THE MARK
The Mark
The Mark, a feature magazine published by the students in Menlo-Atherton’s journalism class, is an open forum for student expression and the discussion of issues of concern to its readership. The Mark is distributed to its readers and the student at no cost. The staff welcomes letters to the editor, but reserves the right to edit all submissions for length, grammar, potential libel, invasion of privacy, and obscenity. Submissions do not necessarily re�lect the opinions of all M-A students or the staff of The Mark. Send all submissions to submittothemark@gmail.com
In this issue of The Mark, we explore the near futures of M-A students and faculty. As M-A students are headed in different directions, some for the summer and some forever, The Mark wants to acknowledge the importance of memories and experiences created at M-A that will forever bind us. The cover, designed by our layout editors, So�ia and Lara Karadogan, features the topics covered in this issue, representing the endless possibilities of the future. On the back cover, The Mark staff shares their favorite journalism memories from the past year.
Caraline Albro / Editor-in-Chief
Kate Flanagan / Head Copy Editor
Katie Mof�itt / Content Editor
Joanna Vollrath / Production Manager
Reid Diamond / Managing Editor
Elley Goldberg / Social Media Manager
Lara Karadogan / Layout Editor
So�ia Karadogan / Layout Editor
Leah Marcus / Op-Ed Editor
Daisy De Martini
Liza Pertseva
Lauren Lutge
Z Bekemeyer
Sarah Friedman
Michael Stark
Allan Barnes / Advisor
Is Macron Going to “Make America Great Again?”
In the wake of unprecedented instability stemming from divisive leaders gaining or strengthening power in almost every part of the world, a glimmer of hope shines for the world with the recent election of Emmanuel Macron. From North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, or Duterte in the Philippines in Asia, to Theresa May and Nigel Farage in the U.K., and here at home with the rise of populism incarnated through the leadership of President Trump, the decisive election of Macron as the new French President will ameliorate the way the United States will continue to grow these next couple of years.
The stability of the world, and by extension of the United States, is highly
dependent on a stable and strong Europe. Last year, the U.S. exported $31 billion worth of goods to France, and imports worth $46.8 billion. Macron has the ability to push for more liberal trading arrangements between the European Union and the U.S. which would eventually lead Americans to export more goods to French people and receive more in return, helping the U.S economy tremendously.
With the U.K. formally kickstarting its withdrawal process from the EU, the election of Macron’s rival, the anti-European Marine Le Pen, would have most likely led to a profound and irreparable fracture of the EU that would have impacted our economy and stabili-
ty for decades to come. Macron’s election on the other hand, will lead to a stronger Europe, and measures that will most likely influence U.S. policies on wide-ranging issues including climate change, immigration, the fight against ISIS, and much more. He has even personally invited American scientists to research and discuss climate change in France as they are “welcome there.”
In contrast, Trump has referred to climate change as a “hoax” and has dismissed its mere existence many times. Trump even took the climate change page off of the White House official website. Trump’s America has turned into one of immigration bans, overturns of Medicaid and Medicare (affecting mil-
lions of lives today), and a world where many American citizens just don’t feel safe.
On the other hand, Macron has promised innovation and international openness as the drivers of France’s future and has made it clear to the rest of the world that France will always be the country that will support natural rights, liberty and democracy. A strong and democratic president in an allying country that is and will be helping American economy and funneling democratic ideals back into the U.S. just might be what it takes for Donald Trump to truly recognize what the United States really needs.
by the Editorial Board
H gh Mark
Low Mark
Farewell to seniors
by Liza Pertseva
How Teachers Spend Their Summers
Mr. Wellington M-A Chronicle & AP US History
“One of my longest and oldest traditions is usually I will collect one or two cats… skin it and then bury it in the ground, usually do some sort of paganistic dance around the cats and that’s of course for luck and health and also to scare away the former ghosts of students who might haunt me … Other rituals [include] hanging out with my kids who are three and a half and nine months and lots and lots of reading.”
Mr. Barnes
Photography & The Mark
“I teach photo workshops in a process called wet plate collodion. It was popular from about 1850 to 1870. It’s what they did before film. You dip a glass or metal plate in some chemicals and make the picture right on the surface/ It’s a process that I fell in love with just as I was leaving photojournalism and just as the Polaroid Corporation, whose films I used to love, had gone bankrupt. It’s slow, messy and very fun.” “I usually take a workshop too; last summer I learned how to do silk screen printing.”
Dr. Richards
Enriched Biology & Chemistry
“Every summer I’ve done different things… but I like to keep myself busy, because I think the worst thing to do is not have any plans because you get a little stir crazy… but I also don’t want to overplan because I want to relax.” “Next summer I’m planning to do a program at Stanford where I can go in a lab… the program is for scientists who have become teachers.” “At the end of June my dad and I are going to the Galapagos, which is for fun but I’m also really excited to enrich my evolution unit.”
