The Matador: Issue 7 - April 7, 2023

Un’stella’r Night SBAC test will be administered to juniors during early to mid-April

MEREL TAN NEWS EDITOR

Nyctophobia

Phobias arise from the deprivations of clairvoyance and overactive imaginations. It’s a branch of fear, a byproduct of an apprehensive irrationality and our survival instinct. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been timid in the dark, despite growing up in the opaque shroud. But I never thought how my fear of the dark could have been anything else but fear.

When the subject of China’s cities comes to mind, many think of its bustling metropolises. Cities like Shanghai and Beijing have incandescent streets and buildings. Lights envelope everything in its warm, artificial glow and cacophonies of cars and dialects fill the silence. Rural China is the opposite. The leaving of dusk means a blanket of pure black. Living there, nyctophobia sunk its fangs into my head. It’s the deprivation of my sight that I hate. Anything could happen in the dark, and I wouldn’t even see it coming.

Childishly, I’d hoped it would fade away when I immigrated to the United States because I’d have a house with stable electricity. It didn’t.

The first time I slept alone with all the lights off, I stayed awake for hours, uselessly straining my eyes because I’d been afraid of things in the dark that are there when they’re not supposed to be. My overactive imagination worsens it all. The darker shape of my closet warps into silhouettes of two cloaked sadists. The creaks and slight dips of the bed from my own movement somehow meant that something – or someone – was right beside me, awaiting for the moment when curiosity won over fear so its hideous face and intent could be revealed. I could never open the lights to any dark room or go anywhere near that obscurity.

I’m still afraid of the dark. I’m reminded whenever I open the door to the lightless garage or when I round the corner to the stairs, fearing for a monster that’s never there. Nyctophobia never released its teeth from my head, though time and flashlights diluted it. Darkness no longer has as much control over my life as it once did. It remains as an eccentric bridge between my old home and my current one; it’s a reminder of how far I’ve gone and yet, at the same time, how I’m still myself from ten years ago.

During the second and third week of April, juniors will take the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC), a test whose purpose is to measure students’ skills in English language arts/literacy (ELA) and mathematics. The results of the students’ standards for both subjects will be “not met,” “nearly met,” “met,” or “exceeded.”

After conducting a poll in which 30 juniors were asked if they knew what the SBAC test is and how seriously they take the test (either “not seriously at all,” “somewhat seriously,” and “extremely seriously”), 24 said that they knew what the SBAC test is, nine said that they take the test “extremely seriously,” and five said that they take the test “not seriously at all.”

“[I don’t take the SBAC test seriously at all.] I don’t have enough time to prepare for the SBAC test because managing other classes is challenging sometimes,” said junior Dylan Vo.

Furthermore, the poll revealed that out of the 30

juniors, 16 said that they take the test “somewhat seriously.”

“I take the SBAC test somewhat seriously because I understand that the test scores will reflect the grades and academic status of our school,” said junior Jing Tran. “However, I don’t particularly study for it or prepare for it so I don’t take it extremely seriously.”

According to the California Assessment of Student

Performance and Progress (CAASPP) website, during the 2021-22 school year, the percentages of Californian juniors whose standards were either “not met,” “nearly met,” “met,” or “exceeded” in the ELA section were roughly the same (ranging from 21.61% to 29.19%). However, in the same year, the percentage of Californian juniors whose standards were “not met” in mathematics was 51.76%, with only 26.97% of

Californian juniors meeting or exceeding the standard for mathematics.

“I prepare my students for the SBAC by giving them packets, teaching them the curriculum that I know will be on the SBAC, and by using M.E. time to answer any questions on the SBAC,” said math teacher Huong Tran.

