aquila
University Preparatory Academy’s
Volume V, Issue IV
www.upaaquila.com
June 2, 2016
Photos Courtesy of Nicole Sebek
Night on Olympus Seniors Lia Bizuneh and Josh Teso are all smiles as they attend prom together at Coyote Creek Golf Club.
Top: Seniors Priyanka Karunkaran, Carley Flores, former UPA student Katie Hartrich, and Brooke Barnett enjoy the evening before dinner and dancing at Prom 2016. Far left: Juniors Joy Montes de Oca and Uriah Aldaco, share a dance after being announced Prom Princess and Prince.
UPA Earns Honorable Nationwide Recognition By Rithwik Nichenametla
On April 19, UPA received a gold medal rating for college readiness and garnered 55th place on the US News and World Report’s Top High School Rankings. Every year, the US News and World Report releases a list of the top high schools in the nation and issues gold medals to schools ranked in the top 2.5% of the public high schools in the nation, equivalent to 500 schools. While this is a huge achievement, Ordaz still wants students to realize that having the confidence to perform well in college is more important than any award. “UPA has an excellent, rigorous curriculum, outstanding teachers, and an educational environment conducive to learning. We will continue to fine tune what we do and expect more from our students,” Executive Director Daniel Ordaz said. “The students and staff work extremely hard to improve [our school] and it definitely has shown in our test scores, college acceptance rate, and overall academic improvement,” senior Akeiylah DeWitt said. The teachers are the true reasons we were able to as-
sume such a high position. “The teachers here really make the school what it is,” DeWitt said, “Without the teachers’ high expectations of the students and their encouragement to aspire to greater levels, the school would not have the ranking that it now has.” “Students should be encouraged knowing that their efforts and hard work are paying off,” front desk clerk Dorene McClung said, “and alumni have expressed pride of their alma mater’s success.” Overall, the effect of the US News and World Report ranking on UPA is a notable one. “One of our values at UPA is growth. Individually and corporately we can always do better,” Ordaz said. US News and World Report assesses a total of 28,561 public schools in all fifty states, using four tests to determine the ranking. First, US News and World Report decides whether the high school students perform better than expected. One of the factors they consider is the average score received on a high school proficiency test. According to US News and World Report, “to pass
Step 1, high schools’ performance had to be one-third of one standard deviation above the average [performance score].” The next step assesses whether the low-income students of a given school were able to outperform the students with similar socioeconomic backgrounds at other schools. To find out who qualified, the US News and World Report staff took another look at the math and reading proficiency levels and compared them to other schools. The third step evaluates whether the school surpassed a required graduation rate of 68 percent. The schools with a sufficient graduation rate move on to the fourth and final step, where US News and World Report finally evaluates the college readiness of the students at the school by assessing the students’ scores on Advanced Placement tests. “I hope that the UPA students will begin to appreciate the school a bit more. It’s difficult to realize that the efforts we make in high school do contribute to our success in the future. Hopefully the students will realize that this is a competitive school and we are just as great as other schools in the area,” DeWitt said.
First Generation College Students: Educational Pioneers By Alec Blackwell
Say you are the first person in your family to venture off to the college of your dreams, how do you feel? There are students and teachers at UPA whose parents have not gone to college. Celina Padilla, Spanish 1 and 3 teacher, is a first generation student herself. Her father thought that it was not impressive that she went to
college since everyone should go to college, unlike her mother, who was impressed with Padilla’s accomplishments. Padilla believes that first generation students are put under pressure from their parents, as well as society, to go to college. Padilla also believes that parents see their children going to college as a necessity and not optional in order to live a successful life. For parents to send their children to college when they them-
selves have not attended college is difficult because they may not have a job that pays very well, and college becomes extremely expensive nowadays which makes it difficult to send children to college. Padilla also thinks that college is a priority because some families struggle to provide for their children, and that the parents want them to go to college so that they will not have to struggle in life, like with financial problems, paying rent, and a mortgage.
She thinks that although parents want to give their child the best education, they do not want their children to be far away from home in case they need something. Consuelo De La Torre is currently a senior and is a first generation student herself. “I’m forever grateful that I have this opportunity to get a higher education because that’s something my parents didn’t have,” De La Torre said. De la Torre is one of many
people going to college as the first in their family. “Many immigrant parents say their ‘American Dream’ is to see their kids go to college and have a bright future and that’s what I’m doing,” De la Torre said. “It feels good making them proud.” Her family moved to the United States from Mexico and she plans to attend Humboldt State University in the upcoming fall following graduation.
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Farewell Teachers Reminisce About High School From the Editor By Angelique Garcia
Stuart Hamilton has been at UPA for four years. His classes include Algebra 2 and Math 8.