Ms. Choe AS English I & II
“As much as possible I try to have days where I don’t even have to open my front door.” “My best vacation is a vacation where I don’t have to go outside. If I feel really ambitious I’ll get out of my pajamas.” “I also stay with my mom for a week, because after a week you get tired of being treated like a child when you are an adult.” “My parents try and make me go outside sometimes… it’s kind of painful…”
Mr. McBlair
AS II & AP English
“I go backpacking with my dog, Kosmo, during the summer [for] about 30 miles, for five or six days, so often you can walk the first two days and then just rest the next.” “I like to read things I don’t have time to read during the school year.” “I take a class on something I like to teach.”
ISURFING THE RED SEA
have lived in the liberal Bay Area my whole life. When M-A had the walkout after Trump’s victory, I walked. When millions marched all over the world for women’s rights, I marched. But next year, I will be leaving my home in Menlo Park to attend college in Indiana, one of the most conservative states in the nation.
When I was researching colleges, I embraced the option of going to a school where the population’s political views differ from my own. I wanted a school that would expose me to diversity of thought, especially regarding politics. Though all college campuses tend to lean liberal, a Catholic school in rural Indiana is more conservative than others.
Several years ago, when Barack Obama spoke at the college’s graduation, students objected because of his liberal stance on abortion. This year, students walked out when Mike Pence spoke at the same event. I am excited to enter into an environment where all students can peacefully and respectfully demonstrate their views, regardless of where they fall on the political spectrum.
After I was admitted, I started having doubts. Did I just commit to spend to four years at a school filled with racist,
bigoted Trump supporters? The answer, as I would soon discover, is no. Regardless of people’s political views, they all have the best intentions. Very few of the students I have met actually support Trump. None of them express any of his hatred toward immigrants, women, or minorities. I will be going to school with students who all want to be a force for good. Each of us just have a different view on how to get there. Ultimately, our differing beliefs will allow us to have educated discussions rather than hostile arguments.
It still angers me when someone says that the government has no obligation to protect the environment or regulate the minimum wage. It upsets me when someone flaunts a “Make America Great Again” hat. I am allowed to be angry and upset. That, however, does not mean that I can disregard the opposition’s views. In the past few months, I have listened to conservative arguments about why those solutions (lower taxes, fewer regulations, etc.) would best for the underrepresented portions of society. Talking with non-liberal thinkers has taught me more about political philosophies like distributionism and about religion’s role in politics.
I am not becoming apathetic toward the causes and philosophies I be-
lieve in, but I am also not holding so firm to them that I am unwilling to change. I can’t assume that because I have been raised with certain ideals, those are automatically the correct ones. My moral integrity is not more sound than anyone else’s. That said, I highly doubt I will change change my beliefs for matters regarding civil rights and the rights of women and minorities.
While my exposure to the more conservative side of the country hasn’t changed my beliefs, it has educated me. I have learned, among other things, not to define people by their political views or choose friends based on politics. There is so much more to a person than opinions. Although I have loved growing up in an area where the majority of people share my beliefs, I can’t stay in a predominantly liberal bubble forever. I want to make a difference in the world and fix those problems for which we have different solutions. I can’t do that if I only listen to people who share my own opinions. If college is going to teach me anything, I want to learn how to become a more informed, open-minded student, and I think a conservative campus can do just that.
by Kate Flanagan
Bullying. The one thing most high school students have to learn to endure. Not only can it cause emotional predicaments, but it can cause physical ones as well. As defined in Psychology Today, bullying “is a distinctive pattern of harming and humiliating others, specifically those who are in some way smaller, weaker, younger or in any way more vulnerable than the bully.” It almost seems impossible to go through high school without having at least one encounter with a bully-like figure. I should know. I endured incidents that made me feel bullied my freshman year. I won’t rehash all the details, but it was an unpleasant experience all the same. Looking back at it now with a new mindset, I feel like it gave me time to learn more about what I want in friends and to accept myself for who I am. I am thankful for all those difficult people in my life; they have shown me exactly who I don’t want to be.
I had the privilege of interviewing Natalie Hampton, a sixteen year-old who decided to make her own app after she got bullied. She is in 11th grade at Sherman Oaks High School in Southern California, and is also the creator of the
The Relationship Between Resilience & Bullying
By Z Bekemeyer
app Sit With Us. I reached out to Hampton and asked her a series of questions regarding her experience getting bullied and making the app. When asked about her experience getting bullied, Hampton replied, “During 7th and 8th grade, I was verbally bullied on almost a daily basis, cyberbullied at all hours of the day and night, and physically attacked by several girls on four occasions. I came home with bruises from being punched with fists or shoved into lockers, and my hair tied in knots or claw marks on my face. Apart from being hurt, one of the worst parts of my experience was eating lunch alone every day, and then having people see me eat lunch alone. I felt worthless and vulnerable. I also believe that being ostracized by my peers branded me as a target for bullying. When my parents and I realized that the school’s administrators were never going to do anything to make it stop, and that I needed to escape that toxic environment, I switched schools again for 9th grade. We chose carefully, and in a much nicer school community I quickly made friends. Whenever I saw someone eating alone, I would ask that person to join our table because I knew
exactly how they felt. Over time, those people became a central part of my friend group, and were then invited to birthday parties. I saw that the simple act of inviting them over to my table made a big difference in their lives, and affected the path they took from that day forward. It was this experience that inspired me to create “Sit With Us” because I wanted to affect this kind of change on a much larger scale. I felt as if I went on with my life and did nothing for the kids out there who continue to suffer as I did, I would be just as bad as the people who watched me suffer and did nothing.”