Biden administration approves Willow Project

VIVIAN NGUYEN FOCUS EDITOR

On Mar. 13, the Biden administration approved the Willow project, the massive oil drilling project in Alaska. The Willow Master Development Plan is a $8 billion proposal from ConocoPhillips, Alaska’s largest crude oil producer, to drill oil inside the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. The oil company announces that “the project could deliver up to $17 billion in revenue for federal, state and local governments, opening over 2,500 job opportunities.” If the project was approved, it would produce over 600 million metric barrels of recoverable oil in the course of 30 years, which would not even reach the market because the project has yet to be constructed, along with 239 metric tons of carbon dioxide, the main contributor of climate change.

“It’s good that we will

have oil and will not have to rely on oil from other countries,” Hannah Duong said. “However, it destroys the climate and a lot of wildlife such as bears will have nowhere to live and they might go extinct.”

The proposal itself sparked controversy among people who feared that the project would accelerate the pace of greenhouse gas emissions, which goes against Biden’s climate goals of reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 50%-52% by 2030 that was declared at the White House summit.

“We are still notably dependent on oil so the project supports the economy regarding the shortage of oil; however it’s not worth doing that given that according to the current climate goals that Biden has sponsored, in 2050 we are supposed to eliminate carbon emissions,” junior Richard Guan said. “It’s already 2023 and in 2030 we should

not be needing it. It seems that Biden is getting a jump on it and that this is a fallback in case our clean energy plan doesn’t work, but the amount of US oil reserves such as Saudi Arabia should be able to sustain it. The Willow Project obviously destroys ecosystems and there are not many overall positives. The extra economy is not worth it.”

Environmental groups and Alaska Natives who opposed the project argued that it would damage the ecosystem and disrupt age-old migration and denning patterns for arctic animals such as polar bears and caribou.

The Biden Administration has recently considered cutting down the number of approved drilling pads from five to two and raising measures to conserve its surroundings. By decreasing the drilling pads to two, the oil company would be able to drill 70% of the oil

that was initially sought. However, ConocoPhillips persistently urged the administration and Interior Department for months to agree to three drilling pads by arguing that it was not economically viable.

The administration decided on three drilling pads, feeling that they

could not cancel or reduce the project due to it previously being approved by the Trump administration. According to CNN, the administration determined that courts would not have given them the right to entirely reject the project.

The Willow Project is set to extract oil from Alaska in the course of thirty years. This project intends to produce over 200,000 barrels of oil per day, producing up to 600 million barrels of oil cumulatively.

The SBAC test will be taken on a computer by juniors in April. The test will assess students’ knowledge in ELA and mathematics. Additionally, grades three through eight will also take the SBAC test.

“Students taking computerized exam,” CC BY-SA 2.0, Michael Surran

Photo courtesy of Judy Patrick/provided by ConocoPhillips Alaska Inc.

The illusion of the celebrity lifestyle

ILLUSTRATION BY JACOB GUTIERREZ

Celebrities should not be idolized

Many people, young and old, across the world, see the rich and famous as stars to be looked up to. Such an idea, however, is harmful, as fans do not know of everything that goes into a public appearance of fame and wealth. Setting goals and aspiring toward being a superstar sets a person on a course that will, in all likelihood, lead to failure and disappointment alongside unrealistic expectations for their own life and future.

One problem with idolizing the celebrity lifestyle is that, oftentimes, those lifestyles are supported by large, unethical industries. Frequently, celebrity businesses are run using cheap overseas labor, which often involves slavery in Africa or Asia. Much of the wealth collected by the rich is built off of the abuse of impoverished citizens in

third world nations.

Many celebrities are directly involved in unethical or harmful practices. The use of private transportation is exponentially worse for the environment than public transport, yet it is extremely popular among celebrities. Much of the upper class engages in activities that hurt the planet.

Fan worship also leads to unhealthy parasocial relationships. A parasocial relationship is a one-way relationship where the idolized figure, known as the persona, does not know that the other member of the relationship even exists. The fan develops an often obsessive view with the celebrity, sometimes changing into love or personal friendship, even as the persona continues to lack knowledge of the fan’s

Cherishing family

VIVIAN NGUYEN FOCUS EDITOR

One of the hardest things growing up was being away from my mom. When I was in third grade, she was accepted to work as a histotechnologist in Northern California and moved away from my father, brother, and me. Seeing her pack her bags while my father helped load the car was the worst day of my life.