By Sydney Harder
Watching the news last weekend, I learned of the Hyperloop test trials taking place in the dusty deserts of North Las Vegas and the cutthroat race to develop a full-scale prototype of the futuristic train that can transport passengers from Los Angeles to San Francisco in thirty minutes. Until now, the technological masterminds behind this groundbreaking project have only dreamt of producing the sleek technologies that pervade the sci-fi worlds of Star Trek and Battlestar Galactica. It is this fiery culture of 21st Century innovation and the liberation of ideas once perceived as chimerical fancies that greets the Class of 2016 as it departs. The foundation for future endeavors has solidified and the curtains close on the high school stage. It is both exciting and daunting to leave behind the keys to a comfortable, long-term home at UPA and venture into a world that rushes to the pace of shifting tides. Eighty-two seniors will enter this ocean with a common foothold. Regardless of their diverse backgrounds and personalities, the members of the Class of 2016 share qualities that their experience here has fortified: creativity, integrity, and the value of sleep. The open and accepting environment at UPA bestowed not only enduring friendships, but a teasing glimpse into the journey for knowledge and purpose. Our minds quaked with exhaustion on many moonlit nights, grazing the surface of all that we will learn in the coming years—not simply facts and numbers, but also the pillars of our identities that we will embrace as we venture forward. Few of us know with unwavering certainty the career path to pursue, or how to engrave the proof of our existence in society—and these ambitions are not achieved overnight. Dwelling on hypothetical situations that our minds are so adept at conjuring only distract from the inherent joys that each day welcomes. These years that oscillate between sun and storm are not meant to be spent analyzing outcomes that lie years beyond our perspective. Embrace spontaneity; do not succumb to menial conventions that encourage uniformity and shackle change. Look at where you stand rather than what lies ahead— the scene in front is undoubtedly ambiguous anyways. Take the plunge into rising waters and set sail.
Q: What high school did you go to? A: I went to Buckhaven High School in Scotland. It was a very bad economic time. Our school motto was Perserverando (Latin for persevere). I always remember that and it has helped me in my life. I graduated with the class of 1979.
Q: What memories do you have from high school? A: For most of my time in high school, I was interested in sports: rugby in the winter and cricket in the summer. I was the captain of both teams. I had lower grades in English, languages, and history. The only classes I did well was in
math and physics, so I spent more time on them.
Q: How is UPA different from the high school you attended? A: My high school was much bigger. It was scary too, there were a lot of fights in school. The classrooms smelled bad. I wonder why I remember mostly the bad bits. I think it was better than I remember. Jesus Del Real is UPA’s new Physical Education teacher. He has been on campus for one semester and previously taught at Cristo Rey San Jose Jesuit High School. Q: What high school did you go to? A: I attended Ann Sobrato High School in Morgan Hill. Although it started off really unsteady, I managed to create great rela-
Photo by courtesy of Stuart Hamilton Throwing it back to 1979, Stuart Hamilton shares one of his senior pictures. tionships with my advisors. This helped prepare me to get into college.
Q: How is UPA different from the high school you attended? A: [It] is really different from my school. My high school’s population was much larger, meaning that resources were harder to find. You had to really go out of your way or know that you wanted to attend college to seek help. UPA has an awesome college-like environment.
The Aquila is a studentproduced and student-edited high school newspaper. It serves as a designated public forum for student expression.
Q: What memories do you have from high school? A: Every time I interact with a student [here], it reminds me of my high school days. I never really understood what teachers meant when they would tell us that we would miss high school. All I remember was I really wanted to be done with high school. Now as a teacher, I find myself really wanting to go back. Its funny the way things work.
Production Editor Meklit Moges
New Addition to the Family: Mrs. Jensen-Ramirez By Sven Kuhne
Photo by Sven Kuhne Angela Jensen-Ramirez is excited to take on the role as UPA’s mental health counselor.
Angela Jensen-Ramirez, a member of the Counseling and Support Services for Youth (CASSY) program, has joined UPA to work as its first mental health counselor. “I hope I can help [the school environment] become more positive,” Jensen-Ramirez said. Students feel stressed and angry in a challenging academic environment. Having obtained a master’s degree in social work from Portland State University, the UC Santa Cruz alumni has worked as a mental health counselor since 2008, and now finds herself in a school environment for the first time. Jensen-Ramirez can assist anyone, whether middle school or high school students or members of the staff. “Some of the things we do here are not healthy for you,” senior Rebecca Fleiner said. Students demonstrate these tendencies when they decide to overwork themselves, whether it be extracurriculars, overdosing on APs, or earning class credits during the summer to get ahead.
“Kids at UPA are really bad at dealing with stress,” Fleiner said. With a CASSY mental health counselor, students can become better at managing their stress and put an end to sleepless nights and a constant feeling of homework overload. “She will encourage [students] to be healthier with their mind and not overwork themselves,” said Fleiner, who has worked with Jensen-Ramirez previously. Jensen-Ramirez will help students manage themselves better and aid them in realizing their limits. “They will have someone to talk to about stress,” AP Psychology teacher Loren Schwinge said. As an unbiased source, Jensen-Ramirez will be able to help students talk about and fix problems with the utmost confidentiality. “I am really glad we have a CASSY counselor at this school now,” Schwinge said. CASSY counselors work with students on a social level rather than an academic one, making Jensen-Ramirez different than UPA’s other counselors. Jensen-Ramirez can help students take the healthy route to success.
Kiva: ‘Loans That Change Lives’
By Angelo Bautista
Kiva is a 501 non-profit organization based in San Francisco, California, with a mission to “connect people through lending to alleviate poverty,” according to its official website. It provides access to capital to those in need, as well as rising entrepreneurs, relying on borrowers’ character and trustworthiness instead of credit history and financial statements. Loans as little as $25 can be given to whomever a lender chooses to support, whether a borrower aspires to launch a small business, attend school, repair a house, or support other commitments. UPA’s first senior class, the class of 2011, had the original
idea of creating a Kiva fund, and since then, four loans supporting causes in developing nations have been made. “The microloans have gone towards deserving individuals in Third World countries,” UPA Director of Business operations Dan Ordaz Jr. said. This included raising $300 for a man in El Salvador to fix the roof of his family’s home.