Hampton does not regret getting bullied, as she claims it “made me the strong person that I am today. I also feel sorry for the kids who bullied me because they came from situations where their lives were unpleasant at home, and that is why they were acting out. While my middle school did nothing to help me, they also did nothing to help those bullies, and so I wonder about their future. The whole community is affected – even bystanders suffer – when bullying goes unchecked.” Kindness is the key when it comes to dealing with bullying, Hampton
explains. “Don’t give up – life gets better. Using the app is one way to get a support group, because as soon as you have one, you are less likely to be bullied. At my middle school, all I really needed was for one person to have my back, and if I had had the app, I probably would have been okay. I also think it’s important to reach out to adults and find allies. It was helpful for me to have my parents on my side, but I also confided in an art teacher, and then she let me unlock her art lab (she showed me where the key was stored) whenever I needed a safe space. I am so grateful to her for her kindness.”
Creating the app has led to open doors and opportunities for Hampton, including publicly spreading awareness on national television. I hope we all take this opportunity to come together and stand up for bullying. The resilient Hampton is a role model for us all; let’s try to follow in her footsteps. So, let’s carpe diem. Life is short. Don’t let the haters bring you down. You only have one life, so live it. Hampton provided some additional information regarding the app: “The app works as a social network/ lunch-planning platform. You download it, create a profile, and put in your school information. If you choose to be an “Ambassador,” you take a pledge in which you agree to post open lunches in the app from time to time (stating the date, time and location) and if anyone wants to join your table, you will make them feel welcome. That way, anyone looking for an “open invitation” for a table to join simply has to look in the app to find one. It’s all very discreet, without any embarrassment. For schools that do not allow cell phone use, we recommend an “analog” version, where Ambassadors post open lunch notices on a bulletin board, or put signs on their tables.When I came up with the idea, I created a storyboard of each page of the app, and how it would flow and function. I also did the graphic design and included cartoonish figures that look like my friends and me. I know two coding languages, but I needed help with such a complicated app, so I partnered with a coder who believed in my project. I will admit that I panicked a bit when we were beta testing and the app was filled with glitches, but we were able to make it work within a couple of weeks. We released it in September 2016 and we now have over 100,000 users in seven countries worldwide. The app is free, and available for IOS and Android.” Get it here: http://www.sitwithus.io
“Whenever I saw someone eating alone, I would ask that person to join our table because I knew exactly how they felt.”
– Natalie Hampton, Founder of Sit With Us
THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY CLUB
by Daisy De Martini
In the last year and a half, Menlo-Atherton’s American Cancer Society Club has thrived in its fight against cancer, thank to its president and founder, Lena Reibstein. As a current junior, Reibstein has dealt with her own struggles regarding cancer and its impairing effects on loved ones. When Reibstein was nine, tragedy struck her family when they received the news that her mother had been diagnosed with stage 4 fallopian tube cancer. Reibstein felt powerless over her mother’s cancer and came to terms with the fact that this was a battle her mom was just going to have to fight. Reibstein’s support through her mother’s treatments and eventual recovery motivated her to actively partake in the fight against cancer, not only for her mother but for others affected by the disease. “Even though I couldn’t stop my mom’s cancer from affecting her, I could help stop it from affecting other people,” Reibstein says.
In January of 2016, Reibstein established the American Cancer Society Club at M-A. Her club is based on the American Cancer Society organization, which focuses on raising money and awareness for cancer
research. Every year, the American Cancer Society hosts the “Relay for Life” in honor of cancer survivors everywhere, including Reibstein’s mom. When Reibstein’s mom was first diagnosed, they both attended Relay for Life and the event always stuck with Reibstein. “My mom was having the first good time in a long time,” Reibstein remembers, “Relay for Life is a moment for people with cancer to be celebrated and that was her time to be celebrated.” During the event there are several booths, each consisting of a different theme, and members from each group take turns walking the track for 24 hours. This year, Reibstein’s American Cancer Society Club participated in “Relay for Life” for the second time in the club’s history. The club’s sixties themed booth won for best themed booth for the second year in a row and was able to raise $4,514, all donated to fund cancer research. Through her time as president of the American Cancer Society Club, Reibstein has spread her message of support and celebration for those affected by cancer and continues to empower everyone to get involved in the fight against cancer.
Artwork Ninarose Roybal
Tests like the SAT and the ACT provide colleges with a standardized method of evaluating the knowledge of students. Many look to private tutor companies to improve scores and get into selective colleges. While private tutoring has had huge success in improving the scores of students, it has also created a gap of success between those who can and can’t afford the preparation.
Do all students from all economic backgrounds really have the same opportunities to succeed on standardized testing? I interviewed two teachers to find out whether standardized tests evaluate knowledge or wealth.
