Verde Volume 23 Issue 5

VERDE MAGAZINE

June 2022 Volume 23 Issue 5

ON THE COVER

Senior Josh Donaker reaches up to spray paint an expansive, blank wall in a photo illustration by Editors-in-Chief Jonas Pao and Yash Shetty. At this transitional point in the year, many are currently facing the same challenge as Donaker: what to paint. After the Class of 2022 graduates, the entire student body, staff and administration will explore how to proceed going forward. The blank canvas of the future is waiting to be filled.

Publication policy

Verde Magazine, a news and features magazine published by the students in Palo Alto High School’s Magazine Journalism class, is a designated open forum for student expression and discussion of issues of concern to its readership. Verde is distributed to its readers and the student body at no cost.

Letters to the editors

The staff welcomes letters to the editors but reserves the right to edit all submissions for length, grammar, potential libel, invasion of privacy and obscenity. Send all letters to verde.eics@gmail.com or 50 Embarcadero Rd Palo Alto, CA 94301.

Advertising

The staff publishes advertisements with signed contracts providing they are not deemed by the staff inappropriate for the magazine’s audience. For more information about advertising with Verde, please contact business managers Andrew Xue and Kieran Zajac at verdebusiness5@gmail.com.

Printing & distribution

Verde is printed five times a year in October, November, February, April and May by Folger Graphics in Hayward, California. The Paly Parent Teacher Student Association mails Verde to every student’s home. All Verde work is available at verdemagazine.com

Editors-in-Chief

Meena Narayanaswami

Jonas Pao

Yash Shetty

Melody Xu

Managing Editors

Ajin Jeong

Andrew Xue

Features Editors

Alexis Chiu Miya Whiteley

Profiles Editor

Carlota Blanco

Culture Editors

Bella Daly Annum Hashmi

Perspectives Editor

Andy Robinson

News Editor

Gopala Varadarajan

Launch Editor Allegra West

Design Editor

Esther Xu

Digital Director

Ashmita Rajmohan

Copy Editors

Alexis Chiu

Bella Daly

Business Managers

Andrew Xue

Kieran Zajac

Photography Director Ines Legrand

Art Director Palina Kuzmina

Staff Writers

Paisley Annes

Sofia Antebi

Sebastian Bonnard

Sasha Boudtchenko

Jerry Fang

Sadie Ibbotson-Brown

Akhil Joondeph

Aanya Kumar

Dominique Lashley

Merwa Marof

Blair Migdal

Olivia Milne

Anya Mondragon

Emily Yao

Adviser

Paul Kandell

DAY pg. 22

FROM THE EDITORS BLANK CANVAS

For many of us students, June is an end — an end to the classes we’ve taken all year, the routine we’ve become accustomed to and, for seniors, an end to high school altogether. But in just as many ways, June is also a beginning.

As we present the final issue of the V23 pentalogy, we’re choosing to view this moment as the start of a new chapter — a blank canvas.

This issue explores the ways that Palo Alto High School students have confronted blank canvases in their own lives, both literally and figuratively.

Senior Josh Donaker finds blank canvases in places others might not even look twice at — on the undersides of skateboards. Staff writer Jerry Fang and Business Manager Kieran Zajac offer insight into his creative process in “Donaker’s decks.”

What if your canvas wasn’t a canvas at all? The profiles “Setting sail” and “Flying toward the future” tell the story of students whose canvas is new terrain, from ocean to airspace.

In “On display: Brave New Worlds,” staff writer Sofia Antebi and Design Editor Esther Xu showcase four Paly students’ artwork — literal canvases — exhibited in the New Museum Los Gatos.

Finally, in her perspective “Dear future me,” staff writer Paisley Annes poses questions for her own canvas of sorts: post-Paly life. While all of the other artists have a medium, hers is still yet to be determined.

While we encourage the student body to similarly look toward the future, we would be remiss not to look back and thank the people who got us here.

To the outgoing editors: Seeing your dedication to producing impactful stories inspires us to be the best journalists we can. We know that as you embark on your respective journeys, like those in this issue, you will each fill your own blank canvas and create masterpieces.