“[The seniors] voted on [Kiva] as a class. They felt that this gift was the most effective way for a legacy to be established for each class of seniors,” Ordaz Jr. said.
He directed UPA Kiva for several years before handing it off to the seniors and advisor Anne Wustrow. After the senior class selects a cause to support, the next step is to decide who to support financially. “We have several members of the [UPA Kiva] committee and each member plays an active role in finding groups to fund,”
Wustrow said. Evaluating who will receive a loan is a crucial part of the process. “We as a committee decide on a specific person or organization
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by assessing a variety of variables, such as likeliness of return payments, or relative impact on the community,” senior Taiyo Hokari said. As one of the 12 members of the committee, Hokari said that as of April 20, UPA Kiva’s microfinances account had reached more than $180, with three outstanding loans for college tuitions in Mexico and Kenya. “We at the UPA Kiva team believe that all people are equally deserving of support and opportunity, and do not discriminate between nationalities,” Hokari said. Currently, the committee only reuses money after loans are paid back, but if people desire to provide donations, they may make out checks to UPA Kiva.
News Editors Anton Loeb, Tyler Jacobsen In-Depth Editor Ashley Phuong Editorial Editor Diana Rendler Features Editor Olivia Foreman A&E Editor Jade Chavez Lifestyles Editor Emily Hung
By Anton Loeb There are many companies famous for their less than stellar treatment of their customers, but Ubisoft is perhaps one of the greatest offenders. Ubisoft is a game company headquarters in Rennes, France with many divisions around the world. The company has gained recognition for the popular “Far Cry” and “Assassin’s Creed” game series. I have played games from both of the series, and I consider them
Broadcast Editors Isabella Wilkinson, Joshua Cheah Web Editors Sven Kuhne, Flavio Quintero
Staff Photographers Natalie Guggemos, Adam Sprintz, Diana Freslassie Staff Writers Carlo Barrera, Nebiu Bizuneh, Alec Blackwell, Jacob Cayabyab, Katherine Donnellan, Angelique Garcia, Natalie Guggemos, Jamileth Lomeli, Sitara Marathay, Rithwik Nichenametla, Nicole Rendler, Prajesh Sharma, Megan Wescoat Contributor Amy Chattaway
By Nicole Rendler Feminism. The belief in the social, political and economic equality between men and women. “Being a feminist doesn’t mean you think women deserve special rights; it means you know we deserve equal ones,” Casey Cavanagh wrote in a 2014 Huffington Post article. A popular misconception is that equality already exists in America between men and women, but unfortunately this could
site Ars Technica, when the much-anticipated “Watch_Dogs” came out, many players who had bought the game online were unable to play because the activation server was down for launch day. People opt to simply buy their games from Steam, a widely used platform and marketplace for the purchase of PC games, but all Ubisoft games on Steam require the UPlay client to be installed as well. It is appalling that a company would force its customers to use its broken software even though it is completely unnecessary. UPlay is unnecessary due to Steam’s stellar DRM (Digital Rights Management) solution that ensures that games are legally obtained. According to statistics released by Valve, the parent company of Steam, thousands of game developers already trust Steam’s DRM,
so why does Ubisoft still refuse to follow suit? Another offense that Ubisoft is guilty of is the implementation of so-called “microtransactions” in games that already cost upwards of $60. According to Kotaku, when “Assassin’s Creed Unity” was released, the company decided to give players the option to buy “time-saver packs” that included in-game digital currency that gave players access to special items. This business philosophy is disgusting because a customer that has just paid $60 for a game is now being prodded by the company to make additional purchases. Other companies, such as Electronic Arts, were guilty of these in the past, but they managed to mend their ways. Ubisoft, it is time to clean up your act.
not be farther from the truth. We still need feminism because women are expected to be desirable for men at all hours of the day. Women are treated like prizes that the men around them can own and use however they see fit. Once a woman starts to speak out about this mistreatment, she is an attention-seeking, whiner with high standards. Women who do not conform to the social norms become threats to the controlling, misogynist members of the male population in America. These men can be found anywhere; teachers who encourage male students to pursue their dreams while encouraging a female student to pursue a man, or fathers who refuse to teach their daughters how to change a tire because they’ll have a husband to do it for them.
We still need feminism because this attitude does not just affect the grown, working, voting women of America, but also young, impressionable girls. We walk into stores and see signs pointing to the aisle for “Girls Games/Toys” and then we see the aisle called “Boys Games/ Toys.” The boys’ aisle has unique toys, and diverse games that can entertain any child for a long time. Anything ranging from Legos that can be built into houses and cities to videogames that let boys be doctors, mechanics, superheroes and everything else. The girls’ aisle has pink Barbies and plastic baby dolls. This sends the message that our only choices are to be dolls, judged by our appearances, or stay at home mothers that rely on male incomes.
Girls deserve as many options as the boys in the next aisle. We still need feminism because female victims of abuse and assault are blamed instead of the men who abuse. Victims are still asked what they were wearing when it happened, or what they did to provoke the confrontation. The actions of men are not critiqued and ridiculed to the same degree as women’s actions. Boys are raised with freedom and girls are raised with precautions. We need feminism because although women can vote, drive, and own property in America, total equality is far from reality. Malala Yousafzai once said “We cannot succeed when half of us are held back.” Women are half of the population; don’t they deserve to be treated like it?