SAT
Jennifer Payne
SAT Preparatory Class Teacher at M-A
“Idon’t think it’s a level playing field. The more financially secure a family is, the more they can pay for their kids to prepare for the SAT or ACT,” Jennifer Payne explains. For ten years Payne has taught the SAT preparatory class at M-A, providing cost-effective or free tutoring designed to help students prepare for the SAT or ACT. The eight-week program specifically helps students review concepts that appear frequently on the SAT. Payne notes, “The student’s potential score is directly related to the amount of effort they put forth.” However, as Payne explains it, money and time are often the separating factors between those who receive outside tutoring and those who study through the school or neglect studying all together. Payne says, “We’ve tried to help take the financial burden away but it still really isn’t a level playing field. In general, If you’re from a lower-income
family you may have to work or care for younger siblings so you may just not have the time to even do a free online course to help prepare.”
Simply put, Payne reveals that “the more money you have and the more free time you have, the easier it is to take outside classes and prepare for the SAT or ACT.”
Payne also believes that this applies to education in general by explaining, “Unfortunately, our entire education system is a little bit skewed in that students who are more economically well off have more advantages. If you don’t have certain responsibilities with work or family then you have more time to study, whether that is for standardized tests or for regular classes.”
However, Payne also points out that “success is also definitely based on studying hard whether that is with a tutor or without one,” and continues to clarify, “Any self-motivated student can be successful on standardized tests.”
“When it comes down to it, studying and taking practice tests are the best ways to improve your scores and there may be some kind of cost limitation to that, but it isn’t huge,” says David Massey. Massey, now a tutor at AJ tutoring, has been a private tutor for almost ten years. According to Massey the difference between the private and class settings is that “with one-onone tutoring you really get to focus on the particular needs of the student, but classes can be great too as long as you are the type of student who thrives in a group setting with group work.”
Massey also notes, “A lot of it comes down to the tutor, either by the tutor motivating themselves
Massey
to become a better educator, or by receiving the appropriate training from their place of employment — whether that’s private or school. So you really can have levels of quality and ability that swing wildly whether you’re at a tutoring company or a school.”
“I do, however, understand where the pay to play concept comes from because yeah, if you have more money, you may do better on the SAT or ACT. But that is also because that student has been studying more,” Massey explains.
“The test is coachable,” Massey says, “which means you can improve your score through tutoring or studying on your own, that’s a fact. But it really comes down to the fact that the more time you put into it the more you will improve.”
by Reid Diamond
ACT
David
Private Tutor at AJ Tutoring
by Sofia Karadogan
WUhether information is shared deliberately or unintentionally, the traces that individuals leave on online services is constantly being gathered by current employers and companies in the form of numerical data. As the variety of products that have internet connectivity such as watches, television and cars increased, virtually every every activity creates a digital trace. According to an article published by the Economist, “the giant’s surveillance systems span the entire economy” meaning that they are processing information in their own markets and beyond. Companies such as Facebook, Google, Apple, and Amazon can see what their users share, what they search, and what they purchase. Companies collect not only personal information, but work to input one’s data into larger demographics concerning race, religion, interests, and increasingly, family history. Although it is important for people to be conscientious of their digital trace, living offline in order to reduce one’s footprint is not the solution in a society where unfortunately, people make decisions about you based on how you represent yourself through your online profile. While the collection of your history online may seem invasive, artificial intelligence combined with these data distilleries may draw effective conclusions.
by Lara Karadogan
ROAD TRIP PLAYLIST
by Joanna Vollrath and Katie Moffitt
Classics
“I Would Walk (500 Miles)” The Proclaimers
Arguably the most iconic road trip song, even if “How I Met Your Mother” is the only reason our generation knows it.
“Jack & Diane” John Mellencamp
Let it rock, let it roll.
“Take it Easy” The Eagles
The title speaks for itself.
“3000 Pounds of Bananas” Harry Chapin
I can bet most of you haven’t heard this but it may soon become one of your favorites.
“Africa” Toto
If you’re really looking to up your game, try that oh-so-satisfying chorus harmony with a friend!
Throwbacks
“Unwritten” Natasha Bedingfield
No one else, no one else can belt this like you can.
“Boyfriend” Justin Bieber
Channel your inner 7th grade self and fall back in love with JB.
“Halo” Beyonce
You hit that high note, you rock star.
“The Climb” Miley Cyrus
A classic.
“It Wasn’t Me” Shaggy, Ricardo Ducent
Ignore the somewhat shady themes of this song and shake your hips to your heart’s desire.
Trendy
“Sleep on the Floor” The Lumineers
Watch this music video and you’ll want to throw together a bag and take to the road at once.
“Sign of the Times” Harry Styles
Harry went solo and he can sing!
“My Girl” ACADEMY, Terrye
A new twist on an old classic keeps everyone on their toes.
“Despacito” Luis Fonsi ft. Justin Bieber
You may or may not understand the words, but that never stopped anybody from grunting along and pretending to speak fluent Spanish!
“Bad Things” Milky Chance
The new album is real funky so “play that funky music white boy.”
