducted by SWS Swiss Business School.
Currently, FUHSD’s policy, which can be found on the HHS website, prohibits students from using AI when it bypasses the “learning process” but allows it when it is used as a “learning tool.”
Without describing any aspect of the “learning process” or giving a definition for “learning tools,” this policy is ex-
tremely vague and allows teachers to set their own standards as to whether or not students demonstrate proper usage.
In an analysis of 33 syllabi from teachers across eight departments, we found that standards for AI usage remained vague despite being in the syllabi. Most syllabi fail to add specificity, leaving many potential uses of AI ambiguous in terms of what is considered acceptable.
For example, many syllabi simply direct students to the FUHSD policy while the same course taught by a different teacher completely bans AI. Similarly, for another course, one teacher has put a complete ban on AI while another allows it for studying and preparation purposes.
These varying policies create disparities between students’ efficiency when completing assignments, leading to inequities within the classroom. The lack of a clear policy blurs the line between uses that do and do not maintain aca-
Not only does this create confusion, but it also contributes to inequity in the classroom, with some students being allowed access to a powerful tool and others being denied the same opportunity.
This inconsistency undermines the concept of academic integrity, which is meant to be a uniform schoolwide policy without room for misinterpretation.
A more detailed policy, one that includes specificity for AI usage, is needed to describe what is considered honest and what is not. When those standards fluctuate between classrooms, it makes defining fairness impossible, as the line between right and wrong is never drawn.
In order to balance AI’s role as a powerful learning tool and its potential as a detrimental shortcut, the district must implement overarching AI policies to optimize students’ education, at the very least, across departments or courses.
The policy must outline requirements for each course to use concrete and identical guidelines surrounding AI usage within the same discipline.
Among these guidelines, there must be clear criteria to determine both what constitutes AI as well as proper, ethical uses of it. Furthermore, the consequences for improper usage should be outlined and standardized to prevent inequity in punishments for violations of similar magnitude, an important consideration overlooked by existing policies.
This approach will bring equity to the classroom by ensuring students have similar learning experiences. In addition to consistency across courses, teachers must also play an active role in clarifying their own classroom policies. By specifying how AI can be used, such as allowing Grammarly to check for errors while banning any use of generative AI, teachers can provide better guidance and prevent any misunderstandings with students.
The Epitaph editorial board voted with a majority of 16-2 in support of this stance.
Student-led discussions are beneficial to learning
Julia Song
I sit in the dark classroom, fighting sleep, as my teacher explains something I stopped understanding 30 minutes ago. My notes lay in front of me, the words less understandable than scribbles on the paper. I can feel myself drifting off when two words snap me awake: Socratic seminar. Panic sets in as I wonder how I’ll learn an entire unit’s worth of material in one day.
For many students, Socratic seminars are something to be dreaded. However, class discussions help build social skills, make classes more engaging and encourage students to take a more active role in their education.
When teachers take a step back and let students facilitate discussions, I feel more inclined to learn, as I am not confined to a strict lecture.
A study of students showed how literary debates increased in the
number of times a student would acknowledge others’ points of view or show a willingness to alter their own, according to researchers at Harvard.
Furthermore, a study by Montana State University showed incremental increases in confidence after multiple discussions.
During my first classroom discussion this year, I would second guess everything and end up not saying anything at all, scared that others might judge. Now, I feel much more comfortable and confident speaking up in the classroom and am not afraid to talk publicly. This has helped me by allowing me to share ideas with my classmates and deepen my understanding of the topic.
It may feel daunting to have to speak up in front of the whole class, especially when it’s for a grade. However, common discussion types like Socratic seminars and table group talks actually build skills to make them and other important public speaking aspects easier over time.
These skills prove to be useful, for example, when collaborating with others in a team setting sim-
ilar to the workplace. It is important to defend the value of one’s opinions while learning how to retain space for others.
By participating in a more discussion-based class as opposed to lecture-based, students can improve upon a variety of skills as well as learn in a more engaging way. HHS must change their class curriculums to incorporate these discussion learning strategies.
In place of lectures and notes, discussions that dive deeper into the material should be the primary form of learning. Prompt ing students with thought-pro voking questions that require a thorough un derstanding of the material is preferable to forcing uninterested students to sit down and listen to a long, disengaging lecture.
Moreover, students must ask questions even during regular lectures. This will add more discussion to the environment, steering it away from being led purely by the teacher.
If students want to advance their learning and strengthen skills for both inside and outside of the classroom, they must begin by having more productive discussions with their peers and teachers
Adam Orrin
Politics, for many, can be disengaging. It seems I am asked to choose between candidates who continue to represent the same old establishment policies that do so little to support actual working people.
However, it does not have to be this way. The promise of American politics is a system that gives power to the people to choose who runs our government so that we get policy changes that benefit us, and the Working Families Party is making good on that promise.
The WFP succeeds where so many fringe third parties fail, by working within the two-party system. Co-endorsing candidates, they run them through Democratic party primaries, using a strong base of WFP voters to bolster their ability to take on establishment Democrats.
This system of running candidates on Democratic lines has allowed the organization to achieve success in local elections. Whether it was their early support for Zohran Mamdani or
their unprecedented run supporting public school boards in Oregon, the WFP has seen huge gains.
Another thing that sets the WFP apart is the focus on young leaders looking to create both social and economic justice. The WFP is constantly recruiting young people into politics, making it a great opportunity for students who are interested in becoming advocates.
The WFP crafts politicians who are held accountable by voters, not corporations, allowing them to actually pass progressive legislation.
While it may be years before America produces a third-party president, it can still work on the local level. On a smaller scale, the difference between Democrat or Republican isn't as important as whether or not the candidate will actually bring the change voters like myself want to see.
The WFP is creating and advocating for the change we need to make life affordable. As I look out into the world I'm about to be thrown into later this year, I want it to be one where I can afford to live in this country, a hope the WFP can
Danielle Feldsher
A staple of the Bay Area, each college application season is filled with incessant chatter between seniors. Higher education hopefuls debate everything from which extracurriculars make you stand out to what their standardized testing scores say about them, and especially, what major will give them the best shot at admission.
A college degree should be a stepping stone to a future career, giving students the necessary knowledge to enter the workforce with the role they want. However, in anticipation of being accepted into selective universities, seniors interested in popular majors are increasingly switching to fields they are less interested in. College application season is competi tive and stressful, but selecting a major should not be part of that stress. Students should become more aware of their options and consid er turning down schools instead of their intended major.
As students of a school that fosters a strong interest in STEM, we are often excited to chase passions in col lege. Unfortunately, the incredibly selective Uni versity of California schools and California State Universities are making students prioritize prestigious universities over these degrees that will set them up for success at future jobs.
At Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, a CSU that offers robust programs in a selection of sciences and a 30% overall acceptance rate, the acceptance rate for STEM majors is significantly lower. For example, the biological sciences major has a 3% acceptance rate, according to The Tribune.
This low acceptance rate, especially in a competitive environment, significantly discourages students from applying to majors they are genuinely interested in.
I am consistently disappointed with the absurdly low acceptance rates in today’s college admissions. Students should not have to sacrifice career choices due to 3% acceptance rates, especially at state schools.
The more reasonable option is for students to study their firstchoice major at a less competitive school, while still being set up for a job post-graduation. By attending a less prestigious school, stu-
possibly attaining merit-based scholarships. Furthermore, students would be more prepared for their career path, as they would be able to study something that aligns directly with post-graduate plans.
For instance, I have heard numerous times from my friends interested in computer science that they simply can’t apply to any UCs with a computer science major and instead are changing into data science or information technology. College admissions have become outrageously competitive, and I feel disheartened to see my peers who could succeed in an engineering job be limited due to the competitive nature of majors.
It is irrational to settle for different majors just to gain a slightly better chance at admission to a prestigious college. Instead, students need to hear about options at less selective universities from college counselors and mentors. Additionally, students will be able to gain knowledge that is directly related to their field and simultaneously be surrounded by peers who share similar career goals. When it comes to getting a job after college, the status of a school is often not worth the expensive degree, especially when the degree is not something they are interested in. Ultimately, students need to weigh the pros and cons of switching to less competitive majors. Although attending a competitive school with a different major could bring valuable opportunities, not enough students are considering options that save them money and future regrets.
Prop 50 must be passed for fair representation
Lai
Voters must say "yes" on Proposition 50, as it is the only way to combat the gerrymandering in Texas and restore fairness in our country’s Congress.