Gruy, “Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome is a condition that exists as the product of multi-generational oppression of Africans and their descendants, resulting from centuries of chattel slavery.” The most prominent belief that originated from times of slavery is that the inferiority of AfricanAmericans to whites is innate. This way is then trailed by institutionalized racism and this racism keeps on promoting injury. In a presentation recorded on Dec. 20, 2015, DeGruy shared, “American chattel slavery represents a case of human trauma incomparable in scope, duration and consequence to any other incidence of human enslavement.” This paints the picture everyone seems to be blinded from:
slavery is still alive. According to DeGruy’s novel, a general symptom of PTSS might be “extreme feelings of suspicion perceived as negative intentions toward others.” This results in African-Americans, often times men, being targeted as criminals. Now, let’s look at the way they are portrayed in media and the significance of a negative perception. As African-Americans are often portrayed as uncivilized savages, this group of people is trained from birth to feel subordinate. From cotton fields to prison fields, society has made it nearly impossible for people of AfricanAmerican descent to prosper, despite their natural talents.
Rather than instilling a sense of pride at a young age, they are taught to hate their skin, and grow up lacking to see the beauty in their melanin. An ideal representation of this is within Dr. Kenneth and Mamie Clark’s 1946 doll test, in which a focus group of young AfricanAmericans were given two dolls, one white and one black. When asked which doll was nicer, they pointed at the white one, but when asked which doll looks more like them, they dreadfully pointed at the black one. As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., once said, “I have a dream that sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.” This, too, is my dream.
Slavery Follows African-Americans into Modern Day
Advisor Laura Gordon Reska CONTACT US (408) 723-1839 2315 Canoas Garden Ave. San Jose, CA 95125 aquila@upatoday.com www.upaaquila.com
Check out the online edition at www. upaaquila.com, where you can find photo galleries of UPA events, new videos produced by the student broadcast team, and web exclusive articles.
some of the greatest games I have played. That is why I am writing this review: to make Ubisoft realize and hopefully correct their mistakes. Ubisoft is a company with so much potential, just seeing its current state pains me. I am not the only one who shares this sentiment. Freshman Jack Fleig loves the “Far Cry” series, but also agrees that “Ubisoft knows they mess up, but they don’t even try to correct their mistakes.” There are many aspects of their company that Ubisoft could improve, but one that stands out like a sore thumb is the travesty that they call “UPlay.” UPlay is Ubisoft’s software specialized for downloading and buying its games from the internet, but it does not meet its intended function, due to constant bugs and server downtimes. According to tech-news web-
Feminism: The Everlasting Fight For Gender Equality
Copy Editor Angelo Bautista
Photo Editor Diana Freslassie
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Editor-in-Chief Sydney Harder Managing Editor Juli Rendler
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By Diana Freslassie Sagging pants. Dropping out of school. Being in gangs. That’s just what black people do, right? But is that how they actually act or just how they are portrayed? According to the world renowned researcher Dr. Joy De-
4 In-Depth Dress Code Distress Saving page
By Adam Sprintz
From blue jeans to Hollister sweatshirts, UPA students have been out of the dress code more frequently throughout the 20152016 school year. “The dress code is too restrictive,” sophomore Hepsi Dadalah said. Hepsi does not enjoy the feeling of being stripped of her expression. Dress code requires students to buy expensive polos and pants in order to avoid detention. One of the reasons UPA has a dress code is to reduce bullying. “Bullying wouldn’t occur over something as superficial as what you’re wearing,” senior Niveditha Lakshminarayanan said.
Schools like UPA believe that if all students wear the same attire, less interaction between students over differences will equate to less bullying. “Even on free dress days we don’t go around bullying each other,” Dadalah said. However, UPA does little to enforce the dress code. “Enforcement is less restrictive than it used to be,” Lakshminarayanan said. Free dress provides an avenue for student expression and freedom it demonstrates to students that there are different types of people in the world. In efforts to unify the school and demote bullying, UPA’s dress code attempts to make students feel similar.
Dress code “involves no distractions,” former student and now campus supervisor Karina Cardenas said. Dress code allows students to focus on school rather than what new shirt they bought or what shoes they are hoping to buy. It reduces the disturbances in
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the classroom and the hallways. As a primary focus for UPA, learning is at the forefront of the schools’ mission. “It’s a simpler alternative and requires less effort,” Lakshminarayanan said. Free dress requires a lot of time for many people to choose
Illustration by Sven Kuhne
their outfit for the next day. “It’s easier to get ready in the morning with dress code,” Dadalah said. That time could be used for sleeping or studying instead. Many believe that free dress increases the expression and freedom of students, although dress code provides a simple and effective way to unite students. “[Dress code] is easier on students and parents,” Dadalah said as there is less time shopping for new clothes. She goes on to add how dress code eases stress on students by reducing the need to fit in with the current style. Overall dress code has many benefits and unifies students easily while reducing social stress.
Backpacks Article Blocked Wheel Ruin Our School By Prajesh Sharma
Illustration by Sven Kuhne By Katherine Donnellan University Preparatory Academy students have become accustomed to seeing the infamous “website blocked” logo popping up on their Chromebook or smartphone screens whenever a website is deemed inappropriate for school by the administration. These web filters were put in place to keep students from viewing websites that would distract them from their learning environment, and are also used as a form of security to prevent the Chromebooks from going onto websites that might have viruses on them. However, some of the websites that have restricted access are those that students actually need to access for school purposes such as Student Press Law Center and Freemanpedia. “There have been a few times where I’ve had to ask Ms. Schwinge to unblock a website for me because I needed it for a bio-med project” said sophomore Maher Osman.