Lil’ Bit of Everything
“Live Like We Are Dying” Tim McGraw
Make Tim McGraw proud and belt that chorus at the top of your lungs.
“It’s Raining Men” The Weather Girls
Just trust me on this one.
“Margaritaville” Jimmy Buffett
“Cigarette Daydreams” Cage the Elephant
“You can drive all night” listening to this one. Margaritaville isn’t just a song, it’s a state of mind.
“Take a Chance on Me” ABBA
We can go dancing, we can go walking, we can go road tripping!
BUCKETLIST
SAN FRANCISCO
WHALE TOURS GOLDEN DRAGONS FORTUNE IN MENLO PARK
PILLAR POINT SURF SCHOOL IN HALF MOON
SCUBA DIVE CENTER IN SAN MATEO
by Leah Marcus
WARRIORS GAMES/ GIANTS GAMES/49ERS
SAFARI WEST IN SANTA OUTSIDE LANDS IN SAN FRANCISCO
TATTOO CO. IN RWC iFLY IN SAN JOSE
REDWOOD
BAY
FleaAlemany Market
San Francisco
by Sofia and Lara Karadogan
“The most interesting items I’ve found are gold, guns, and bones. Buying and selling storage spaces is a game about �inding beauty in others’ trash”
After school
MEXCAL TAQUERIA
3215 Middlefield Rd, Menlo Park
WHAT WE ORDERED: carne asada super burrito - carne asada, rice, pinto beans, cheese, avocado, pico de gallo, salsa, lettuce
NOTES: We found this burrito to be the most flavorful of the bunch. Not only did the salsa have a kick, the carne asada itself was spicy and flavorful, balanced out with a squeeze of lime. If you have time to sit down, Mexcal serves amazing chips and salsa, complementary with your order.
LOS GALLOS
3726 Florence St, Redwood City
WHAT WE ORDERED: vegetarian burrito *spicy* - rice, pinto beans, lettuce, guacamole, cheese, sour cream, pico de gallo, salsa
NOTES: The best vegetarian burrito we’ve come across. Even without meat, this is far from lacking in flavor. Make sure to order it spicy, you don’t want to miss out on Los Gallos’ salsas. Bonus - Los Gallos has a salsa bar and free chips.
THE BEST BURRITOS NEAR M-A
by Elley Goldberg
LOS CARNALITOS
3101 El Camino Real, Redwood City
WHAT WE ORDERED: al pastor burritro - al pastor, rice, black beans, cheese, spicy green salsa, jalepeño, pineapple
NOTES: If you’re looking to try something new, a burrito from Los Carnalitos’ taco truck is the way to go. The al pastor burrito with chunks of pinapple is just enough sweet and just enough spicy. If you’re more in the mood for a quesadilla, check out their “Gringa”, with al pastor, pickled onions, and pineapple.
TAQUERIA
LA CAZUELA
2390 Clarke Ave, East Palo Alto
WHAT WE ORDERED: shrimp super burrito a diablo - shrimp in spicy sauce, rice, refried pinto beans, avocado, cheese
NOTES: La Cazuela’s shrimp burrito comes in at a little more expensive than our other options, at about 12 dollars, but is definitely worth it. Make sure to have plenty of water on hand - this one packs a punch. If you have time to sit down, try La Cazuela’s wet burrito or mole poblano.
EL CAMARON DE SINALOA
2761 El Camino Real, Redwood City
WHAT WE ORDERED: fish burrito - fish, rice, pinto beans, grilled green bell peppers, green onions, cheese, pico de gallo, salsa
NOTES: If you’re in the mood for seafood, stop by El Camoron de Sinaloa. Along with their fish burritos and tacos, they serve octopus items for their more adventurous customers. Beware, if you ask for it spicy, it will be spicy - El Camoron de Sinoloa has an oil and habanero-based sauce that is tasty, but powerful.
LA HACIENDA
1933 Menalto Ave, Menlo Park
WHAT WE ORDERED: pollo asado super burrito - pollo asado, rice, pinto beans, pico de gallo, mild salsa, cheese, sour cream
NOTES: A solid option for a basic burrito is La Hacienda. There’s nothing very unique about their burritos, but they hit the spot if you are looking for a reliable option. La Hacienda also offers mole chicken in their burritos, tacos, and nachos; well worth a try if you’re in the neighborhood.