Texas’ redistricting act gives Republicans immoral and unfair power to influence our country. This makes it imperative for more Democrats in Congress to reinstate the impartiality that has been threatened due to redistricting.
Unfortunately, in order to establish equality within Congress, gerrymandering is still necessary.
Furthermore, this measure must be passed to mitigate the corruption with which the Republican party is harming America.
For example, the majority in Republican seats resulted in policies such as the One Big Beautiful Bill, which included cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, causing many Americans to be unable to afford healthcare, according to BBC.
If Republicans continue to have an overwhelming majority in Congress, nothing can stop them from continuing these detrimental policies.
Although the initiative aims to level out the playing field in America, unfortunately, Prop 50 will postpone the California Citizens Redistricting Commission.
However, Prop 50 only delays the commission until 2030, and after that it will take control again. It is only a shortterm emergency, and it works toward solving what could be a long-term issue. Moreover, to prevent further redistricting that can create corruption, inde-
pendent redistricting commissions must be implemented in every state after 2030. That way, citizens have the most power to create equality within states.
Voters must stay aware of the effects of redistricting nationwide and advocate for the benefits of Prop 50. Through educating fellow voters and emphasizing the advantages of Prop 50, Californians will understand the imbalance of power in Texas and Congress and can use their ballot to prevent it.
We must fight fire with fire by voting “yes” on Prop. 50.
Prop 50 undermines independent redistricting
Advay Ranade
Voting "yes" and passing Proposition 50 is a dangerous step toward regressive practices in California. For that reason, it is imperative for voters to vote "no" on Prop 50 in the upcoming special election.
While California Democrats condemn gerrymandering in other states, they are doing the same thing in their own state. This only displays duplicity, rather than the democracy-saving image they present.
California Citizens Redistricting Committee is
Removes legislature from the power of redistricting Implements a public, open and transparent process
President Donald Trump takes office, urges redistricting in states like Texas and Missouri
Redistricting occurs with the goal of adding extra Republican seats to congress
What is gerrymandering?
The redrawing of district boundaries in states for the gain of a political party. In this scenario, it is being used to award parties with senators and representatives in Congress.
Prop 50 is introduced to combat gerrymandering in other states in special 2025 election
Circumvents C gives redistricting power back to legislature until 2030
Furthermore, Prop 50 will be used as
a tool to gain more power in Congress by flipping Republican congressional seats to Democratic ones. By justifying this as a response to gerrymandering that is happening in the state of Texas, Prop 50 lets California's Democrats unfairly hide their power-hungry ambitions.
Prop 50 will allow Democratic lawmakers to achieve a power grab by bypassing the checks California voters fought to create in 2008, effectively exacerbating what they say they are trying to prevent.
Their effort is an unethical attempt to rewrite maps for political gain. Giving the state legislature power of redistricting once again, even temporarily, betrays the entire purpose of the independent commission, which was designed to keep political party influence out of redistricting.
Supporters may claim Prop 50 is a justified response to Republican gerrymandering in the state of Texas, which only illustrates their contradicting views. The same party that pushed for independent redistricting to be used in California in 2008 is now seeking to sidestep it for their own partisan gain, portraying their hypocrisy.
If state legislators truly want to address problems like gerrymandering and unfair legislative representation, they should follow the open and transparent process the CCRC has already established. Those safeguards are what keep our democracy fair and accountable, and ignoring them only reveals lawmakers' hypocrisy.
To ensure the fairness of elections and the voice of voters over the two-faced ambitions of political parties, Californians must vote no on Prop 50.
SACHIN
H-1B price bottlenecks progress, opportunity
Annika Abraham
From outraged cries demanding that immigrants “go back to where they came from” to complaints that they are stealing American jobs, a wave of anti-immigrant sentiment has surged in the past year.
On Sept. 19, Trump signed an executive order adding a $100,000 fee to the H-1B visa application, according to BBC.
The H-1B program was initially designed for U.S. employers, granting them the ability to temporarily hire foreign workers as long as they paid the fees associated with the petition. Unfortunately, it has been increasingly abused as a way to avoid paying more in payroll expenses, which consequently, exploits international workers.
Due to inflated fees, a lack of policies addressing hiring processes and falsely presented evidence, the new executive order will not have the impact Trump intended. Instead, it will likely cause companies to move processes or services overseas.
Rather than pacifying his base with poorly executed actions, the Trump administration must implement targeted hiring policies and wage laws. In doing so, they would take crucial steps toward increasing employment opportunities and preventing the exploitation of the H-1B program.
The excessive fee has a disproportionate impact on smaller business -
es, limiting their ability to hire skilled workers from abroad and, by extension, their growth.
In raising the price on the land of the free, Trump’s actions are curtailing human capital and limiting the diversity that breeds the innovation and knowledge exchange. Welcoming this attack on diversity will only facilitate a loss of knowledge and cap competition as smaller businesses and start ups falter under new costs.
Historically, thousands with H-1B visas have immigrated to Silicon Valley by employment from large technology companies, according to Congress. As a result, this new measure will be felt locally, especially if companies consider offshoring their businesses.
Beyond reverting the H-1B petition fees back to their original, feasible price, Trump must enact legislation that requires companies to first search for labor domestically before looking abroad.
This course of action would create opportunities for residents to secure employment, addressing the complaints regarding the job crisis head on without using immigrants as a scapegoat.
In combination with this approach, wage laws need to be passed to prevent the substantially reduced wages that exploit international workers.
This spike in payroll expenses would also incentivize companies to hire external labor sparingly, as it would no longer provide the benefit of reduced costs. Furthermore, this action would influence the intent of the program to return to its original purpose: to fill labor gaps and bring productivity to American businesses.
exacerbating the problem it aims to fix, stifling growth.
The current poorly designed executive order will exacerbate the problem it hopes to solve while robbing small businesses of opportunities. Instead of resolving the deep-rooted issues with the H-1B program or ensuring equal opportunity, Trump has only raised the entry price for the American dream to an exorbitant $100,000.
Sachin Chandran
COLUMN—Healthcare is a highly debated topic among our representatives on Capitol Hill as citizens’ ability to pay for such an essential service falters.
Unfortunately, the federal government has continually stagnated legislative efforts to provide healthcare. That, coupled with recent cuts to Medicaid, has forced the California government to take action by providing insulin at $11 under the CalRx program starting in 2026, according to NBC.
This move will improve the lives of California residents by providing them with stability in essential care, which is why it must be expanded and implemented throughout America.
For millions of diabetics living in California, this measure will provide consistent access to healthcare that has been notoriously difficult to acquire due to high prices from the pharmaceutical industry, according to Politico.
Insulin is not optional for diabetic residents. It is a necessity, yet, across the country, citizens have been forced to pay exorbitant amounts for a drug they need to survive. California is taking a step in the right direction by prioritizing insulin.
Furthermore, financial insecurity around medical needs may burden citizens with debt, which can lead to adverse effects like anxiety, increased poverty and unwillingness to utilize the healthcare system, according to the UC Berkeley Labor Center.
No citizen should be subjected to these complications due to a condition they cannot control. This alarming trend will only damage the lives of people who need support from the healthcare system, which is not being pro vided by the government.
Although California has worked to mitigate this is sue, there are still millions of Americans who do not have access to affordable life-saving treatments.
To solve this, California must push for other es-
sential treatments to be subsidized affordably, ensuring every citizen has access to life-preserving care without breaking the bank.
Similarly, California’s new policy around affordable life-saving care must be expanded nationwide to fight the unfair healthcare system. This must be done through legislation that expands the Medicaid system to provide treatments like insulin at a lower cost to all American citizens.
Moreover, to ensure the enactment of these measures at the federal level, the American people must petition their representatives to get this issue on and through the congressional floor.
Otherwise, millions will continue to be plunged into debt due to crippling illnesses
Autumn is often associated with a cozy, pumpkin-spiced atmosphere. However, for many seniors, fall represents the start of a much more daunting endeavor: college applications.
Though the average intimidated student may play it safe by applying to a large number of institutions, focusing on a carefully curated list of universities allows for a more sensible and stressfree college application process.
As a senior hoping to attend a four-year university, I am proud to say I plan on applying to fewer than five colleges.
By streamlining my priorities and making difficult financial choices about my future education, I have managed to curate a compact list of universities I am genuinely interested in.
Trying my luck at a wide range of colleges would mean having to juggle an overwhelming number
of different deadlines. Instead, I can fully dedicate myself to honing a few well-built applications.