JEREMY GUTIERREZ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

In recent years, controversy has arisen surrounding the topic of bathroom use by transgender people. While opinions may differ largely based on the demographics of an area — with republican areas tending to be less accepting of transgender individuals — even those that consider themselves progressive or “protrans” may often be against the concept. Many people state that it would be dangerous to allow a “male-bodied person” (in the case of transfems) to enter restrooms with cisgender women, especially children. However, evidence largely shows that transgender people pose no greater threat to others than their cisgender counterparts. In fact, allowing transgender people to use the correct restroom has more positives; violence against transgender people reduces, while the general acceptance toward transgender people increases. There is currently no evidence to support the idea that transgender people pose any risk to cisgender people in public

restrooms. This idea is actually negated by several studies published within the past decade. A 2018 study from Massachusetts concluded that any instances of privacy or safety violations were exceedingly rare.

In fact, restrictive policies and belief systems often result in trans people being hurt instead. A study published by the National Center for Transgender Equality in 2016 found that about 12% of transgender people were verbally harassed in public restrooms within the previous year, while 1% were physically attacked, and 1% were sexually assaulted. Regardless of a person’s gender, gender non-conforming people are more likely to experience violence in public restrooms. Requiring transgender people to use the restroom of their “biological sex” would result in some being harassed or attacked. Many men are threatened by the idea of feminine or gay men — often stemming from insecurity, or viewing them as sexual predators — in addition to transgender women, and forcing trans women to use the men’s restroom can only result in violence.

Within school environments, restrictive policies can lead to even worse outcomes.

existence.

Although some may argue that the presence of a figure to idolize and strive to match is helpful, it ultimately can hurt more than it assists. Trying to reach the same standards that a celebrity sets will, more often than not, result in failure and disappointment. Celebrity idolization is also harmful by potentially resulting in unhealthy obsessions, and many people that defend celebrity fans do not consider the harm of parasocial bonds.

Ultimately, aiming to match the rich and famous can harm goals and mentalities. Both the direct unethicality that people commit for money and fame and the danger that a one-sided idolization brings can worsen a fan’s mental state far more than the benefits could bring.

restroom

Among transgender American students, 65% are harassed at school, with an upward of 70% avoiding using the restroom at school as a result. While some claim safety concerns for cisgender students — in particular, minor women — as a reason, trans-inclusivity on campus can lead to a more positive, and safer, environment for all. As a result of inclusive education on campus, assaults and harassment on transgender students decrease (by about 13.1%), while the average GPA increases. Part of this process is normalizing the presence and existence of transgender students, part of which involves allowing the use of the proper restroom.

Allowing transgender students to use the restroom that matches their gender identity is a net positive. They pose no greater risk to others than cisgender students, and doing so results in a more positive, and less violent campus. When done in conjunction with efforts to normalize the existence of trans people, there are only benefits. As such, schools that currently do not allow trans students to use the bathroom that they identify with should do so promptly.

I have never been far away from my mom for more than two weeks since I was born. She’s my best friend, my support system, my comfort, and she was leaving me to live in the middle of nowhere –– Redwood City. It’s hard to fly from LA to San Jose. It’s a six-hour drive without traffic, taking the wrong exit, or stopping at a rest area. Sometimes my mom would try to visit us on weekends, but since she worked on Mondays, she would leave on Sunday nights. Only being able to physically spend less than two days with her, depending on whether she took a bus ride or flight back home, was something I had to learn to live with.