G A P Y E A R S
Iremember that gut feeling I had when the AFS Intercultural program sponsor came to my classroom and spoke about studying abroad. Growing up, I never traveled much except for occasional weekend trips to Santa Cruz and our cabin. There was so much of the world I had yet to discover and I was trembling with excitement. Although I had my whole life ahead of me to travel, I felt like now would be the perfect time. Taking a gap year while I’m young and impressionable would enable me to take on the world and find myself in the midst of all different cultures and places. It was hard making this decision because everyone around me seemed to be against it. I’d tell people I wanted to travel and they would tell me I should finish school first and then take the time to relax and travel. They would say I would never want to go back to school and that I would lose all my motivation. However I do value knowledge, and fully understand the importance of my education. That being said, I believe exposure to the world is an extension of my education that cannot be found in a classroom. Although I understand that a college degree has the power to open more doors for me sooner, I feel that traveling the world and experiencing different cultures and places will season the way I think and act for the rest of my life. I understand that college immediate-
Photography Kirby Hocking
Taken during gap year while snorkeling in Honduras.
ly after high school may work better for certain individuals and that some people may neglect education outside of the classroom, but those people are missing out on learning about themselves and going on unforgettable adventures. Kirby Hocking, a former M-A student, graduated in December to take her second semester off to travel. Kirby had been on such a tight schedule and had worked rigorously for so long, she felt she needed a break. Even more than that, she felt she could not keep putting off the things she had always wanted to do. In the end, we both agreed that time is the most important thing we have and it is crucial to take full advantage of it. She said she watched her friends go right into college without knowing what they really wanted to do or be and that scared her. A gap semester or a gap year allows students to have more time and freedom to think before launching themselves in a new situation. As Kirby says, “It’s not like after taking a gap year you figure out all the answers, but at least it’s some time to try things and figure out what’s not for you.” And while some try to utilize their summers for this purpose, there is still summer homework, family trips, and then school again. It is naturally difficult make a choice when there are so many things going on. As Kirby says, “we have to take this moment and do what we want to do in this moment.”
by Lauren Lutge
GENERATIONS
Thousands of students have walked the halls of M-A since its opening in 1951. Thousands of students have participated in the same activities, taken the same classes, and interacted with some of the same teachers that we do today. Now, many of those past students are related to current M-A students, as they have continued to reside here and raise their children within the area. In the following pages, you will find interviews conducted with previous M-A students and their kids who are currently seniors at M-A. While many of their experiences differ, there seems to be a common thread throughout the generational divide: the feeling of community that seeps through the classroom walls (even if some have been replaced by the new G-wing).
by Caraline Albro
Caraline Albro: What was your experience like at M-A?
Debbie Roberts: I thought about this today. M-A was… it was a very different experience than it is now. It, unfortunately, it was a time in the seventies when racial tensions were very high. We were diverse, but primarily there were the African-American students and there were the white students. We didn’t have as many diverse backgrounds as M-A does today. In the late seventies, things were tense. It was not always a happy time. We had lockdown drills, there were riots and racial tensions. That’s the negative and probably the one thing that’s so different than now. I mean, now at M-A it’s a much more harmonious setting. But things were definitely tense back then. And there was this sense of two camps, if you will. It was very much part of our culture in the late seventies. Having said that, M-A was an awesome high school [...] And I loved M-A, and I loved being here which is why I was really excited when our kids could come here because it’s an outstanding high school. My dearest friends were people from all walks of life when I was here at M-A. And I had a wonderful diverse group of friends, and that, for me, was so valuable. And that’s what I wanted for all three of my kids. To have that same kind of grounding, really wonderful education with fabulous teachers in a very diverse setting.
CA: Do you have any specific memories from classes or favorite teachers that you had?
DR: So I had a government teacher, Mr. Baer. He would hand out a test - I actually remember what room he was in, right over here in the wing - and he would hand out a test and he would sit in the corner and put his sunglasses on. And put his feet up. And none of us could tell if he was awake or taking a nap. But we were way too scared to [cheat]. No one ever did! CA: Have you attended any high school reunions?
DR: Yes. We had an impromptu reunion over Thanksgiving. It was a 33 and a half year reunion. People just decided that we needed to get together. We unfortunately lost a very dear classmate a little over a year now. That, I think, was a good wakeup call and a good reminder that we needed to do a better job of getting together. We have not been a class that has been as consistent about getting together. Many of us didn’t recognize one another. To tell you the truth, the women looked much better than the men [laughs]. My very best friend from grade school and M-A [is] still in the area. Many of us are actually still in the area, so it’s nice.
CA: Did you have any dreams or hopes in high school?
I knew from an early age that I wanted to be a teacher. So I pursued that. And when I went off to the University of Oregon, I went into psychology and then I got my teaching credential up there. And I knew if we were fortunate enough to move back down to the area that I’d like to give back to the community. And so I came back and I taught at Hillview for a number of years. I taught for twelve years afterwards. And I loved it. I knew even early on that I wanted to do something working with people and teaching and trying to make a difference.
CA: Do you have any advice for current high school students?
EMILY & DEBBIE
DR: I try to encourage my kids, we’ll see, to do what you can and to try something really new and different that you probably [...] Reach high, stretch far, and go for it. Like the drill team. I didn’t make drill team my sophomore year. But I tried out my junior year and I made it for my senior year. So that was really good that I stuck with it and I’m happy I did. And take classes that maybe you don’t know much about but you have an interest in. So explore and do new and different things. I also think sports [...] I come from an athletic family where sports have been very positive in our lives. I love the sports because I think it really brings people together. It teaches discipline, and it teaches respect, and responsibility, and all the
things I believe in. Even if you’re not really good at it, just try it.
Emily (ʻ17) Interview:
CA: Tell me about some of the fondest memories you’ve had at M-A so far.