In our competitive student body, it can often seem like the more colleges seniors apply to, the better off they are. Many of my friends have expressed their plan to apply to more than 15 institutions.
Though this may be a less risky option, it can leave students feeling stretched thin and lacking a true sense of connection to the schools they apply to.
Rather than blindly applying based on a school’s prestige, students must consider their fundamental priorities while creating a college list.
Students need to ensure they would genuinely enjoy attending every institution on their list, even for “safety” schools.
imagine thriving runs the risk of a dismal college experience should a lackluster school become their only option.
The increased course load of higher education along with the inherent challenges of adjusting to a new campus can feel even more difficult to manage when attending an ill-fitting college.
Seniors must also preemptively develop a clear plan to pay for college. In assessing their financial situation, students can decide if attending a more expensive institution over an affordable counterpart is worth the higher cost.
Applying to schools where seniors cannot
Legislation must limit politician age
Henry Hu
The average retirement home costs about $10,000 a month. The nation’s largest retirement home, Congress, costs taxpayers $6.8 billion a year, according to the Appropriations Committee.
The centerpiece of America’s government boasts a work force of representatives with a median age of 58, according to Pew Research Center. The skew toward older politicians should be the primary concern of every voter in America, regardless of political affiliation.
Citizens must scrutinize politicians for being too old when voting, and Congress must start passing legislation limiting politician age to
make America more representative of all residents.
Research shows younger generations are more in touch with and knowledgeable of current issues than older generations, according to the American Council of Trustees and Alumni. But, when it comes to voting, this idea has been reversed.
The New York City mayoral race embodies this mindset with candidate Andrew Cuomo, a 67-year-old former New York governor accused of crimes ranging from sexual assault to embezzlement, according to the New York attorney general’s office.
Still, Cuomo was supported by more than 40% of voters in the primary election against state representative Zohran Mamdani, who is 33 years old, according to Politico. The fact that a politician as
disgraced as Cuomo could garner that much support is alarming, and it is telling of how some Americans choose to blindly vote against young politicians. Generally, people vote for older politicians because they see them as more experienced than younger ones. This is prev alent at all levels of American pol itics, which has made our poli ticians some of the oldest in the world according to The Economist.
However, the tide
seems to be turning. Victory over Cuomo in the mayoral primary shows that New York’s residents now prioritize youth.
Just like in New York, Americans need to vote against old politicians for being bad candidates who are out of touch, instead of against young politicians for being inexperienced.
While it’s up to voters to support younger politicians, change needs to happen on all scales. The government must start taking legislative measures to ensure candidates are younger and more connected to citizens.
Currently, no maximum age limit exists to hold political office in America.
College application season does not need to be overwhelming. By assessing their priorities and considering their futures through a rational lens, students with small college lists can enjoy a stress-free autumn.
Now, politicians grow so old that some, like former senator Diane Feinstein, die of old age while in office, according to Congress. By forcing all politicians over 75 to retire from office or forbidding them from running again, we can make the government more connected with America. Politicians concerned with America’s welfare must pass legislation that puts younger candidates in government to ensure Capitol Hill represents America’s vision for the future. When most of our politicians are well past retirement age, they tackle past issues instead of present ones. It’s time voters and politicians alike step in to pass legislation that ensures our leaders understand and are willing to address the problems plaguing America today.
Helen Carlson reflects on donation process, recovery
When business teacher Helen Carlson’s then six-year-old son, Joshua Carlson suddenly fell ill in late Dec. 2024, the family accompanied him to the emergency room. They soon learned of his unexpected diagnosis: endstage renal disease, a rare kidney condition.
Over nine months later, Helen Carlson said she underwent surgery to carry out a living kidney donation to her son on Sept. 17.
“The moment they made that connection, his body just started working, and it’s amazing to see that. It almost feels like a miracle,” Carlson said. “My hope is that my kidney will last Joshua for a very long time and that one day, they’ll find a cure for this for him and lots of people with it.”
Leading up to the surgery, Carlson said she underwent a rigorous screening process to ensure her kidney’s compatibility and health, while Joshua received physically taxing dialysis. Carlson said she eventually donated her left kidney, nicknamed “Boba” after her and her son’s favorite drink.
“I’m a really big chicken when it comes to medical things, too,” Carlson said. “I was scared of [getting my] blood drawn, so that needle phobia was something I had to overcome. But Joshua had gone through so much more at his young age, so I told myself, ‘If a little kid can do this, I can do this.’”
In May, Carlson said she and her family participated in the American Kidney Fund’s 37-mile challenge walk to raise awareness about the disease. They ultimately collected over $1,200 for the organization, which helps individuals with kidney disease afford medical treatment and
helps fund kidney research.
“I personally know of other families I’ve met that are still waiting [for a transplant] because they aren’t able to donate to their child, and it’s heartbreaking,” Carlson said. “One simple decision you make by checking that box on your driver license [to become an organ donor] may save a life one day.”
With Carlson serving as an integral part of the business department, business teacher Graeme Logie said her return in January is much anticipated.
“She has sacrificed an unbelievable amount of her self to keep her son alive,” Logie said. “Anybody who goes through what she has gone through in the last year [knows] she is very courageous and giving.”
A student in Carlson’s Accounting 1 class, junior Serena Fanse said she wishes Carlson and her son well in their recoveries
“She’s not only a phenomenal
Officers, member describe reasons behind increase
Saachi Nangare
At first glance, many people may steer clear of climbing, assuming it to be a scary sport requiring an immense amount of strength, junior Ashley Chao, co-president of climbing club, said.
While this misconception previously led to low climbing club
membership, Chao said the club has grown to welcome 15 newcomers over the past year due to their engaging activities.
Chao said she was glad to see many new faces and an increase in female membership.
“One assumption people have about climbing is that it requires a lot of strength, which girls don’t really have compared to guys, but that’s not actually the case,” Chao said. “There are a lot of other abilities you need, not just how many pull ups you can do or how strong your biceps are.”
Serving as an enticing challenge for prospective members, climbing club’s competitive activities at club fair helped boost public interest, member and senior Hangyeol Kim said.
“We did little events like holding
weights for a certain amount of time and giving donuts as a prize,” Kim said. “There [were] so many people that day, and that’s why there were so many people at the first social this year.”
Moreover, climbing club’s wel coming atmosphere helped novice climbers feel more comfortable starting out in the sport, Chao said.
“The community is really sup portive. Even if I fail, I don’t feel embarrassed,” Chao said. “More and more members show up to climbing club because they realize they don’t need prior climbing ex perience, techniques or skills to be welcomed to the community.”
Beyond climbing’s physical benefits, co-president, junior Khasar Baoerjiin said he credits the increase in membership to the sport’s opportunities for socialization.
teacher, but she’s an incredible person,” Fanse said. “I’m looking forward to seeing her and getting to learn from her again.”
Planning to return to the classroom next semester, Carlson said she is taking things slowly and spending invaluable quality time with her family.
“We’ve been through so much that we just take things one day
at a time because, as I like to tell my [accounting] students, life is full of uncertainties. ‘There are only two guarantees in life: death and taxes,’” Carlson said. “No one wants this to happen, especially to your child, but it also makes you appreciate life more. You don’t take things for granted, so just try to live life to the fullest.”
Following the PTSA-organized job shadow day on oct. 13, students dicuss event takeways, career goals
“I now have a better idea of what I could do in the future. I could definitely use [what I learned] during job shadow day in my future because I want to try other options before I decide full on if I want this kind of job.”
“[This experience] made me want to maybe start my own business in the future because the person running Loveglow.io really made it sound interesting.”
Although climbing tests the limits of its participants, newcomers are often surprised by the approachable nature of the sport, Chao said.
“I really encourage students to join. Even if you think you have a weak upper body, give it a try.” Chao said. “And who knows? You might [become] an expert on it.”
“It opened my eyes to the [fact that] the city government really needs a lot of people to run. It makes you think more about your actions and how many people are there to support the environment you live in.”
Mock conference ensures students feel prepared
Advay Ranade
Delegates shuffle papers and raise placards as a hush falls over the room. While this Model UN conference atmosphere is familiar to returning club members, newcomers often feel overwhelmed by the conference’s complex format and intricate procedures, president and senior Archit Gunhal said.
Filling in this knowledge gap, Model UN hosted a mock general assembly on Oct. 8 to provide novice members with an introduction to conference structure, Gunhal said.