Yes, sometimes a website will be blocked accidentally because it gets misclassified, and in those cases teachers can notify the administration and they will clear the restriction on the website, according to Tom Guevara. Students taking part in classes such as Principles of Biomedical Science or Gateway to Technology are often those who have to deal with the filters frequently; however, this is a situation that the general student population can relate to. While the web filters were set up to keep the students here on track and focused on the assignment at hand, it seems as if they sometimes keep students from getting their work done. “It can be a bit of a pain trying to find a website that isn’t restricted by the administration and has all the information I’m looking for for a particular assignment due to the web blocks,” said Osman. Though they are effective at keeping students off social media websites while in class, they also block helpful sites that students need to complete their class work.
Two styles of backpacks students at University Preparatory Academy use are rolling backpacks and backpacks with straps. Backpacks with straps are much more popular than roller backpacks, which were common in elementary school. Backpacks are essential for carrying students’ belongings, since it is tiresome to carry books, binders and other school materials by hand to each class. “The only reason I got a roller backpack was because I had back pain,” seventh grader Mazin Osman said. Osman has used his rolling backpack for five months because it is more comfortable. However, he does not like that he unintentionally trips other people with it. Meanwhile, others find the roller backpacks inconvenient. Sophomore Samuel Indurkar disagrees with the use of rolling backpacks because he believes that they are annoying in a small crowded school. “People should not use [rolling] backpacks because they obstruct the hallways which are already narrow and a backpack is not too heavy to carry,” Indurkar said. Indurkar occasionally bother
people with roller backpacks. Sometimes, Indurkar puts his right foot under roller backpacks in an attempt to flip them over. Despite never being successful, he still finds it quite humorous. Other students, however, do not mind rolling backpacks. “If [the backpack] is too heavy to carry, I guess [it is] alright,” junior Jonathan Hinsta said. Despite his approval of roller backpacks, he still believes they make their users look young. Unlike Indurkar, Hinsta does not believe they should be banned from school or that current owners should get regular backpacks.
Illustration by Ashley Phuong
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School Pride By Jacob Cayabyab
It seems University Preparatory Academy is trying to appeal to students in order to achieve a higher sense of school pride. The school has opened up a Twitter under the handle @UPAToday, an unsuccessful attempt to try appealing to the students at our school. The account is almost never active and when it is, it only informs us about past school events. However, although the intentions are there, the administration at UPA needs to learn what to do to make students more proud of our school; a sure-fire way for that is to allow more out-ofschool events.* (*Out-of-school meaning events that are less supervised and allow more activities for the students to partake in, similar to the dances or movie nights.) Out-of-school events are extremely enticing to the students that attend UPA; these events have more freedom for students, making the overall experience much more enjoyable. UPA has tried its hand at making events that they thought stu-
dents would enjoy, such as the Night Rally, and sometimes, they had the right idea. Other times, however, the events fall more on the ‘lame’ side of the spectrum; an example can be the Spring Carnival UPA hosted recently. The Spring Carnival, which happened on the 6th of May, was UPA’s attempt at a fun festival that several schools host during this season. However there was not a ‘spring’ it its step. Only a measly five different events were displayed, one being ruined by the rain constantly pouring down. “The games were limited and the lines were too long,” said James Hopham, a senior that spent some time at the carnival. On top of that, the festival was only for an hour and forty minutes during school. Still, UPA is on their way to creating enjoyable events. The games, while lacking in amount, were extremely fun to play. Also, Mr. Yau pulled through with the famous UPA photo booth, which all the students enjoy using
Illustration by Ashley Phuong On May 6, UPA hosted a spring carnival during an extended lunch period. Some students have suggested that an evening carnival would have been more exciting and enjoyable. at dances and other events. “CoacHilla,” an after-school mu- 450 people attended the event; Other public schools have fig- sic festival held on May 6th from even people who were not enured out the ‘after-school event 5-10 P.M. rolled to Andrew Hill came to lisalgorithm’ to hosting a successful The event featured perfor- ten to the music. event, meaning that they under- mances from singers, dancers, Our school is on the right track stand what appeals to students all and DJs that had an expertise on to creating memorable school while keeping it good for school. Indie music, similar to Coachella, events, but they just need to make Andrew Hill High School the event AHHS based its on. the events more fun while keepheld a school music event called According to Facebook, over ing it appropriate.
Home Work Work Work By Ashley Phuong
After a long, exhausting day at school, students return home only to find what many feel is the bane of their existence: homework. Students, teachers, and parents alike have debated for decades about the importance of homework in a student’s life. As with various other activities, homework can both positively and negatively impact students. Senior Christina Wei spoke in favor of homework, stating that “homework is generally a valuable tool that everyone should put the time and effort into completing [as] it helps us lay the foundation for new concepts.” Wei believes homework, especially practice problems, benefits students because it helps them apply what they have learned in school. “I think that homework at UPA is a great tool to help us prepare for college,” seventh grade student Ethan Tang said.