To our readers: We are beyond excited and honored to bring Verde through five more issues and fill these blank canvases — together with you.

SAILING pg. 26

HILLARY CHEUNG pg. 34

MANRESA BREAD pg. 38

the verdicts

Grant student board reps full voting rights

ALLOW MORE REPRESENTATION IN MEETINGS

STUDENT SCHOOL BOARD

representatives in the state of California have a preferential vote in board meetings. The vote indicates their representative student body’s “preference” and is recorded in official meeting minutes, but it does not contribute to the outcome of board votes.

Senate Bill 1236, heard and passed through the state senate in late April, would make student board representatives fullfledged members of public school boards. The bill includes granting the representatives full vote privileges, access to closed session materials and a financial stipend — though it leaves the decision to implement each aspect to individual school boards.

pandemic reopening plan demonstrated the importance of giving student board representatives a vote.

“The board voted unanimously to open the school while the two board reps preferentially voted against [it],” Seah said. “It probably still would have passed, but for me, it was kind of symbolic that the student voice didn’t matter.”

“ I think it [Senate Bill 1236] is a really big step because it’ll show that our [student] voices and our opinions are actually impacting the board.”

— MICAIAH ACOSTA, senior and student board representative

Full voting privileges would also impact the board on smaller measures, keeping students involved in the decision-making process no matter the scale of the issue.

that’s on the board now got somewhere between 10,000 and 20,000 votes,” Dibrienza said. “This year, they [the board representatives] might have been appointed, so if that could change the outcome of the vote, I don’t know that the community would be okay with it.”

School board member Jesse Ladomirak expressed similar concerns to DiBrienza, but said she also hopes to balance concern about election of student board representatives with the inclusion of students in decision making.

We urge the Palo Alto Unified School District Board of Education to adopt the bill and implement it for PAUSD. Palo Alto High School senior Micaiah Acosta, who served as a Student Board Representative this past school year, emphasized her support for the bill.

“I think it [Senate Bill 1236] is a really big step because it’ll show that our [student] voices and our opinions are actually impacting the board for the way … items pass or fail,” Acosta said.

Adopting the bill would mean future student board representatives — including junior Johannah Seah who was recently appointed as Acosta’s successor — could vote to change school policies. For Seah, one winter 2020 board meeting on PAUSD’s

“It’s not like you vote on something every single meeting and it’s super monumental, but I think little things like being able to have a vote in smaller measures, like construction or things like that gets us more involved,” Seah said.

While giving students a full vote would help students stay connected and involved in decision making, current school board member Jennifer Dibrienza expressed concerns about giving students who were not elected by Palo Alto citizens a full vote.

“If we value having a democratically-elected school board that is chosen by and accountable to the community, then what does it mean to have two members who are not?” Ladomirak said in an email. “At the same time, if we value student voice in district decision-making, then is fully empowering student board reps an effective means of achieving this goal?”

“ It [SB-1236] does mean that we’re going to bridge the gap a little bit more between student opinion and district decisions.”

— JOHANNAH SEAH, junior

To address these concerns, we believe that the student board representative position should be elected by students and not appointed. Having students elect their own representatives would ensure that student board members best reflect the interests of the students — those affected by board decisions.

“I got 20,000 votes of people in Palo Alto, who said, ‘I want you to be making these decisions for me,’ and everyone else

“I think it [full voting rights] doesn’t necessarily mean that we’re going to make monumental groundbreaking changes,” Seah said. “It does mean that we’re going to bridge the gap a little bit more between student opinion and district decisions.” v

Host more standardized tests

BRIDGE ECONOMIC GAP BETWEEN STUDENTS

While the Palo Alto Unified School District plans to offer SATs for seniors in October, we urge the district to host more SAT testing dates on a regular basis by registering Palo Alto High School as a regular testing center every month the test is available — seven times a year.

This would allow students in the area from all high schools to take the SAT at a nearby location and help increase equity and convenience.

it is really inconvenient,” Sung said. “If it really was up to me, I would have taken it here [in Palo Alto].”