ER: From freshman year to now, just meeting everyone and making friends. Also, one of my favorite things we’ve done is the fashion show because I was able to meet so many new people through that.
CA: Do you feel like your high school experience is different or similar to your mom’s? How so?
ER: It’s hard to imagine my mom also going to the same school. I think definitely just in general the classrooms and buildings have all changed. I think the community is definitely closer. There’s not as much racial tension. Although we are considered a diverse school, it’s still definitely a little separated but I think it’s definitely more together. I’ve had classes that are super diverse and I love those because I walk through the hallways and see people from those and say hi. So I guess that’s different.
CA: Do you feel like your mom can understand you a bit better because she also attended M-A?
ER: Probably a little bit. Just going through high school and especially in the same area. It’s definitely different. There’s more pressure now. But I think it is cool that we went to the same high school. We are able to compare and contrast our high school days.
Emily Roberts is a senior at M-A while her mother, Debbie Roberts, is a long-time community member and former teacher at Hillview Middle School.
Class of 2017 & Class of 1997
GIO & GABRIELLA
Interview:
Caraline Albro: What year did you graduate from M-A?
Gabi Gacia: 1997.
CA: Who were your favorite teachers?
GG: Mrs. Galliano, she was the best. She has also taught Gio. She was the mother to all students. She loved each of us with all of her heart, but was strict at the same time. She was the only teacher I went to with all my issues—family, friends, boyfriends—she was the shoulder I cried on and the one that made us all laugh! To this day she is still as amazing—Gio loves her just as much. She has also taught Gio’s dad, so that made for more interesting conversations with Gio! [Laughs]. I was in the Computers Academy, so we had the same teachers for three years, which was a great experience, because we became close to them. They knew us, knew all of our situations and worked with us. It was a great community.
CA: Have you visited M-A recently? If so, what has changed?
GG: So much! So many new buildings and upgrades to the facility. There are so many more class options to take then when I attended. We didn’t have film, photography, broadcasting, anything other than woodshop and art class were really our choices.
Gio is a senior and baseball player at M-A. Both of his parents attended M-A, but I conducted an interview with his mom, Gabi Garcia, far left.
CA: What were your hopes and dreams when you were in high school?
GG: I wanted to attend college. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to become, but I wanted to keep studying. I did attend junior college for two years but then dropped out when I became pregnant with Gio—so I grew up.
CA: Where are you now in your life? What are you doing, and did you ever expect yourself to be here?
GG: I work part time and raise my kiddos during the time I’m not working. I didn’t see myself here, but I wouldn’t change it. CA: What are some of your fondest memories from M-A?
GG: The friends that I made. The dances, the student rallies. The march we did for Prop 187, which I can’t even remember what it was for, but we marched!
CA: What was going on in the world when you were in high school?
GG: In the world? I don’t remember too much… Bill Clinton was president, and he had the whole Monica Lewinsky scandal. But closer to home, the biggest thing I can remember, was El Nino. The biggest flood to hit our area in years. It was crazy, streets were flooded, everywhere was blocked. Cars were underwater, completely. People would literally swim in
their parking garages. I also remember throughout high school there was a lot of shootings in EPA (where I lived) and East Menlo. There was a lot of gang activity, there were people being shot, right around the block where I lived. It was a crazy time.
CA: Do you have any advice for your high school student or other M-A students?
GG: The best thing I can say to the M-A students, is stay focused on what’s important, follow your heart. Even if you don’t end up where you wanted, your life will still be amazing.
CA: How is the Bay Area, and Menlo Park in particular, different now than when you grew up here?
GG: TRAFFIC! Its crazy ridiculous now. Facebook! They’ve changed the city. EPA has changed substantially was well, since that’s where I grew up when I went to M-A, it’s no longer the murder capital of the US, it’s come around a lot. Menlo Park is a great place to go to school. So many possibilities.
Gio (ʻ17) Interview:
CA: What has your experience at M-A been like?
GG: It’s been pretty cool. It’s crazy that we’re already at senior year, just looking back, there are so many different people that I’ve spent these last four years with. Recently, this senior year has been really good. Baseball, baseball has been really fun. And pretty much all of my great memories are from baseball at M-A. But there are also a lot of great teachers at this school. I have Ms. Otsuka now, she’s a great teacher. Ms. Galliano, also a great teacher. Ms. Torres, my Spanish teacher. And I’ve had a lot of great memories here at M-A.
CA: Do you feel like your high school experience has been really different than your parents’?
GG: I feel like it’s just different based on how quick information gets around. And social media and stuff like that. I feel like the actual high school experience isn’t too much different, besides the content we’re learning. But, as an actual high school, I don’t think much has changed besides the social media aspect.
CA: Have you had any of the same teachers that your parents have had?
GG: Yes, Ms. Galliano. Ms. Galliano taught both my mom and my dad and she’s actually going to end up giving me my diploma.
CA: What are your plans for after high school?
GG: I’m going to Humboldt [State University] and I’m going to play baseball there and I’m going to [...] try to major in criminology and see how that goes. So that’s kind of what I have planned for right now.