Homework requires students to practice time management, an essential skill throughout life, as they balance their schoolwork with their extracurricular activities. “I always want to have some free time after school, so I plan my homework with that in mind,” junior Diana Shetterly added. Despite its benefits, homework is also a great source of stress and frustration for students. According to Gerald K. LeTendre, a
Illustration by Sven Kuhne
professor of education at Pennsylvania State University, “empirical studies have linked excessive homework to sleep disruption, indicating a negative relationship between the amount of homework, perceived stress and physical health.” A 2014 poll conducted by the University of Phoenix showed the average high school student spends approximately 3.5 hours on homework per weekday. In combination with the multiple hours spent in school as well as stress and fatigue, this is an amount that can negatively impact a student’s academic success in the long-run. “There was a period of time in high school [in which] I was constantly stressed about not just completing my homework but making sure that the information stayed in my head,” Wei said. Sports, musicals, and other extracurricular activities only further diminish students’ desire to complete additional work at home. ¨Though I enjoy being in musicals, they
take a lot of time away from both my sleep and homework,” sophomore Paj Thao said. Criticisms of the typically heavy homework load at UPA recently led to the development of a new homework policy. At the UPA Board of Directors meeting in December, Mr. Ordaz Sr. proposed to implement Instruction Board Policy 25 in order to limit the homework load of students. Under the guidance of Mr. Daugherty, the Director of Instruction, teachers reviewed previous homework policies and suggested improvements accordingly. The Board of Directors unanimously voted in favor of the new homework policy, which encourages “meaningful and quality work” over “lengthy or difficult [work] poorly done.” Through the assignment of homework that helps students understand and apply material as opposed to redundant busywork, UPA hopes to “foster student achievement, independence, and responsibility.”
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A&E 6 History Lesson
All-Star Athlete Kobe Bryant Promotes ‘Mamba Mentality’ By Nebiu Bizuneh Kobe Bryant, a five-time NBA champion, two time finals MVP and arguably the greatest scorer of all time, has left his permanent mark on the world and is now known as one of the few elite masters of the game. Bryant concluded his career on April 13 with a victory against the Utah Jazz, where he scored a jaw dropping 60 points. However, as impressive as his achievements might be, Bryant’s mental endurance many is what many refer to as the “mamba mentality,” the prime factor in conquering all of his obstacles. Whether it be shooting his free throws after rupturing his achilles, playing through a sprained ankle, or combatting several knee
injuries, Bryant was never one to concede to his injuries He even created his own nickname, the Black Mamba, as an alter ego to get through the darkest parts of his life and to separate his personal life from life on the basketball court. Throughout his career, Bryant emphasized the importance of hard work and the value of aspiring for perfection with every game he played. “At the end of the day, Kobe walked off the the court feeling accomplished because he knew he left all he had on the court,” UPA senior Daniel Estrada said. Unintentionally, Bryant inspired many to inherit the mamba mentality not only in the world of basketball, but in other aspects of life as well.
For example, Estrada admires Bryant’s fluency in three world languages: English, Spanish and Italian. UPA freshman Taran Bains might not be a Kobe Fanatic, but he still respects Bryant. “Kobe is probably the most hardworking athlete of all time,” Bains said. Bains also tries to replicate Bryant’s mentality in his everyday life, which includes school and sports. “I’m a Spurs fan, but I respect how Kobe is always challenging our [Spurs] team and making us better with every battle,” Bains said. Bryant has proved to the world why he deserves to be classified as one of the greatest the NBA has ever seen and now he inspires others to be great.
Is Being a Perfectionist Really that Desirable? By Flavio Quintero
a hallway and hear, “Oh, you got a 40/40? I got a 42/40!” The school is already gaining a reputation for high-achieving students who are off to do great things. U.S. News and World Report even ranked it in the top 100 schools in America at number 55. But does UPA feel like a top 100 school when the students resent flexibility and cutthroat competition? Perhaps the very notion of school rankings encourages this attitude, reducing our hard work to an insignificant number that we compare to other unimportant numbers. Maybe it results from the comparisons that parents at UPA make, encouraging the best and only the best for students, creating a student body with tunnel vision. Nevertheless, students at UPA are proud of their accomplishments. Here, a 4.0 GPA is not to be scoffed at, nor are the creative activities that talented students do outside of school. “Just know what’s important in your life and that sometimes, you’re going to have to adjust,” Panjalingam said.