Replicating those used in real
conferences, the mock assembly’s background guides concerned pesticide usage and their health impacts on students around campus and beyond, Gunhal said.
“In previous years, people have been complaining about [awkwardness], ‘Oh, I just walk into the conference and I have no idea what’s going on,’” Gunhal said.
“I was shocked when I entered conferences during my freshman year because all the training officers were really hands-off, did not care about the club and did not support me.”
Through this simulation, new members were able to better familiarize themselves with Model UN, director of operations and senior Supra Malepati said.
“It helps them come out of
their comfort zones and try to adapt,” Malepati said. “Mainly, it’s just a way for us to kind of expose these newcomers to Model UN in a stress-free environment.”
Members’ interpersonal skills have also grown overall through the implementation of additional interactive events, such as the mock assembly improvements the club was able to display at the most recent Gunn Model UN Conference on Oct. 11, Gunhal said.
“Before our general meetings, [members] were super shy and afraid to speak,” Gunhal said, “but through activities and forcing them to get up at the podium and speak, they are now more confident and enjoy public speaking.”
Freshman Tara Deolalikar, a new member of Model UN and an
attendee of GMUNC, said the mock assembly proved useful in learning the club’s basics.
Looking ahead, Deolalikar said she hopes to continue receiving support from the team throughout the season.
“The [mock general assembly] really helped me to understand the structure of the real conferences [and] motions that I needed to know,” Deolalikar said.
“In the future, I hope to get better with the [help] of officers,
and
said.
Staff, students build sustainable, tasty menu
Elina Li, Aashka Nagarkar and Kaylin Yi
From Banh Mi sandwiches to cinnamon rolls, the cafeteria offers a wide range of menu items. While students have become accustomed to this expansive menu, developing it requires comprehensive planning, district nutrition services manager Divya Puri said.
As the school operates under federal and state programs to provide free meals, stringent requirements must be met to comply with regulations and secure funding, Puri said.
dents’ dietary restrictions, meal packaging and ease of preparation, Fortson said.
“Without the students, [who are] our customers, we have nothing,” Fortson said. “Without the students, we have no program and the kids here have been very receptive to us. They’re amazing to us, and I just love them.”
To source the ingredients for the menu, the cafeteria receives produce from farms within California, which is distributed through a food hub in San Francisco, Puri said. The district also partners with various local vendors to supply the necessary amount of food, Puri added.
vices student committee, which aims to increase student voice in menu planning, is an annual sampling event of proposed items on the next school year’s menu, Puri said.
“[The sampling is] helpful because it’s not just me sitting in my office planning the menu,” Puri said. “We actually go out [to high schools] and test what’s out there. It helps staff create that item to see how it looks. It helps our student body to actually see the item and try to place it and give us feedback, so, it’s a win-win both ways.”
nutrition services student committee and senior Sophie Xing said.
“Ultimately, [students] are the ones who are eating here, so you anticipate their needs,” Xing said.
Overall, the menu aims to provide satisfying meals to the student body while remaining culturally cognizant and fresh, Puri said. Future plans involve creating more plant-based and gluten-free options, Puri said.
During last year’s sampling event at HHS, students were given the opportunity to vote on their enjoyment of vegan chicken tenders, former student representative on the
“Nutrition is very important, so in these early years of growth, we have an impact to make,” Puri said. “The students who come into the cafeteria will remember that and hopefully learn something about local produce, and eating healthy through that experience.”
“We’re looking at a lot of history, a lot of data, along with our compliance and seeing what our students are really interested in,” Puri said. “I also have to keep the skill set of our team in mind, our recruitment and if we can even get those products, because our volume is very high.”
To outline the menu itself, the five FUHSD cafeteria managers meet alongside Puri to discuss what new meals can be added each year, HHS cafeteria manager Terri Fortson said. Besides meeting state standards, they must also take into account stu-
“Supporting local farmers, businesses [and] economy is a big part of this program, along with sustainability,” Puri said. “I think as far as nutrition programs go, in our district, we are more dependent on sustainability. Food that travels less is also more sustainable. It’s more fresh [and] it’s more nutritious.”
Among the activities organized by the nutrition ser-
The daily routine of cafeteria workers includes planning, preparing and serving hundreds of meals. Each worker plays a role in allowing the day to run smoothly.
Students share their opinions preferred cafeteria offerings.
14.0% of students say
“I think it’s really good. This is what but I do think it could be a little bit
12.8%
“The cinnamon smell amazing
11.3% of students say their favorite menu
“I like how it’s crispy and deep-fried dry, but I can look past that. I mostly
Cafeteria staff and a district administrator share their roles in helping satiate appetites by serving up meals to students and staff, daily.
what I get on most days of the week, bit
- Evvie Rademacher (9)
ation I discovered in my daily tasks.
Surrounded by the comforting hum of commercial kitchen appliances and the cheery greetings of my coworkers, I am warmly welcomed into another shift as a cafeteria student worker.
I initially applied for the job as a young 14-year-old freshman. I will be leaving the position at 17 years old upon graduating in June, marking a fast-approaching end to the first job I’ve ever had.
The role has its obvious perks—I have yet to be tardy for my first class of the day after a morning shift, and I never have to worry about missing out on the coveted chocolate muffins at brunch.
However, two benefits I did not expect were the strong sense of fulfillment I derive from my role helping feed the student body, and the grounding relax-
I’ve always been a firm devotee of the cafeteria food, even texting my old friends photos of the cinnamon rolls out of awe at their great size.
Yet, before starting this job, I never considered the layers of planning, sophistication and just plain hard work that go into nourishing our campus.
Now exposed to the hidden complexities of food service, I value how this job has allowed me to be a cog in the machine behind the meals I so frequently enjoy.
Seeing the fresh yogurt parfaits I had carefully prepared just hours before eagerly savored by my peers is a satisfying experience that reaffirms the valuable purpose behind my contributions.
Moreover, the serenity of a quiet morning in the kitchen is the perfect prelude to my school day.
I thrive in the monotony of cutting piles of strawberries or preparing tens of parfaits. Stressed about an exam next period? Not after making 30 strawberry-banana smoothies.
The comforting repetition of my labor lulls me into a calm state as I complete uniform tasks fully under my control, an appreciated contrast to my busy external life.
Following predictable patterns, such as washing dishes or plating boxes of pizza during a hectic lunch service, also fills me with a strong sense of accomplishment. The sentiment of a task well-completed keeps me motivated to give this job my all.
While the workplace I cautiously entered during my orientation had seemed like an intimidating introduction to the world of food service, I can now confidently say I feel at home in the cafeteria kitchen.
-Devisriya Jangity (11)
-Zoe Varghese (10)
Anushree Ogale discusses upcoming novel ‘A Quest of Worlds’
Jason Lai and Aviv Matas
Culminating five years of dedicated drafting, junior Anushree Ogale said she plans to self-publish her first novel, “A Quest of Worlds.”
The fantasy novel, which Ogale said she began writing at 11 years old, follows a princess’s journey of honing her magic, learning to make friends and investigating a rebellion. Eventually forming part of a six-book series, the novel is targeted toward middle schoolers, Ogale said.
“It’s not that I thought ‘I’m gonna write a book’ and then I came up with an idea for a book, and then I wrote the book,” Ogale said. “It was more like I woke up one day with a really cool idea, and I decided to write it down and then that snowballed into this [novel].”
After writing a rough draft, the book underwent rigorous editing, first facing Ogale’s own critique, then those of her selected beta readers who provided valuable feedback, Ogale said.
“The issue with my first draft was that I was neither a mature nor an experienced writer,” Ogale said. “So I had to do a lot of rewriting when I did the second draft where I added big plot elements and large story changes.”
While Ogale’s friend and editor, junior Yana Astardjieva said she began as a beta reader, Astardjieva soon became invested in the book’s plot and success. After Ogale made her decision to self-publish, Astardjievea said she volunteered to edit the manuscript.
“We’ve been talking about this book conversationally as long as we’ve known each other,” Astardjieva said. “It’s not really the culmination of a project because it’s the first book in a series of five more that are coming. It’s more of a cool milestone.”
Beyond her involvement with the novel as an editor, Astardjieva
said she served as a reassuring presence in the writing process.
“You’d read 14 pages in two minutes and be like, ‘Damn, this is a [real] book’ and she’d never believe me when I told her that, but I’ll keep telling her,” Astardjieva said. “She never believed that you could get carried away in the book without realizing you’re reading off a Google document.”