While Sung was able to leave the state to take the test, many others do not have

“ It would be really helpful if Paly just hosted the SAT so at a minimum, transportation time was eliminated.”

— ISAAC KIRBY, junior

College applications faced a series of changes when the pandemic hit, one of the most impactful being the shift away from standardized test requirements for many schools’ college applications.

However, still, 20% of institutions will be requiring these tests for 2022 fall admissions, with major institutions such as MIT reinstating a standardized test requirement.

Because students need to take standardized tests if they wish to apply to those 20% of institutions or if they choose to submit a standardized test score when applying to test-optional institutions, there will be a high demand for testing centers.

Testing locations in the Bay Area of ten fill up months in advance, forcing some students to take their tests in faraway loca tions.

“The exact minute that testing centers open, they go [fill up] in five minutes, so it’s super hard to find times,” Palo Alto High School senior Lauren Sung said. “For the November test, I signed up six months be fore the test, and I barely got a spot; there were three spots left.”

Sung also traveled to Texas, Virginia and Nevada to take the SAT and empha sized the inconvenience of these trips.

“The cost of the SAT is already high, plus having to stay in a hotel and flying to the destination — it is a lot of money and

ters, PAUSD should host the SAT all seven times of the year the College Board offers it, to give students in the area equal access — thus increasing the opportunities for students to demonstrate their knowledge to colleges.

In addition to helping improve equi ty, hosting standardized tests at Paly would just make the college process much more convenient for all students, including those that are able to get in-state testing dates, like junior Isaac Kirby, who took the SAT in Davis, Calif.

“A lot of people like myself have to go really far to Sacramento or Davis to take it

launch

TEACHER TATTOO TOUR

ALANNA WILLIAMSON — “The dance that this came from is Comrad in the 2017-18 session. ... It was my first time choreographing something that I really really loved. This is part of the dance, the middle of the dance, that I traced.”

Photo illustrations: Kyle Park

KENNA GALLAGHER — “It is a reminder that no matter what discomfort you’re feeling, it’s a temporary feeling. ... Life is just full of those occasional really uncomfortable moments and this tattoo is a reminder that it’s a temporary situation and through this discomfort, you’re going to grow.”

TARA VEREYKEN “The name is my sister’s name and we’re really close in age and we grew up together and I always like to play with unicorns and My Little Ponies. And she has my name there. So she got my name for my birthday and I got her name for her birthday. It was our gift to each other.”

FOOD REVIEW: WHAT RESTAURANT SELLS THE BEST CHEESE PIZZA?

STATE OF MIND ($5.50)

State of Mind’s cheese pizza comes in two different types — the thicker square one and a regular triangle slice. Overall the pizza was average, but underneath the pizza was burnt and hard to chew. Adding on the price and location, this pizza only earned three stars.

HOWIE’S ARTISAN PIZZA ($8)

Howie’s Artisan Pizza is remarkable for regular cheese pizza. First, the slices were huge — which is expected for the amount of money you pay. The most notable differences between Howie’s pizza and others would be the cheese; you experience the strength of the cheese flavor in the first bite, and it was not too oily or dry. The quality of the cheese and flavor of the pizza earned it 4.5 stars.

PIZZA MY HEART ($4.50)

Pizza My Heart is a Palo Alto classic for good reason. Its pizza was not too expensive, and slices were large enough to be filling. The cheese to crust ratio was ideal, and the spots of tomato sauce peeking through added a sweet flavor. This pizza was definitely worth the price and is a reasonable distance from Palo Alto High School. Overall, for its size and flavor, this pizza earned four stars.

Text, design and photos by ALLEGRA WEST

CELEBRATING

GRADUATION CAPS

Art: Kyle Park

VERBATIM: WHAT IS ONE THING YOU WANT TO DO BEFORE YOU GRADUATE?

PRINCIPAL KLINE LOOKBOOK

“I want to finish my art portfolio.”