It was strange not having my mom by my side –– someone who would pack my lunches, pick me up from school at 2:30, and dry my hair at night. I hated that my brother and I had to grow up without having her by our side. To some people, two years may not seem like a lot but at the moment, it felt excruciatingly long. At one point, her frequent visits stopped – it was bound to happen. No other adult I knew would buy a plane ticket every weekend or take a Xe Đò Hoàng (bus service) to see their children. However, my mom still tried to save enough money to visit at least twice a month. Despite being hundreds of miles apart, we still video-chatted twice a day.

I eventually got used to living without my mom. After she left, my brother and I were signed up for an after-school program. I spent most of my life going to school and coming home in the evening. As my father worked many jobs, finishing work late, I often found myself waiting until nine p.m. to be picked up. We would eat dinner at greasy fast-food places or cheap Vietnamese restaurants. Being separated from my mom allowed me to realize things I took for granted, such as her delicious home-cooked meals. I always enjoyed the rare occasions when my father cooked dinner. It wasn’t fancy or anything, and most of the time it tasted bad, but the feeling of having a home-cooked meal was something more filling than food at a restaurant.

By the time my brother finished middle school, my mom returned home and I couldn’t be happier. I know that being apart from one another was equally challenging for her, and understand that we cannot change the past. Although we cannot get back the time that was lost, I try to cherish the time we have together because life is short and you never know what’s going to happen at any given moment.

Staff Stance

Transgender students should be allowed to use

of their gender regardless of birth sex

A brief history of women’s suffrage in America

BY KELLY LY OPINIONS EDITOR

Women’s struggle for voting rights in America dates back to the 1800s.

Repressed in terms of fundamental rights and freedoms, women have fought to be equal within society. Enduring hardships and relentless injustices, their efforts led to the passing of the 19th Amendment on August 18, 1920, guaranteeing women equality and the right to vote within America.

The movement for women’s rights rose in the mid-1800s amidst the outcry against slavery. Elizabeth Cady Stanton was one of the women who joined the antislavery

movement in America, determined to establish rights for women and enslaved people. Along with Lucretia Mott, Stanton held the Seneca Falls Convention at Seneca Falls, New York in 1848. This declaration called for women’s suffrage, education, and employment opportunities. Several other conventions followed suit such as the one in Worcester, Massachusetts held by Lucy Stone and another in Syracuse, New York, where Stanton would meet Susan B. Anthony. These women would be known as “suffragettes,” female suffragists under the banner of “Votes for Women.”

Stanton and Anthony

formed the National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA) in 1869. NWSA would eventually merge with the American Woman Suffrage Association (AWSA), which aimed to secure women’s suffrage through the inclusion of amendments within state constitutions, to form the National American Woman Suffrage Association in 1890. Congress attempted to amend the U.S. Constitution to include women’s suffrage in 1878 although it failed to pass. Congress attempted to pass another women’s suffrage bill in 1914 but it failed to pass like its predecessor. Shortly after America entered World War I, women’s prominent

Reality of traditional gender roles

ADWIK CHATURVEDI EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, PRINT

Gender roles have existed for as long as society has flourished, centering around the masculinity or femininity of an individual. But, were these roles even necessary? Well, from what the modern world has shown, society has been slowly drifting away from such restrictions. Some argue that traditional gender roles create a functional world, one that is made up of characteristics for both men and women, help facilitate healthy relationships, and ultimately lead to elevated moods in the people. However, these roles present harmful effects in our society, especially inequalities between men and women, something that disproportionately affects the latter.

Coined in 1955 by psychologist John Money, the term “gender role” was expressed during the course

of his intersex study that observed the way each gender presents their masculine and feminine selves. But, as time evolved, the term has often forced individuals to look, act, and dress a certain way. Men are expected to present their strength, power, and competitiveness, while rarely showing their emotions. On the other hand, women are expected to be nurturing, accommodating, and polite.