Although self-publishing can provide more freedom and efficiency than a traditional publishing house, Ogale said she faced difficulties on her journey to authorship.
Ogale was surprised by the large amount of extra work and supplemental texts that go into publishing a novel.
“A lot of people would think that doing the writing is the hard part,” Ogale said. “To me, it was actually figuring out all the things that you need to do to actually publish.”
One of her many responsibilities as a self-publisher was to create an appealing cover, Ogale said. She entrusted the job to another one of her beta readers, junior Silver Yuan.
Enthusiastic about the opportunity to display their artistic skills, Yuan said Ogale gave them a basic outline, which Yuan then transformed using their own unique style.
“It’s cool to me that someone I know put so much effort into creating a project as time-intensive as an entire book,” Yuan said. “Ogale’s been keeping the cover secret until [the novel’s] launch, so I’m excited.”
Sharing a similarly eager sentiment, Ogale said she is looking forward to sharing the final product with her younger brother and his friends.
“This is a book for kids looking to get into fantasy [and a] story to grow up with,” Ogale said. “I am also maturing as a writer along with this series. By the time the sixth and final book comes out, both the characters and myself are going to be a lot more mature than they started.”
Art, robotics work together to make HOCO decorations
Ivy Guo and Yichen Yao
Paint markers met metal scraps as the art club and robotics club collaborated to create hip-hop themed Homecoming decorations for the seniors’ float on Oct. 6, art club co-president, senior Shannon Wu said.
Taking a sustainable approach, the robotics club decided to recycle surplus pieces of metal to create the decorations, robotics club outreach vice president, junior Jaya Singhal said.
“It was the perfect thing to do. We ended up using old robot materials from previous years, and a lot of our stock material that we just weren’t going to use but didn’t want to sell,” Singhal said. “So we thought, ‘Oh, this is perfect timing.’ It fits well with the [hip-hop] HOCO theme, so we decided to do graffiti designs on metal to show that style.”
Due to the overlap of members between the two clubs, creating decorations allowed for convenient collaboration while also driving greater student engagement, internal activities director of the art club and vice president of competitions of robotics, junior Sree Vemuri said.
“I think [art and STEM are] very much intertwined,” Vemuri said. “I’m personally involved in
design and robotics, and I think there’s a lot of parallels between the art and actual robotics design because there’s a lot of changes that you might just think are aesthetic but actually have real purposes.”
Although the collaboration was a productive experience for both clubs, Wu said the event could have benefited from more extensive planning, advertising and material access.
Similarly, for future collaborations, Singhal said the implementation of more complex technology could help expand both clubs’ event offerings.
“I hope that in the future, we’ll have more elaborate [collaborations] because we just got a new la-
ser cutter, and I think you can design stuff on Canva and send it over to the laser cutter,” Singhal said. “So, I think doing things where there’s more moving machinery might be a better way to [collaborate].”
Despite the clear differences between art and robotics, Singhal said this event provided a unique opportunity to connect two of her hobbies.
“When I first joined robotics, I didn’t think there was any space for me to both use my artistic side and my love [for] working with my hands,” Singhal said. “Now I feel like I can combine both, and I want to share that with more people because so many people like both things.”
ASB revamps Instagram account
Olivia Levesque Ouellette and Selina Wang
With hopes to boost engagement, the ASB multimedia team has shifted its social media promotion approach away from the photo galleries and slideshows of the past, multimedia manager, junior Lily Li said.
To grab the attention of the student body, the team is leaning toward trendy dancing videos and funny skits, Li said.
“Nowadays, everyone’s attention span is fried and no one really wants to scroll through a long post with a lot of slides or
a long-form video,” Li said. “The trends are a good attention grabber while still being informational, and they’re honestly fun to make.”
Although a time-consuming method for gathering inspiration, Li said she develops the content ideas by scrolling on Instagram and researching trending formats.
Once a clear video idea is established, multimedia manager sophomore Sojin Kim said the multimedia team creates a script and schedule to follow for filming, editing and posting.
While filming, the team sticks to a cohesive aesthetic for each post that matches the event’s atmosphere, Li said. For instance, the Homecoming dance video was energetic and upbeat to match the energy of the dance, Li added.
“I feel like the posts influence how people see things,” Li said. “So, if it’s more of a chill event, we want people to come into it with that type of vibe, and if it’s really hype, we want to slowly get them hyped leading up to the event.”
Leadership teacher Hector Almendarez said he supports the team when they need reassurance with potential video ideas, ultimately allowing creative freedom.
With the newfound success of the ASB Instagram account, Almendarez said the current multimedia managers have elevated ASB’s social media presence.
“A lot of ASB and leadership is ‘What you put into it, you get out of it,’” Almendarez said. “We clearly see that multimedia is putting a lot of effort, work, care and dedication into the job. That’s being reflected in the things [students] are seeing.” In addition to effectively reaching a larger audience, Kim said ASB’s posts and reels on Instagram have encouraged greater student engagement by advertising school and district events.
“[The account] has been a lot more successful,” Kim said. “When we look at how much people actually engage with our video, we see that a lot of people actually watched our reels. [The account] is more approachable now that we have started following these different trending videos, and people actually enjoy watching them.”
“I proposed a theme of ‘sense of belonging’ in ASB, which started the Valentine’s Day Heart tradition, kind notes around campus initiative, and collaborations with clubs during BOTC.”
- Evangeline Park
“As a member of AVID, I promote a culture of academic excellence, leadership and support by staying organized, setting goals and working hard in classes.”
- Niara Phillips
“Being one of the few African Americans at HHS, I try to make a difference by using my voice and creating lasting connections.”
- Jacoby Nelson
“I take the opportunity to connect with people whenever I can, whether that’s offering smiles or thanking others. This has been the root of what I’ve done for my work [from the] Student Equity Action Taskforce, to community service, to Crochet Club.”
“By going to class on time, respecting teachers and staff and showing school spirit, I encourage the rest of the school to do the same.”
- Drew Hamburger
“The positive support I offer to those around me creates the greatest impact, helping others reach their goals and overcome challenges.”
- Will Hamburger
“I lead and act with positivity because it is huge when interacting with others at HHS. By uplifting others, they can choose to lift more people up.”
“As an ELD ambassador. I always try to speak English with new ELD students, so they can get rid of the fear and gain
Students explain impacts of various religions
From prayers to festivals, students of different religions have shaped their beliefs through community and faith.
Christianity:
Growing up as a nondenominational Christian, senior Jemma Yang said her faith is strengthened by being part of a loving and encouraging environment that stands on biblical principles.
“Friendships and community are really important in keeping each other accountable,” Yang said. “We're human, we're not perfect, but together, we can be strong in our faith.”
Additionally, Yang said her faith has helped her overcome personal challenges, navigate
doubt in her academic abilities and encourage those around her.
“There is a lot of wisdom I find in the Bible that tells you how to deal with different situations, [and] it is really reassuring when I get overwhelmed and stressed out,” Yang said. “Even with people who don't have the same faith as me, I can still [say], ‘It is going to be okay’ or 'I'll pray for you.' I can be reassuring to them when everything around them is swirling.”
Islam: As a Muslim, senior Yara Abu Saude said she faced challenges with accepting her faith in her youth but overcame her doubts by surrounding herself with a strong Muslim community.
“I grew up a bit detached from my religion, mostly because I didn't have a lot of friends who were the same religion as me. I was Muslim by label, and that was the end of the conversation,” Saude said. “But it was mostly through my friends and my community
that I actually found my religion and got closer to it."
While some stereotypes can be seen as harmless jokes, it can be challenging to face discrimination from those who have misconceptions about Islam, Saude said.
“Even in the Bay Area, where there is so much diversity, I still face some forms of racism on a day to day basis," Saude said. "A lot of stuff online [says] Islam promotes violence, and that drove me away from it for a bit, but having a willingness to learn more about it, rather than taking everything at face value, helps me navigate my life here in a non-muslim area.”
Judaism: Practicing Judaism, freshman Joey Orrin said he had to learn to balance his faith with life outside of religion, setting aside time for both friendships and spiritual activities.
“Oftentimes, they'll not see me at school for a day because I'm out celebrating my religion or
- Jessa Yang
“As ASB co-president and [FBLA] executive officer, I’ve helped to set a yearly theme and direction to make sure our general student body feel welcomed and supported.”
- Vincent Wang
“My biggest impact on HHS is my interaction with staff and students. Being respectful and attentive helped to build new connections with people.”