— DMYTRO KRAYILO, senior

“I

really want a senior beach trip or bonfire.”

— ARATI PERIYANNAN, junior

“I want

to learn how to drive.”

— LEA KWAN,

freshman

FASHION FORWARD — Over the course of two weeks, we caught our well-dressed principal around campus to catalog his outfits. Check out the lookbook here for fashion inspiration from Principal Kline.

INITIATING IMPROVEMENT — Deputy Superintendent Trent Bahadursingh explains the

proposal as student representatives Annika Bereny and Micaiah

and Yolanda

superintendent of equity and student affairs, listen. “We concluded that this [mental health proposal] is a good step for the district and this model will help us begin to build what we hope to be a future in-house model for mental health services,” Conaway said.

District to improve mental health services

THE PALO ALTO UNIFIED School District School Board will strengthen student mental health services, as part of the PAUSD Promise proposal for the 2022-2023 school year.

“We are looking at a plan that involves universal screening, early identification of student supports, clear processes and procedures to ensure that we identify students who need us the most, and making sure that we have the staff who are highly qualified to provide the services we need,” said Yolanda Conaway, school board assistant superintendent of equity and student affairs.

The school board approved this proposal on April 19 as a result of studies showing that students’ mental health suffered because of the pandemic. Although no formal improvements have been implemented, the board has outlined various initiatives.

“The need for a consistent, high-quality mental health care delivery system across our school district is a priority,” said Dawn Yoshinaga, school board appointed direc-

tor of mental health. “The board recently approved funding for the Comprehensive School-Based Mental Health and Wellness Plan. Next year, we will add district-employed Mental Health and Wellness Associates in place of our current contracted mental health services at the elementary and middle school levels.”

Senior and president of the Bring Change to Mind Club Eva Salvatierra applauded the Wellness Center and associated mental health services.

“I believe they have devoted an incredible effort with respect to reaching out to the Paly student body with information, resources and related activities to encourage students to seek help for their mental wellbeing,” Salvatierra said in an email.

Palo Alto High School Wellness Outreach Worker Whitney Aquino offered similar praise for how the Paly administration has dealt with mental health in recent years.

“I think that it’s been great to see our administration step up to support and advocate for student mental health and sup-

port the Wellness Center,” Aquino said.

Aquino described what she would like to see in future mental health programs at the district and local level at Paly.

“I would like to see the continued support of both the [mental health] initiatives and the emphasis placed on relationship building,” Aquino said.

Conaway said she agrees that while this proposal is a step in the right direction, there is still much progress to be made.

“I would look at this plan [mental health proposal] as our first initiated best effort with the goal of improving as we go along and identifying where we need to close gaps,” Conaway said.

Salvatierra proposed other ways that student mental health can be addressed.

“I believe that the conversation regarding suicide in teenagers should be much more transparent,” Salvatierra said. “In order for these efforts to be effective, a much larger culture shift surrounding the stigma of mental illness at our school is necessary.”

by KIERAN ZAJAC

Palo Alto Unified School District mental health

Acosta

Conaway, school board assistant

Photo: Gopala Varadarajan

Senior festival replaces Baccalaureate Campus notes:

PALO ALTO HIGH SCHOOL will host a “Senior Celebration” on May 27 in place of the traditional Baccalaureate ceremony, which was canceled because of COVID-19, financial issues and other reasons.

The newly-introduced celebration will honor the 2022 graduating class and will become a traditional part of graduation, according to Principal Brent Kline. The celebration will invite students from all grades to join the senior class on the Quad, in a picnic-style arrangement with blankets, to witness performances by various seniors as well as speeches by a senior and a teacher, chosen through audition.

Kline said that a panel of judges composed of teachers, students and himself will vote on the speakers and talent performances.

“I’ve always been an advocate of building our own community in the high schools and especially here at Paly because it’s such a rich place of great talent,” Kline

said. “So I thought, let’s showcase that to the rest of our kids to inspire the rest of the student body.”

Despite this choice by the administration, Senior Site Council Representative and senior Gabe Galper said he thinks that the Baccalaureate ceremony was a key moment in a any student’s graduation experience.