Gabi (ʻ97)
LIBBY & SOPHIE
Libby Kirk is currently a senior at M-A, while her mother, Sophie Whelan Kirk, works as a business woman in the area.
Caraline Albro: What year did you graduate from M-A?
Sophie Whelan Kirk: I graduated in 1980, so I’m not that old.
CA: Can you tell us a little bit about what high school was like for you?
SWK: M-A was a great school because it had such a mix of people. You could walk on [the] green, that’s where everybody would have their lunch and all that. You guys have such great buildings now. I mean we had “The Glade,” which I don’t know if you guys have. That’s way at the other end of the school, that’s where people would go to smoke pot. I didn’t hang out there, I was a good kid.
CA: What extracurricular activities did you participate in?
SWK: Well, I was on the tennis team. I didn’t really do that much extra. I had to take a sewing class [...] and also home economics was part of the requirements too. I am the worst [seamstress] in the world, and so, I had a friend and we had a sewing class together and a biology class together. And I don’t mind dissecting things, so we were partners on both. I would dissect the frog, and do all that, and then she sewed my skirt. I made a tennis skirt, it was really scary. I was able to cut it out, but she basically did everything. I sometimes see her and we talk about that, how we switched off.
CA: What was the college application pro-
cess like when you were in high school?
SWK: You applied to a college and you sort of knew if you didn’t have higher grades you weren’t going to get into a UC. But a state school is a no-brainer. There is no comparison [to the college application process today]. A lot of the people who went to UCLA or Stanford say, “I don’t think I could get into college [today].” Back then, it was like, if you had the grades you got in.
CA: Do you have any advice for high school students right now?
SWK: I would just soak up every tech thing there is. I think, the way the world’s going, if [you don’t] get on that boat, [you’ll] lose out. I would tell everybody, that anything that’s technical, to learn and just to do your best. I think that history and English and all that’s really important too, but the tech thing, you’re going to miss the boat if you don’t get on it. Look at the difference between you and your parents. I mean, we’re going to you for help [with technology]. Because we didn’t have that growing up. My thing would be just what you guys are doing. Work hard and learn.
CA: Have you had any of the same teachers that your mother has had?
LK: So one of the teachers I had, well, I didn’t have him, [he] graded my papers. [He] was [my mom’s] English teacher, Mr. Weaver. He’s a reader, so he would read
my papers and I was like, “Can you tell that I’m [Sophie Whelan Kirk’s] daughter?” I had Wimberly, and so did my mom and so did my aunt.
CA: What are some of the fondest memories you’ve had in high school so far?
LK: I really like the rallies at M-A. As much as they are nasty and gross, with the condom balloons and stuff, I think it’s fun. You’re never in the same room as everyone else in the school besides the rallies. When I was a freshman, the seniors were super spirited, and that kind of was like, “Wow, when we’re seniors we’re going to be like that.” It’s cool to see that evolution through the rallies.
CA: Do you feel like your high school experience is vastly different than your mom’s?
LK: The rigor of just being a high school student is a little bit harder because we have all this stress about getting into college. Today we have to take all of these AP classes, we have to do every extracurricular, you have to choose a path and create your story in order to get into college. And I feel like there’s much more of an emphasis on taking the hardest classes, getting the highest grades. [Back then] it was much more like Grease, where they’re all happy [laughs]. When I think of [my mom] in high school, I think of, “Let’s go get a soda pop!” Back then, there was much more of an emphasis on school spirit, whereas today it’s like, get the best grades you can and go.
Sophie (ʻ80) Interview:
Libby (ʻ17) Interview:
Goodbye is Just Another Hello
Saying goodbye to The Mark staff’s graduating seniors
Kate Flanagan
“Go into the world and do well. But more importantly, go into the world and do good.”
- Minor Myers
Most likely to graduate from Hogwarts.
Michael Stark
“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t make.”
Most likely to work for The Onion.
Joanna Vollrath
Katie
Moffitt
Caraline Albro
“Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.” -Anaïs Nin
Most likely to brighten up your day.
“This wasn’t like High School Musical at all.”
Most likely to cry during a comedy movie.
“Don’t sweat the small details.”
Most likely to be the next Bear Grylls.
by Sarah Friedman
Advice from the Class of 2017
It can be daunting to be an underclassmen at a school as large as M-A, so for advice on how to get the best out of your four years here we turned to the seniors of the class of 2017.
By Michael Stark
“I wish I had spent more time on my schoolwork, get your priorities straight.”
-Jack Wolf
“Try to play a sport every year itʼs a great way to meet people, if you donʼt then join clubs and get hyped for all of MAʼs teams, and join the 6th and 12th man. Build a good relationship with your counselor and meet with them often.”
-Peter Hilton
“Keep your head above water and your grades at ʻCʼ level. Realistically try to find the best balance you can between doing your schoolwork and having fun.”
-Eli Goodman
“You can always retake a class, you canʼt relive a party.”
-Henry Morrissey
@themamark
facebook.com/ themamark @themamark themamark. tumblr.com
Visit machronicle.com for daily news