- Daniel Morales Castillo
praying,” Orrin said. “It’s always a challenge to balance faith and social life because it’s important to make time for [religion], so part of that is making sure I take the time in my day-to-day life for my faith.”
Developing a strong personal character and maintaining the core values of respect and understanding is an important aspect of his religion, Orrin said.
“The biggest thing is to respect other people," Orrin said. “Something that is part of my religion is to treat others with respect and kindness. That's what I live by and what I do day to day."
Timeless themes demonstrate superiority of classics
Elina Li
Literature is often divided into two categories, classical and contemporary. Inevitably, people compare the two genres, posing the question of which is better.
While both have their merits, the skill of writing and depicting emotions found in classical literature is simply unmatched.
The first classic that made me fall in love with the genre was Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel “Frankenstein.” Shelley’s writing is captivating and rich, matching meticulous diction with passionate monologues. The story itself is equally enthralling. For instance, I recall a class activity where we debated the creature’s demands of Frankenstein, and realizing the multitude of interpretations that could be uncovered increased my appreciation for Shelley’s skill. The fact that classic literature like “Frankenstein” can stand the test of time through debate and universal themes is a testament to the power of classics.
Contemporary literature still deserves praise, yet I often find current novels lacking the full capacity for thought and feeling that many classics display.
Hate U Give” does not have the same literary and emotional impact.
It succeeds in being gut-wrenching at times, but those moments are like fireworks, exploding without carrying on the momentum.
For instance, in the aftermath of Khalil’s death, Starr’s trauma transitions into dialogue with her family too quickly for the shock to fully sink in and devastate me as it should. Most readers have never had a similarly scarring experience before, and it should be the author’s responsibility to guide us into feeling Starr’s grief with her.
Meanwhile, Frederick Douglass’ book is tightly focused and his ideas fluently expressed, laced with consistent imagery throughout. Even accounts of events are made noteworthy with his thought-provoking reflections.
In fact, one of the passages I remember most clearly is not about Douglass himself, but about his grandmother.
There are certainly books that have succeeded in using the contemporary style, such as “The Poisonwood Bible” by Barbara Kingsolver. It is simply that, with the sheer volume of current literature, such works are in the minority.
Take “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An Amer ican Slave” and “The Hate U Give” by Ang ie Thomas. While both deal with the serious topic of race and encourage confrontation with one’s own understanding of it, “The Classics such as “Frankenstein” convey universal ideas that stand the test of time.
Classical literature has endured and continues to be widely read for good reason. Perhaps someday, the gems of contemporary literature will be mined out to join the greats in the literary canon, but for the moment, the most emotionally and intellectually effective writing is found in the classics.
‘The
Long Walk’ fails to capture mental drudgery
Malar Raguraman
COLUMN — Walk. You hobble forward, your leg reduced to a bloody stump. Walk. You cough, feeling heavy liquid pooling in your lungs. Walk. You run, try to escape the hell you volunteered yourself for. Walk. You’re shot dead.
Such is the horror of the 1979 novel “The Long Walk.” Written by Stephen King under his well-known pseudonym Richard Bachman, it imagines a dystopian U.S. government led by a militant dictator, the Major.
The novel follows Ray Garraty, one of 100 individuals in a contest in which 18-year-old participants must stay walking over four miles per hour. Limited by three warnings, individuals who fail to maintain the pace during the Long Walk are shot dead, and the final remaining survivor is presented with an invaluable reward: whatever they want, for the rest of their life.
physical agony.
Despite strong performances from its cast, the movie does not evoke the true horror of its plot: time. Attempting to condense the endlessness of the Long Walk to one and a half hours is inherently pointless.
In the book, King captures the drudgery of the walk with monotonous inner dialogue that descends into psychosis. It reads exactly the way one would imagine walking for days on end, and by breaking up the eventless monologue with horrific deaths, each sudden incident has the impact of a devastating emotional jolt.
With significant time jumps and a stitched-together plot, the movie feels watered-down in comparison to its origin. As the passing of time is not felt by the audience, the extreme and crazed actions of each Walker act as weak attempts to instill fear.
Stemming from the captivating premise of capturing humanity when stretched to its physical limits, the book explores our underlying motivations and fear of death. Every character is a friend to feel emotionally tethered to, as they share jokes, confess their wishes and confront their ends.
Released on Sep. 12, the movie adaptation of the heart-wrenching novel fails to capture its vivid psychological horror. Given its visual format, I was disappointed at its inability to portray the novel’s raw imagery and
Ubisoft’s political concerns are invalid, harm reputation
COLUMN —
Uncovered by anonymous interviews, it was discovered that in July 2024, Ubisoft canceled an “Assassin’s Creed” game set in the Reconstruction era of American history. The narrative would have followed a former Black slave who returned to the South to fight the Ku Klux Klan, but the game was canceled due to being “too political in a country too unstable,” according to Game File.
Ubisoft has made a critical error, both as a company and an independent producer of public media, by censoring itself.
Video games are unique forms of media, possessing the ability to con vey deep messages by leveraging an interactive for mat. However, this ability is hindered when companies like Ubisoft view
historical representation as a form of political alignment.
Ubisoft has no reason to worry about sacrificing political neutrality, as the majority of the topics covered are facts. For example, slavery is inexcusable. The KKK is known for, especially during the Reconstruction Era, committing heinous hate crimes. These are facts, not opinions.
Additionally, it is unreasonable for Ubisoft, a French company, to care so much about American politics. These issues are internal to the United States, and since this partisan divide is not always represented internationally, there is no reason to abandon producing this game.
Ubisoft did have around 45% of its annual bookings attributed to the North America region, according to Statista. However, this doesn’t justify meeting the expectations of the current U.S. administration, the actions of which are not representative of the country’s beliefs as a whole.
From a fanbase perspective, political
appeasement hurts Ubisoft’s reputation. By shifting narratives to accommodate partisan views, Ubisoft makes gamers like myself lose respect and confidence in the authenticity of their narratives.
Shying away from covering this crucial time in American history, which Ubisoft has already expressed their interest in, reduces the impact of their games’ significantly. Personally, it would be difficult for me to play future “Assassin’s Creed” games knowing they chose to ignore sharing incredible anecdotes and story opportunities.
Ubisoft also sets up an expectation for other media companies to follow. In fact, their actions may have unintended consequences on the topics other gaming companies are willing to cover in their games, impeding creative freedom and innovation within video games.
“Assassin’s Creed” games are known for following overarching fights of freedom versus order, yet Ubisoft’s recent decision proves to their fanbase that their games’ messages mean nothing to the company.
who survives, ending it on an open-ended note. In the movie, however, Garraty discusses with his closest companion on the walk, Pete McVries, his wish: for a carbine, to kill the Major. McVries vehemently opposes this, arguing that it is immoral to kill out of vengeance, and that such a wish should be used for good.
Unlike the novel, McVries is the winner in the adaptation. However, McVries chooses to do exactly what he initially argued against by killing the Major. The ending preserves the open ended nature of the novel, but adds a starkly thought-provoking finish to the story, questioning whether political violence is necessary for change.
For example, the sadistic character Gary Barkovitch, constantly ostracized by the other Walkers, eventually rips out his own throat in despair. With only sparse dialogue to develop his intricate complex ity and guilt, his sudden suicide completely loses its significance, passed off as a cheap way to make the film more gory.
Despite its inability to trans late potent themes of the origi nal novel, the movie’s alterations incorporate striking and rele vant commentary.
In the novel, Garraty, whose final wish is never ex plicitly revealed, is the one
McVries’s moral decay is not clearly developed in the fastpaced film, but it is a shift reflective of the political climate today. It reminds us to ask our stagnant selves if it’s worth enough to take a chance and walk.
Movie: “The Long Walk.”
Grade: B-. Rated R. Watch in theaters.
Extremely famished after my Chinese class, I was eager to try out the new Japanese-Korean fusion restaurant, Koko Izakaya. Building 759 on El Camino Real is a small, welcoming restaurant in the form of an izakaya, a casual type of Japanese bar that also sells food. As a fan of Japanese and Korean cuisine, I was curious to try out this novel fusion restaurant.
At the restaurant, I was greeted with variety of dishes on the menu, including fresh oysters, bibimbap, vegetable soup, skewers and sushi. Gazing around the decorated restaurant, I was entranced by the glowing red lanterns hanging from the ceiling, along with the numerous mirrors displaying my reflection from many angles.