“A lot of parents and students are expressing a desire to me for an outside speaker,” Galper said. “We all went through a hard year on Zoom, I think we deserve to have a full graduation experience with all of the components that occurred in the past.”

Kline maintains that having familiar members of the Paly community speak is more valuable than a guest appearance.

“Bringing somebody that nobody knows is not as important as hearing from somebody that you’ve learned from, that you’ve respected and that you’ve grown up with,” Kline said.

by OLIVIA MILNE

Board adopts revised English curricula

NEW ENGLISH LANGUAGE

Arts curricula will be implemented for Palo Alto Unified School District elementary students in the coming school year, following the school board’s approval on May 10.

The ELA adoption committee, created in May 2021, tested eight different curricula in various classrooms. Based on teacher, parent and specialist feedback, the committee decided to adopt the Benchmark Advance and Adelante curriculum, as well as the Teachers College Writing curriculum.

“It is quite clear that rushing this decision will not aid any students and more time is required to find or develop a curriculum that will support kids at different levels and will be tailored to PAUSD classrooms,” Senior Site Council Representative Gabe Galper said.

Councilmember Jesse Ladomirak said that while this curriculum may not be perfect, a change is long overdue.

“The fact is that what is being used in the classrooms now, at a minimum, does not meet ELD [state] standards,” Ladomirak said. “It was the staff’s job to find the best curricular options out there. Is it possible they missed something? Sure. But we are really late to this adoption — a decade late, the state standards were published in 2010.”

The board voted 4-1, the dissenting vote being Councilmember Jennifer DiBrienza, along with both student representatives whose votes are not counted. However, most of the 41-member committee abstained from voting and refused to endorse any of the offered curricula, according to the Palo Alto by

PAISLEY ANNES

District policy vexes teachers

Teachers are finalizing course structure changes following the Palo Alto Unified School District’s policy from Aug. 20, 2021, which banned summer homework.

“The first weeks of school will be much busier for students because they’ll have to do the work they usually would have done over an 11week period over the summer on a compressed timeline,” AP United States History teacher John Bungarden said.

by ASHMITA RAJMOHAN

Renovating Tower Building

The Tower Building will undergo a complete renovation this summer and will incorporate brand new facilities with public spaces to better host students and staff activities.

“It will include new restrooms and an elevator, making the building accessible to all students,” said Eric Holm, the district’s director of facilities and construction. “The renovation of the administrative offices will be more welcoming to visitors. The new design also includes a new wellness center and conference spaces.”

by AJIN JEONG

READY FOR REMODELING — The Tower Building construction will force administration to relocate for two years. “Not only do we have to move, but we have to repurpose the portables and make a bunch of small rooms,” Assistant Principal Jerry Berkson said. Graphic: fs3|Hodges

Student vaccinations required by 2023

All students attending in-person classes must be vaccinated against COVID-19 by July 2023, according to a California Department of Public Health statement on April 14.

This date has been set to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at schools and to ensure that currently unvaccinated students have sufficient time to be fully vaccinated, according to the CDPH.

Palo Alto High School English teacher Shirley Tokheim said she feels that getting the Paly community vaccinated is a priority. When the vaccine became available to teachers last fall, Tokheim immediately got the vaccine.

“I signed up to get vaccinated the minute the state opened up the centers to teachers,” Tokheim said. “Given the difficulties of the previous 11 months, I was extremely grateful to get the vaccine — I drove up to the Moscone Center and was quite emotional as I stood in line waiting to get the shot.”

Tokheim said she prioritized the safety of others above her own when deciding to get vaccinated.

“Keeping others safe became a motivator, for sure,” Tokheim said. “The focus on doing something for one’s community felt like a positive shift, especially in the school setting.”

Sophomore Eliza Gaither agreed that the mandate will help to make Paly more safe, but worries that it might receive some backlash.