Number of Students
4.0 GPA? Check. Eight hours on homework last night? Check. Tons of extracurricular activities? Check. If this describes you, you may be one of several students afflicted by perfectionism at UPA. Perfectionism is “a disposition to regard anything short of perfection as unacceptable” according to Merriam-Webster. Simply put, a perfectionist must always be perfect. This attitude can be applied to school, work, and even artistic endeavors. At UPA, it is mainly limited to achievements: grades and the amount of extracurricular activities students have. Senior Mayura Panjalingam found this approach to school often more trouble than it is worth, reforming her perfectionist ways. “You don’t have a second chance,” said Panjalingam. “Once you start something, you better complete it perfectly. You have to deal with yourself. You’re the most critical person you have to deal with.” The desire to achieve is
matched with an innate fear of failure, an issue that can create further stress and insecurity for students at UPA and led Panjalingam to abandon this philosophy. For example, students’ procrastination levels are off the chart. Procrastination results from perfectionism; the fact that something a student does might not be perfect in that student’s eyes can set him or her up for failure. In the past, Panjalingam would crumple up a piece of paper if there was a single mistake on it. Sometimes, not dealing with an issue was easier than tackling it head-on. “Something about staring at your own flaws is intimidating, which is why I developed perfectionism,” Panjalingam said. Panjalingam was not the only perfectionist at UPA. Out of the 305 students polled on Schoology-about 52% of the student body-nearly a third identified themselves perfectionists with school-related concerns. Students here complain about the high standards in the school’s competitive environment set by other students. It is common to walk through
Infographic Courtesy of NBA/Lakers
Schoology poll by Flavio Quintero
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June 2, 2016
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Within a HipHop Musical By Juli Rendler My dearest, reader Have you ever heard of the Broadway smash hit known as “Hamilton”? With a record-breaking 16 Tony nominations, the musical continues to draw an increasingly large fan base. It is no wonder history has its eyes on this musical--and you should, too. The “Hamilton” cast is filled with wildly talented actors and actresses, such as Leslie Odom Jr., Phillipa Soo, and Renée Elise Goldsberry. Among these stars, perhaps the most talented of all, is the musical’s author, songwriter and star, Lin-Manuel Miranda. “He’s such a genius that he took a subject that most people would consider boring and turned it into a record-breaking Broadway musical loved by thousands of people across the nation,” sophomore Natalie Sanborn, a huge “Hamilton” fan said. In 46 rap and hip hop songs, “Hamilton” teaches about the life of one of America’s Founding Fathers, Alexander Hamilton, a patriot born in the West Indies who became the country’s first Secretary of the Treasury. The more you listen to the soundtrack, the catchier the songs become and the more history you learn. There is virtually no flaw in the musical, with its amazing lyrics, award-winning music, and the vivid performances by its talented actors. It might take awhile to listen to the entire soundtrack, as it is 2 hours and 22 minutes long, but every second is worth it.
This hip-hop/rap delight encourages students to find something to become passionate about while also enhancing their understanding of the issues involved in the creation of our country. “I’m looking forward to the beginning of US history next year mainly because of Hamilton.” said Sanborn. Although the musical is written about a long dead historical figure, “Hamilton” inspires listeners and reinforces the American Dream of achieving anything you set your mind to. “Everyone who leaves the theater goes like, ‘Wow, well what am I doing with my life? What is my legacy?’” Lin-Manuel Miranda said in an interview for Time magazine. This musical “does not discriminate between the sinners and the saints” of history and everyone should give it a listen. “The plan is to fan this spark into a flame.” - Hamilton, “My Shot.”
Photo Courtesy of www.hamiltonbroadway.com Alexander Hamilton comes to life in the musical “Hamilton.”
Photo Courtesy of www.nme.com Beyoncé slays in the music video for “Formation,” the first single off her new album Lemonade.
Take a Sip of Queen Beyonce’s Lemonade
By Megan Wescoat
When life gave Beyoncé lemons, she made “Lemonade.” This year, Beyoncé released a new album featuring songs like “Sorry,” “6 inch,” “Love Drought” and “Formation.” Not only do the songs on Lemonade have good beats, but they also hold a deeper meaning. “Lemonade is unique and legendary,” said Beyoncé fan, freshman Krizel Tominez. Tominez also remarks that the songs on the album are “turnt and lit and it’s just about how females are so amazing,” which she finds inspiring. Freshman Hanna Negussie
said that Beyonce has “made her more confident; she’s very empowering.” In the album, “she talks about her life experiences which [Beyoncé] barely does and it promotes women empowerment, specifically for black woman,” Negussie said. Negussie says that she “feels like it sends out a good message that everyone should hear.” Negussie thinks that the album is amazing and she “felt good because she hasn’t released and album in 2 or three years and it felt good to hear something new.” “[Lemonade] is a visual album so all of the songs on the album go with music videos,” said
Negussie, “she talks about her life experiences which she barely does and it promotes women empowerment, specifically black women.” After seeing the video, Negussie said that she felt “really happy and excited to see new things like I was overly excited.” Beyonce has not only managed to compose a great album, but has also taught others through the music compiled on the album. “[Lemonade] portrays empowerment for women like there are some songs on there that are (empowering) for black women specifically,” Negussie said. Overall, Lemonade has further contributed to Beyoncé’s success.
Another Legend Lost: Prince By Emily Hung
Prince Rogers Nelson, a famous songwriter, singer, music producer, and multi-instrumental prodigy, died on April 21 at his home in Minnesota. “I was super surprised. It was like I was dreaming because he seemed so immortal,” sophomore Taelynn Roberson said. According to “The Guardian,” a British national daily newspaper, many people did not know a lot about Prince’s private life as he was a shy fellow who did not perform for the money or for the fame. His music was extremely touching, as he used it to communicate and relate with the world. “‘When Dove’s Cry’ was significant to me [when I first
heard it] because we were going through rough times. The words in the the song related to what I was going through,” UPA parent Omar Chavez said. British fans stated Prince’s last performances were much anticipated, after they were left disappointed due to the cancellation of multiple shows earlier in the year. When Prince’s fingers touched his instruments, millions were drawn into the everlasting, hypnotizing performance. The impact his music made on his fans will be carved into their hearts forever. “I will never forget how my mom would always sing his songs all the time,” freshman Amy Chattaway said. In addition, “It brings back my childhood memories and the way he revolutionized the music
industry,” Chavez said. Throughout his career, Prince composed a variety of pieces that became favorites among millions. Roberson likes “Let’s Go Crazy,” “Kiss,” and “I Wanna Be Your Lover.” Similarly, Chavez listens to his music most of the time and said he could not just pick one, so he narrowed it down to a few: “Purple Rain,” “U Got the Look,” and “I Would Die For You.” Prince will be missed and many more have just started to discover his music. “What I liked about him is that he wrote his own music, he was able to play 27 different instruments, he was unique, he was a great dancer, and he helped anyone that was in need of money,” Chavez said.