While it might have seemed that gender roles were producing a positive effect on our society, they really were not. These conformities affect career choices, mental health, and ultimately create a toxic culture around both genders. Due to discriminatory behavior and a lack of resources, women are not as prevalent in STEM careers than men, and the same applies to men in the care sector. Yet, these are not the only examples. Gender roles also

impact young people, contributing to self harm in one in five 14year olds, according to a report by the Commission on Gender Stereotypes in Early Childhood. Along with higher male suicide rates and issues with body image, it is hard to see any beneficial aspect of gender roles.

There are ways to limit, and soon eradicate, gender roles as a whole. By being aware of sexism and advocating for gender equality, it can become easier to find a solution to all the issues that have been created. So, in the end, are gender roles necessary? Well, it seems as though they are simply irrelevant.

involvement in the war resulted in nationwide commitment to women’s suffrage. Much opposition to the cause had diminished, from both men and women, with both the Democratic and Republican Parties in favor of women’s suffrage. The 19th Amendment was finally ratified on August 18, 1920, allowing women to vote on a federal level in America. Suffragettes incorporated several colors as symbols of their cause, although their most iconic color scheme consisted of purple, white, and gold. Purple represented the loyalty and steadfast nature of women. White expressed the purity of women through their femininity. Gold was a light color, representing life

and seen as a torch guiding towards the future. While this color scheme was first used by British suffragettes, it was adapted into American suffragist movements by Stanton’s daughter, Harriet Stanton Blach. Barely a century has passed since the ratification of the 19th Amendment. Women had struggled for universal suffrage amidst rampant sexism, oppression, and lack of basic rights. Through conventions and widespread attention, their efforts led to the eventual ratification of the 19th Amendment. Women have gained the right to vote and equality among men, although they are not truly equal within the shifting qualms of American society.

Survey: Do you believe that gender roles are necessary for society to function?

46.1%

n

53.9%

PHOTO COURTESY BY THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

Suffragists board a bus in New York City decorated with various posters advocating for the movement. This is a part of the suffrage hike to Washington, D.C., which joined the March 3, 1913, National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) parade.

The Idol: the sleaziest love story in Hollywood

BY RAMONA RIVAS FOCUS EDITOR

The Idol, a show created, produced, written, and directed by Sam Levinson, is not even out yet and is already fraught with controversy. The Idol is the brainchild of Levinson and The Weeknd and has been characterized as a darker, crazier Euphoria about “[the] sleaziest love story in Hollywood” according to HBO. The show stars Lily-Rose Depp as a struggling pop star and The Weeknd as a mysterious selfhelp guru and cult leader.

The Weeknd wanted to tone down the cult aspect of the show and felt concerned that the series “[leaned] too much into a female perspective.” This led to Levinson rewriting almost the entire series and reshooting about 80% of the scenes already shot by Amy Seimetz (who later left the project) in order to focus less on a troubled starlet fighting to reclaim her agency and more on a love story with heavy emphasis on sex scenes and nudity, some say to replicate his most popular show: Euphoria

However, according to some, Seimetz had been set up to fail, with a production member

telling Rolling Stone, “Amy was doing her best in an impossible situation, but she was going to lose this no matter what.”

When she arrived on set, she received half finished scripts, a tight schedule, and impossible expectations from HBO. The television company wanted to keep the budget small at about $54 million in total ($9 million per episode) but expected Euphoria level results. For comparison: Euphoria’s second season had a total budget of $97 million.

Seimetz had to handle all of the above plus HBO wanted her to leave her mark on the show, but Lenvinson also wanted his vision to be the only vision of the show. Seimetz wanted a satire of Hollywood that focused on Depp’s character's struggles but The Weeknd, who is the cocreator, was worried that the show placed too much focus on the “female perspective”. These creative differences ultimately led to Seimetz leaving the project and Levinson taking over and reshooting the nearly completed project.

However, production sources claim that Levinson’s version faced the same issues that plagued Seimetz’s set due to ongoing script rewrites. “There

was no leash on this second incarnation,” a production member says. “The people who are fronting the cash and HBO, they’re not putting [Levinson] on a leash, knowing that you already have a [multimilliondollar] bill, supposedly, that you can’t do anything with.”