The service was quick and excellent, as my food arrived
within 15 minutes, and the employees were very attentive.
The presentation was incredible. For example, the oysters were in a beautiful round platter, neatly arranged around a cup of sauce.
This being my first time eating oysters, I was hopeful to expand my seafood diet. The oysters had a slightly slimy texture paired with a strong flavor reminiscent of fish or crab. They tasted decent paired with their sweet, tangy cocktail sauce.
Despite their slug-like texture, the oysters exceeded my low expectations. Regardless, I didn’t enjoy them enough to spend $24 for only six.
I also ordered their beef bibimbap, a warm bowl of rice covered with marinated beef, carrots and other vegetables. The meat’s sweet soy sauce flavor pairs perfectly with rice, resulting in a delicious, succulent meal that I enjoyed.
Koko Izakaya’s hot bowl of vegetable tofu soup stood out because it was a little too spicy for me to handle, but the heat was somwhat mitigated when mixed with
the rice, kimchi, spinach, bean sprouts, zucchini and egg it came with.
The stars of the show are definitely the eggplant skewers and in & out mango rolls. As a big fan of eggplant, Koko Izakaya’s eggplant skewers met my high expectations, since they were fresh off the grill and extremely flavorful for only $5. Furthermore, the rolls paired mango with salmon, an uncommon flavor combination that entertained me through its uniqueness.
However, with the other two rolls I tried, El Camino and cherry blossom, nothing stood out. The classic flavors of salmon and tuna were good but average and not worth the price of $20 and $18, respectively.
Koko Izakaya is a noteworthy restaurant for Japanese-Korean food but on the expensive side for many. The food is hot and delectable, and the interior de-
sign is cozy. I would recommend this restaurant for more special occasions but not as a weekly comfort meal.
Restaurant: Koko Izakaya and Oyster House. Grade: B. 759 E El Camino Real, Sunnyvale.
COLUMN — My ears were blessed when I first heard Sol ChYld. Among the sea of rap music I listen to, her vibrant style imprinted itself in my mind. The rebellion in her voice is addictive, and her music challenged me to look closer at systemic issues and question them.
Internet phenomenon has lost its humor
Alan Zhang
It feels like just yesterday when the most hilarious things anyone could hear were brainrot terms like “fanum tax” and “rizz.” These phrases didn’t just make people laugh. They took over our dialect, group chats and even classrooms, spreading humor in the most unexpected way.
When comparing this to earlier brainrot, older variants contained much more meaning and originality. For instance, “rizz” stemmed from a shortened form of the word “charisma,” clearly holding a meaning beyond simply existing. This clear definition allowed the term to thrive in conversations, as it had a purpose beyond randomness and could actually be used to describe something in a clever and funny manner.
Sol ChYld has the seamless flow of water, reminiscent of Doechii in “Nissan Altima.” While many rappers can spit out bars, very few can precisely calculate the number of syllables to subdivide the beat, especially when the words are rapid-fire.
In “NBC,” for example, her flow is unmatched. She wastes no time establishing herself as the savior of hip-hop by comparing her birthdate to a Bible verse. She claps back at copycats and bashes the boredom of mainstream rap.
Her song “Sol,” however, is a slower burn. It starts with a funky beat and distorted vocals, and just as my focus shifts elsewhere, she pulls out all the stops, rapping, “It’s elementary for the way that you been mumbling / Crumbling from all the L’s you been fumbling with.” In under four minutes, she calmly destroys every competitor, leaving gaping jaws in her wake.
The lack of meaning behind brainrot is not the only factor behind its downfall. With everybody incessantly repeating these terms, most of these jokes have grown repetitive and stale, even if they were funny at some point. The novelty that made early brainrot appealing has been completely exhausted.
When brainrot first started seeping into people’s conversations, the chaotic and immature nature of the terms made them unique and amusing. Not only was this new form of comedy funny, but the unpredictability it brought was fresh and exciting. Every new clip or phrase was a surprise, and that made it more entertaining in a way that polished content couldn’t match.
year
was the Lorax, last year I was a smurf, and so I’m trying to keep the trend consistent with the Tin Man being very silver.”
— Ada Buricea
clips, so we thought it would be fun to [dress up as Maya and Anna].We painted the letters, cut the end of the shirt and tied it to make it look like the ones in the show.”
— Zining Zhu (10)
However, despite its eventful debut only being a few years ago, brainrot’s quality and humor has already driven straight off a cliff. More recent brainrot trends stray further away from what the concept originally meant.
After summer vacation, the two words I seemed to hear the most, both in person and online, were “six” and “seven.” I was left more confused than amused, as there was nothing remotely humorous about it to someone out of the loop on the viral trend.
Ultimately, people should stop trying to force new brainrot into existence just to keep the trend alive. The more people attempt to create or repeat the next viral phrase, the quicker the humor fades and the further it strays from what made it funny in the first place.
With both the unpredictability and originality stripped away from brainrot, what’s left is a hollow batch of recycled jokes that make my eyes roll. Once absurd and exciting, brainrot has flattened to repetition, and the only thing left to laugh at is how predictable it all has become.
Though Sol ChYld is witty, her lyrics are also inspirational. She opens her newest album, “ReBirth.Theory,” with a gentle track titled “welcome.” The backtrack starts with a man shouting, voicing the anger of the Black community. After, poetry flows from Sol ChYld’s lips, singing, “You are living proof of what it looks like to follow your dreams/its essence gushing from your pores like everything its supposed to be.”
Sol ChYld carefully and intentionally crafts the structure of “ReBirth.Theory.” Songs seamlessly blend into each other, enabling the album to feel like a cohesive story. To start, “welcome” reflects on the hopes of the Black community, and she builds off of this theme to zoom in on her personal experiences and inner self. She raps about her experiences with love, her dreams and low moments.
What I did not expect was that my uninformed first impression was completely valid. The humor of this term stemmed from others knowing that it was meant to be humorous. Due to the repetition, nothing about these phrases caught me off guard, and they became expected and annoying rather than entertaining.
What was originally funny and surprising has now become meaningless and repetitive.
Sol ChYld deserves to be a household name, and she should be dominating musical accolades. Her lyricism and unique voice set her apart from many other rappers of this generation. She uses her skill to make listeners like me think harder about society, all while making music that we can belt in the shower.
Le’s hard work, discipline, prompts rapid improvement
Swimming is a sport that does not often see enormous improvement happen all at once, varsity swimmer senior Alex Chan said. However, varsity swimmer sophomore Winston Le has quickly risen to be one of the fastest swimmers in the class of 2028, Chan said.
“Winston [improved] because of his work ethic and mentality,” Chan said. “Whenever he’s racing someone, he knows that he’s gonna beat them. He doesn’t care who they are. He wants all the smoke.”
After swimming a personal best of 50.21 seconds in the 100 yard butterfly, Le said he com-
peted in July in the prestigious TYR Futures Championships, a high-level meet hosting the fastest club swimmers across California, Oregon and Nevada.
Le’s impressive time also makes him eligible for the 2026 Futures Championships, Le said.
“[It was] pure joy being able to go as a freshman, Le said. Even though I didn’t really do that well at the meet, I was still in it for the experience. I still had an amazing time with my teammates.”
Practicing at Palo Alto Stanford Aquatics, Le said he trains nine times a week in four morning sessions and five afternoon sessions which drive his improvement.
“I really don’t like morning practices, waking up knowing that all my friends are still fast asleep and having to get into the cold pool,” Le said. “That’s the biggest challenge. But I know
that I have to go to the pool or the gym to get better.”
This past season, Le broke through some initial shyness, and grew to be a highly influential team leader, varsity boys swim coach Antonio Jen said.
“Initially, [Winston] would just go along with whatever was happening, but as the season moved on, he had more of a say in what he wanted. He really made the team environment more fun,” Jen said, “He gets along with people and inspires others to be consistent with practice.”
Ultimately, Le said he aims to be recruited to swim at a Division I college after high school.
While acknowledging that the road to his goal will not be smooth, Le is more than willing to persevere through future challenges.
“Every day you go, you [need
to] put in 110%,” Le said. “It’s the days you don’t want to go that really shape the type of athlete you are. It’s the days you’re tired
and sore. But, if you get up and work out, even if it’s a workout at 40% [intensity], that’s still better than 0%.’”
Players, coach explain challenges, adaptations
Specifically, Jen said opponents in the upper league possess greater defensive strength, which pushes the team to adopt more unorthodox strategies and capitalize on scoring opportunities collaboratively.