Photo Courtesy of TMZ Prince died at age 57 in his Minnesota home on April 21.
Lifestyles
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Around the World: Travels Await Journey Down Under to Australia
Looking for an adventurous trip that involves feeding dolphins, snorkeling, and going to a zoo where kangaroos roam with no cages? You might want to look toward Australia! Freshman Annalise Kamm visited Down Under—specifically Sydney and Tangalooma Island—to visit family in the summer of Photo courtesy of Annelise Kamm 2014. The Sydney Oprah House from the Harbour Bridge. It is a At Tangalooma famous icon, representing modern construction. Island, they went was sand-dune sledding phins in the water, while sand-dune sledding, snorkeled, visited an alli- on a board, enjoying the snorkeling. Kamm describes sandgator farm and a kangaroo overall experience. Other than sand-dune dune sledding as an adrenzoo, held a koala, and rode gondolas in the rainforest. sledding, Kamm also en- aline rush from beginning Her highlight of the trip joyed hand feeding dol- to the end.
Make Tribal Friends in Kenya
Interactive safaris, and great atmosphere of people come together to form Kenya! Seventh grade English teacher Claire Westwood has lived in Kenya to teach kids different classes, and went to Kenya in December 2010. She taught children English, Geography, and PE. When she was out of school, WestPhoto courtesy of Claire Westwood wood went on a sa- A Rendille Tribe woman named Nareyo Chawle (left) with fari in Masai Mara English teacher Claire Westwood. to see wildlife, learned was, “a great deal ble and sacrificial in order and visited friends on the beach of Kirungu about loving people even to love people well,” Westif they don’t love me back. wood said. and Mombasa. One lesson she had I learned about being hum-
With the latest rapid usage of emojis, Oxford Dictionary’s 2015 word of the year turned out to be an emoji - the face with tears of joy - instead of a word. With over three hundred emoji options, the end of the battle with words has come and has turned into the revolution of the usage of the emoji. Emojis, which can express both ideas and emotions through an electronic chat, was added to Apple’s keyboard in 2012, thanks to the iOS 6 update. The smiley face showing teeth, having been around since the 1990s, were only found useful these past years. “For almost every feeling or emotion, there is at least something that comes close to how you are currently feeling,” senior David Rhoads-Smith said. Used in order to liven up his text messages, Rhoads- Smith reveals that his favorite is the clapping hands emoji. “If one of my friends scores perfectly on a test, I would respond with ‘Good job’ and a clapping emoji. The clapping emoji to me symbolizes praise,
By Natalie Guggemos
Go to Ecuador to See Jungle Life
She traveled in a group, visiting other areas around them, with other international tourists. They all made chocolate straight from the cacao tree in the jungle, visited a butterfly farm, and scaled waterfalls. She recalls smearing banana on her finger to attract butterflies. At night, without electricity, the Photo courtesy of Laura Gordon Reska group would spend Butterflys of all colors and sizes flutter around the Maripo- time in the central gathering area—the sas de Mindo Farm in Ecuador. open air common Where can you find Freshman English and room—and play card caves, mesmerizing wa- Journalism teacher Laura games by the candle light, terfalls, hand-made choco- Gordon Reska traveled late, and jungle life all in to Quito, Ecuador on her making memories to last a one place? honeymoon in the summer lifetime. Ecuador. of 2012.
Enjoy Water Parks in Germany
The highlight of her trip was Arriba water park, which had indoor slides and a wave pool! She also visited friends and went to parks such as Stadtpark Norderstedt to socialize. When she wasn’t going to any parks, she loved buying and eating the candy in Germany. “I one hundred percent recommend Photo courtesy of Emily Butler going to Europe… go to big cities beFrom left: Sarah Butler, Emily Butler, Olivia Butler, and cause there is more friend Liv Meyer break from waterskiiing in Norderstedt. to do… If you’re not For a city-based vacaSophomore Emily Butgoing for the sights, tion with castles, and in- ler visited Germany in the [then] definitely go for the door water parks, go to summer of 2014 to visit food,” Butler encouraged. Germany! family and friends.
Goodbye Words, Hello Emojis By Jamileth Lomeli
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acknowledgement, and encouragement,” RhoadsSmith said. As the variety of emojis has expanded, even breaking through language barriers, the use of emojis in any conversation is more than probable when it comes to teens today. Emojis are commonly used when one can not have a face-to-face conversation, yet wants to convey emotion and tone over an electronic chat. While tone might be conveyed in emojis, meaning is found in words. “It is less meaningful when somebody sends you a heart emoji as a substitution for the words ‘I love you,’” sophomore Veronica Orozco said. Emojis, providing universal signs, are slowly replacing words and their meaning. “Sometimes you do not want to speak, but let the person know what you are feeling,” Orozco said. Either for creativity or simplicity, one chooses whether to use words or emojis to explain themselves. After all, Frederick R. Barnard said, “a picture is worth a thousand words.”
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