The production has left many wary of working again with Levinson, who they say is developing a track record of creating chaotic sets. “I would never work for him ever again,” one production member says. “I don’t think I’ll watch Euphoria again after working for him and knowing how he treats his crew.”

Arguably, the biggest concern amongst the crew was Levinson chipping away at the show’s original messaging and creating a distorted story that lost its impact. At various points, Levinson’s scripts contained disturbing sexual and physically violent scenes between Depp and The Weeknd’s characters. “It was like any rape fantasy that any toxic man would have in the show — and then the woman comes back for more because it makes her music better,” one production member explains of Levinson’s version.

“This was such a strong

On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous: a heartfelt letter from a son to his mother.

ZUYUAN ZHOU LIFE AND ARTS EDITOR

and his family. He writes this letter in English, even though he knows his mother would not understand.

The novel explores the generational wounds that pass from one generation to another. Little Dog’s mother experienced racism back in Vietnam because she was not fully Vietnamese, an assumption made by the villagers solely because of her skin’s color. Her mother, Lan, met and married a young American soldier during the Vietnam War, therefore making Rose a child born of two worlds. When Rose and her family left Saigon for America during the war, they took with them their belongings and trauma. Rose's experience in Vietnam led to her wanting what is best for her son, Little Dog, while raising him in the U.S; but this attempt of speaking love through her actions mistranslated into abuse.

On top of touching on generational wounds, On Earth

relationship. Both their love and cocaine were pure, addictive, and a fleeting feeling they would try to cling onto.

Ocean Vuong fills every page with moving lines; metaphors that really mar at the readers' soul. My favorite comparison in the novel is the one between monarch butterflies and immigrants. Similar to the trip monarch butterflies take on their cycles, immigration is like a one way trip to a country or as the novel describes it, "a life sentence." The parents never make the return trip, and what got started is left for their offspring(s) to finish. If I were to highlight my favorite lines from every page, the book would be soiled in bright yellow ink, further “highlighting” why it is such a great book.

example of just how far [Levinson] can really push HBO and they will continue to cover [him] because he brings in money,” a production member says. “He’s able to walk away unscathed and everybody still

wants to work with him… People will ignore the red flags and follow him regardless.” Based on the information available, The Idol seems like a desperate attempt to capitalize on the notoriety of Euphoria

My poem to the world

My life my choice my rights

My life is controlled, my choices are criticized, And my rights aren't the same as that of a man.

I am a woman and it leaves me at a loss

I am being held back, yet to reach my full potential. All because I am a woman

On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous is an epistolary novel written by renowned Vietnamese-American poet, Ocean Vuong. In the novel, the main character, Little Dog, writes a letter to his mother, Rose, detailing what it was like growing up as a Vietnamese immigrant in a country foreign to both himself

We’reBrieflyGorgeous shows how the relationships people form with others are but brief fragments of time. Like most young love, Little Dog met his lover under a blazing summer: barn hay, sweat, and a radio turned to the sports channel. Even though his lover struggled with a cocaine addiction, it did not stop Little Dog from being there for his lover. In a way, their love for each other was similar to the very substance hindering their

As I got closer to the end of the book, I delayed myself for days in order to not finish this wonderful piece of writing. I guess a piece of myself did not want the book to end because it sparked something in me. However, when I did get myself to flip those last few pages, blankness and awe greeted me. The following days, I felt like a ghost, more or less a walking wound; a pouring wound that opened after I closed this very book. This feeling took me by surprise, and I did not think I would get over this book for some time. Even if I did, the thought of this book still lingers in the back of my mind.

For years frowned upon looked at like a maid And having to put up with the fragile masculinity. For years I have fought and I will not quit until I have what I deserve. I deserve nothing less but the same rights as a man, I see no difference and yet we are treated as if we are a completely different species. They make a difference that isn't there all because they're men. I want control in my life, I want to be able to take the reins and say this is who I am and I am proud.