“It’s important that everyone has the vaccine to make sure all the students and teachers stay protected from the virus,” Gaither said. “The only concern I have is people refusing to get the vaccine, which might cause issues in the school system and our community.”

by AANYA KUMAR

Candidates prepare for June primaries

CONGRESSIONAL candidates for California’s 16th district answered questions submitted by the public in a May 3 open forum in preparation for the upcoming June 7 primary election.

The forum, hosted by the League of Women Voters, aimed to engage voters with the intent of increasing voter turnout in the local election. Candidates promise to address key issues such as women’s rights, climate change, housing and cybersecurity if elected.

Candidate Ajwang Rading said open forums help broadcast each candidate’s platform and views, emphasizing the importance of the public voting.

“The thought that we’re supposed to have a representative every two years reflects differences in trends, in demographics and in current events,” Rading said. “You want to update your House member to reflect what the new challenges are with a new perspective.”

by GOPALA VARADARAJAN

Students paint mural at local cafe

Departing teacher leaves science legacy

ASCIENCE TEACHER WHO pioneered Palo Alto High School’s Astrophysics course will end a 21year career in the district, becoming Lydian Academy’s principal next year.

“Sometimes when the universe comes knocking, you’ve got to open the door,” Josh Bloom said. “Ultimately, I decided maybe this is a good time. This gives me a new opportunity to do those things I’m passionate about in a different way.”

by JONAS PAO

A FINAL LECTURE

a television screen in his astrophysics classroom. “As bittersweet as it is to let this course [Astrophysics] go, … it’s a good time to let my course live in the hands of someone else,”

THE POWER OF PAINTING — Students gather at Backyard Brew to create a community mural, a project by Palo Alto High School’s Student Institution of the Arts club. “We chose Backyard Brew because, as a local coffee shop, we could both support it with our art as well as spread positivity to regular patrons with our message,” junior Kyle Park said. Photo: Gopala Varadarajan

— Science teacher Josh Bloom points to

Bloom said. Photo: Jonas Pao

THE GURGLING of espresso machines and chatter of customer conversations crowd the warm, coffee-scented air of Peet’s Coffee at Town and Country Village.

This location of the popular coffee shop chain attracts many students from neighboring Palo Alto High School.

According to an opt-in survey by Verde Magazine of 255 Paly students conducted from April 27 to May 6, more than half of students said they regularly consume caffeine, a quarter of which said they consume it daily.

While caffeine serves a different purpose for different students, high consumption of caffeinated drinks can cause more harm than good.

Caffeinated consequences

“I feel like Paly isn’t even Paly without seeing someone with a cup of coffee,” senior Kamila Wong said.

Despite Wong’s statement about the prevalence of coffee on campus, some students like sophomore Esther Chung no longer drink coffee because of its negative effects.

“I stopped drinking coffee because it makes me more jittery than actually making me more awake,” Chung said.

caffeine,” Anderson said.

Anderson said her high caffeine consumption began seriously impacting her physical wellbeing.

“ I feel like Paly isn’t even Paly without seeing someone with a cup of coffee.”

— KAMILA WONG, senior

Chung is not alone in experiencing side effects from caffeine. Some students such as junior Payton Anderson, experience more serious consequences. Anderson said she struggled with an unhealthy relationship with caffeine consumption, revealing how she used to consume about 300 milligrams of caffeine each day — three times the recommended daily amount.

“Instead of fueling my body properly with food, I was just replacing it with

“It [caffeine] made me really shaky,” Anderson said. “I got super anxious all the time, a lot more anxious than I normally am. I was getting snappier at people — I was really rude to my family.”

Upon realizing caffeine’s harmful effects, Anderson said she altered her habits and now drinks decaffeinated drinks about once a week. However, after learning from her experience, she finds the community’s lighthearted views on caffeine addiction concerning, and has noticed many students pride themselves on their lack of sleep that they compensate with caffeine.

“I definitely think it [caffeine addiction] is [treated] like a joke,” Anderson said. “People were like ‘oh I slept like two hours’ … but in the long run, that’s not healthy.”