“We have to be smart and play strategically to win instead of just being individually better. In the upper league, it’s very important we emphasize teamwork and Natasha Bandil, Henry Hu, Chloe Wang and Ethan Xue
After winning the lower league two years in a row, the varsity boys water polo team has advanced to the upper league as the underdogs, forcing players to adapt and persevere through strong teamwork, player, junior Trace Lucero said.
Under the two-league system consisting of a lower El Camino league and an upper, more powerful De Anza league, coach Antonio Jen said the varsity team struggles with unbalanced opponent matchups across games.
“In the upper league, the opponents are too [strong], but in the lower league, the opponents are too bad for us, so we’re stuck in the middle,” Jen said. “We’ve been bouncing up and down for a couple years now, and it’s unfortunate we can’t play teams that are strictly at our skill level.”
strategy,” Jen said, “but even then it’s really hard, so gimmicky play will only work so far. Some things that we’re working on are ways to score goals in quicker scenarios rather than overpowering our opponents directly.”
Building on the basics, junior Aarav Almaula said the JV team is reinforcing simple concepts while returning players have the opportunity to play at a high level
HATS committee discusses event, community building
Aiming to strengthen bonds between staff, the Homestead Administrators, Teachers and Staff committee organized a steps challenge for the month of October, encouraging exercise and a sense of community, committee member and P.E. teacher Kyle Bonvechio said.
“Our goal is to build community throughout the school year with all the different staff groups on campus,” Bonvechio said. “These include are administrators, teachers and classified staff. We all want to start doing more things together, so we’re just trying to find different things that would unite us.”
Committee member and school-based therapist Sarah Loyd, who generated the idea for the challenge, said she planned the competition to serve as a fun team bonding activity.
“This is the first time we started doing a step challenge,” Loyd said. “[We wanted] to have people form teams with at least one person to be outside of their department and just get to know other people.”
The challenge allows for a playful competition among the staff members, with some participants walking over 20,000 steps a day, committee member and counselor Raquel DeJesus said. At the end of the month, the group that wins group is awarded a breakfast of their choosing from the HATS committee, DeJesus added.
“I don’t think we anticipated for it to be this intense and crazy,
but I do think that it is a lot of fun,” DeJesus said.
In addition to creating connections, the challenge also benefits the physical and mental health of staff, Bonvechio said.
“It’s hard for us to find things to do during the school day because we’re all in different areas of work, whether it’s teaching a class or supporting a class or working in the office,” Bonvechio said. “I think it’s a great thing for our staff to participate in a little healthy competition to see who can get the most steps and promote that culture of wellness and community.”
Although the steps challenge will not be a recurring monthly event, Loyd said the committee will consider bringing it back later in the year, fulfilling the HATS committee’s mission to plan engaging events for staff members, Loyd said.
during their high school season.
In addition to the adaptations in game strategy, Lucero said advancing to the upper league requires greater personal dedication from the coach and players alike.
Despite having intermittently coached the varsity team as the JV coach last year, Jen said assuming a full-time position on both teams this season demands more commitment from him to in order to provide adequate support amid the upper league’s increased challenges.
“I’m learning a lot about how to split time between coaching two teams at the same time [while] also managing my own free time,” Jen said. “Coaching varsity has taught me how to manage my time more wisely and have priorities.”
After the graduation of skilled players last season, Lucero said the team must hold themselves to higher standards and improve without overreliance on a select few players.
“This year, after losing our star players, we all have to step up as players to make the team chemis-
try better,” Lucero said. “Last year, our entire game plan was essentially, ‘We’ll eventually throw Ryan Anton the ball and he’ll do something with it,’ but this year, we all have to make our contribution to the team.”
In the long run, Almaula said the team is shifting its goals from match wins to specialized athlete improvement.
“To be honest, we’re going to lose a lot of games,” Almaula said. “It’s going to be a rude awakening, especially for returning JV players, because last season we went undefeated, but it’s going to be a great learning experience for all of us.”
With Jen’s added experience of having coached most varsity players in past JV seasons, Jen said he is proud of their progress and hopes to see the team grow as they tackle the challenging league together.
“It’s surreal to see how much [the team] has grown and improved throughout the years,” Jen said. “I’m happy to watch them play, win or lose. It’s fun to coach them because we’ve grown a lot closer throughout the years.”
“If you enjoy coming to work and you have people that you can rely on and people you can collaborate with, then it’s all a part
of the school culture,” Loyd said. “When the staff feels like a community, then that [extends] down into the student body.”
“[I’ve learned] the importance of resilience. Our record this year isn’t as great as we hoped, but it’s important that we bounce back and learn from it. In life, when you have failure and hardship, it’s really important to find ways to do better next time.”
– Natalie Chen (12)
“It’s allowed me to get past roadblocks. For example, if I’m injured, I’m able to find my motivation again. Obviously, things are slow at the start when you come back from an injury, but if you keep working hard, you get back to your old self and get your skills back.”
–
Justin Ahn (11)
“[We’ve] learned to keep our heads up no matter what happens. In life, during practice and during games, always keep your head up. There is light on the other side, and you want to never look down.”
– Anthony Greco
(12)
5-3 Cross Country Placements from Mt.
Boys: 12/15 Girls: 11/18
5-5
“If golf were easy, we would be pros. Every time you play, you’ll always make mistakes, just like in real life. It’s a good way to change your mindset because no matter how good you are, you always might hit bad shots.”
“Be a goldfish. Imagine something bad happens. You think about that, you forget it the next day and you reset. Let’s say I do bad on my physics test. I learn from that, and then I move on and do better on my next one.”
– Clara Lang (12)
– Janice Tang (11)
13-1
updated as of 10/29
Lim’s mindset sparks new three-mile record
With every stride, cross country runner, senior Joshua Lim pushes the limits. Most recently, Lim said he broke HHS’s three-mile record at the Woodbridge Invitational event on Sept. 20, aided by his patient and disciplined mindset.
“I just focus on control,” Lim said. "At the end of the day, [if] things don't go my way, they don't go my way. I'm happy as long as I did the things that I had control over, like my effort, how aggressive I was [and] my preparation.”
Though basketball is his main sport, Lim said he was encouraged by his parents and friends to pick up running in middle school. Lim
said his passion and talent for running quickly grew to keep him hooked to the sport.
Beyond Lim’s dedication, cross country coach Kenrick Sealy said
Lim’s consistency during practice formed a solid foundation for his success. Steady long-distance runs built up Lim’s endurance and prepared him for intense training later on, Sealy added.
“He had a good track season and rode that into the fall, and he was ready psychologically and physically to undertake the training that we had,” Sealy said. “You would never know he's that good because he's so humble. Underneath that, he's vicious. He'll run you over if you don't get out of his way when it comes to training.”
On the track, Lim said his main challenge is getting started.
“The hardest part is just getting out there. Once you get
in and once you're working hard at it, then it's like, ‘Okay, I already got some momentum.' The hardest part is getting started and building up that momentum to keep going,” Lim said.
Beyond Lim’s athletic excellence during practices, his determination, inclusivity and positivity sets the tone for the team, cross country runner, sophomore Owen Dickins said.
“He's usually very focused, [and] he's good at pushing through,” Dickins said. “He can do his own thing, but he’s always positive and tries to incorporate everybody. He's really fast, and I look up to him. During workouts, I try to keep up with him as a pacer.”
During his record-breaking race, Lim said he focused on keeping things light rather than fixating on his nerves, allowing him to perform his best.
While Lim said he has high
hopes of qualifying for the CIF State Cross Country Championships this season, the runner said he also intends to cherish his last year on the team.
“A big thing with me [and]
the sport is having fun when I'm running, not making it like a chore,” Lim said. “I want to enjoy the moment and have fun with the team there. I'm not going to get this back, so this is my only time.”
A: I wrote an arrangement of “Cielito Lindo” [for choir] long before I knew Vicente Fernandez, an iconic figure in Mexican music. In the last 10 years, I have become more familiar with ranchero as a style. I just wanted to learn more about it. Part of that for me, as a composer, was to write out [the piece].
A: There’s this one culinary [Ukrainian reality show], which involves a bunch of cooking and really fun competitions between teams, that I really love. It helps me connect with the people, and it helps me remember my language.
A: The movie ‘Gua Sha’ showed me a lot about Chinese traditional medicine and how there are many culture differences between the Chinese main characters and [Western values].