I am proud of who I am

I am not proud of who you make us out to be. A man is strategic but because I am a woman it was all calculated. I am not able to react but I do overreact.

All because I am a woman.

WRITTEN BY GISELLE CARDENAS

Lily-Rose Depp and The Weeknd in HBO's upcoming show, The Idol.

PHOTO BY ZUYUAN ZHOU

The cover photo, Embrace, is part of a collection titled Deep Springs by Sam Contis. Composed of photos that took place in a desert valley from both the past and present, the collection explores similar themes to the book such as place, masculine identity, and the nostalgia of boyhood.

PHOTO COURTESY OF HBO

Luo reaches for the stars

BY RAMONA RIVAS FOCUS EDITOR

“Ilikebeing able to give back to my community and I think as a first generation immigrant it’s really nice to help out people who are also struggling,” junior Shuang Luo answered confidently. Ever since childhood Luo knew that she wanted to have her own business and that she enjoyed helping other people.

“I’m interested in [doing something] with a fragrance line like making candles or perfumes. Stuff like that.”

Luo plans on attending a business school and then working for a business that works in a similar field before starting her own business. She began working on this goal early, making slime and other small things during middle school. Now that she is in highschool, Luo serves as the does Public Relations Officerpublic relations for a chapter of Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles here at school, works as a director of

Yu yearns for more

GISELLE CARDENAS SPORTS EDITOR

“I want to major in aerospace engineering because I like airplanes.” sophomore Joanne Yu said when asked what she aspires to do in the near future.

Yu has big dreams and major aspirations that may seem like a long shot to many, however, not for Joanne. Consistently working hard, never taking breaks she is always up to something new.

“I don’t sleep,” she said. “I just like to keep my things organized, I like to have a clear plan of what I do each day.”

This may not work for everyone, but Joanne just doesn’t seem to catch a break. She is able to handle her workload by managing the tight work schedule. Setting up a list and time of what she has to do in a day works best.

“For piano, I have been playing for 10 years and I hate it. I’m kidding, I love piano.” Yu said.

She works a lot towards her goal of being an aerospace engineer. Although she is still

curriculum at EntHERprise, is an ambassador for Big Future, and many “Honestly,more.sometimes it’s really stressful; but, I think if you’re really determined and just put in a lot of hard work and effort. It’s really important to have good time management skills.”

But, all of her extracurriculars plus the workload from school can be very stressful. She can get overwhelmed and fall behind or not put 100% into her school work. Especially now that the second semester has started and teachers are doubling down on the amount of work and projects that they assign. However, with a nap, some support from her friends, and maybe a little baking she comes bouncing back!

Despite any and all shortcomings, Luo keeps her head up and continues to move forward. When asked if she had any parting words of advice, Luo simply said:

“I think if you’re presented with an opportunity you should just take it.”

in high school, she is constantly chasing her dreams through small goals and steps every day.

“I’m gonna continue doing MESA, which is like this engineering club for STEM,” she said. “[I will] continue to get good grades, and like [to] keep up with my extracurriculars.”

She did not always know that aerospace engineering was her passion. Entering high school, she tried to explore different fields and decide on what she would like to pursue in the future. Through school, she selected courses that were relevant to aerospace engineering.

“I like building stuff and I didnt know what to major in,” she said. “Going into high school, I needed to pick my classes [related to my major]. I chose engineering, specifically aerospace engineering.”

Setting her foot in the door, Joanne Yu is prepared for what is to come in her near future. Even when things get hard she never gives up keeping her head up looking at what is her next challenge to overcome.

GRAPHIC COURTESY OF CARLA HAU

withmanyfuturegoals.“Ithinkifyou’re presentedwithanopporutunity,you shouldjusttakeit.”

Sophomore Joanne Yu attempts to achieve it all. Persevering through high school maintaining focus on her future and nothings holding her back.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JOANNE YU