EXPLORING OUR CAFFEINATED COMMUNITY by students caffeine

Disclaimer:

62.2% of students consume caffeine on a regular basis

77.9% consumption of students began drinking coffee in 9th grade or earlier

culture

Commencing consumption

According to the same Verde survey, of those who drink coffee, 77.9% began drinking it in ninth grade or earlier — and this is just accounting for coffee, one of the many types of caffeine. So, why do so many students begin consuming caffeine?

Many students, such as sophomore Aiden Hangebrauck, began consuming caffeine to cope with the demanding workload at school.

drinks because I had lots of practices and lots of schoolwork to do.”

While many students utilize caffeine as a tool to aid them with heavy academic workloads, others like Chung view it as a way to get outside and socialize.

“ It [caffeine] made me really shaky. ... I was getting snappier at people — I was really rude to my family.”

— PAYTON ANDERSON, junior

“I probably started really drinking coffee and energy drinks freshman year,” Hangebrauck said. “I think caffeine can be a useful tool to either get through a sports practice or get through a study session.”

As a soccer player, Anderson also observed the reliance on caffeine within the athletic community.

“Caffeine is especially normalized, not only in the Paly community but in the athlete community as well,” Anderson said. “I was drinking a lot of energy

“It [caffeine] is kind of my source of happiness,” Chung said. “Especially during the pandemic in freshman year, I would always be isolated inside, but going out with friends and getting boba would be a nice thing for me.”

Whether it is used for socializing or for staying awake, caffeine remains a necessity in many students’ lives.

“It [caffeine] is definitely something I’m dependent on in a not healthy way,” Peet’s employee and junior Terra Majors said. “But I do really appreciate the accessibility and ease that caffeine poses, which is why so many people are drawn to it.” v

52.4%

of students marked coffee as their biggest source of caffeine

Art by POLINA VAN HULSEN

FUEL

for the FUTURE

THE RISE OF ELECTRIC CARS IN SILICON VALLEY

AFTER A LONG DAY OF school, Palo Alto High School senior Carmel Schwartz drives her hybrid Toyota Prius back home, happy to be a part of the growing number of electric and electric-hybrid cars on the road.

“Electric cars are a step in the right direction to protecting the future of our planet,” Schwartz said. “They are significantly more environmentally friendly because they release reduced CO2 emissions, and I want to do my part, no matter how big or small.”

Schwartz is not alone in opting to drive electric — one in six Palo Alto households own an electric vehicle, according to the City of Palo Alto. Considering that the leading electric vehicle manufacturer — Tesla — was founded in Silicon Valley, it is not surprising that the popularity of electric cars in Palo Alto has skyrocketed in the area over the past few years. While global marketing efforts have advertised electric cars as an innovative solution to combat climate change, the question of how eco-friendly

these vehicles really are is one of increasing interest among consumers.

Environmental effects

Battery vehicles are powered by the electric grid, so no exhaust or tailpipe emissions are released from fuel combustion, unlike in traditional gasoline-powered cars. While this design keeps electric vehicles from directly producing greenhouse gases associated with traditional gasoline-powered cars, the electricity production to power the city’s grid still produces net emissions.

“If the electricity is produced using renewables, then that’s the best case scenario,” AP environmental science teacher Nicole Loomis said. “If it’s mostly natural gas like we have here in California, then that’s still better than coal like they have in many places on the East Coast.”

Most experts agree that electric cars powered by the grid are more eco-friendly than their gasoline-burning counterparts and produce fewer emissions per mile driven. This is largely due to electric motors being more energy efficient than traditional combustion engines.

working conditions. These countries may also have less strictly enforced environmen tal regulations around mining practices.

“Those resources are distributed un evenly across the planet,” Loomis said. “In many cases, the rare earth metals that we’re looking at are coming from poorer coun tries that don’t necessarily have a lot of good environmental laws, and you may see in creased levels of impact in those places for that kind of thing.”

Local initiatives

efits of driving electric, students cite the smoother controls and convenient charging stations as perks of their EVs.

California has taken significant steps in the past decade to reduce its carbon

“The acceleration and deceleration of the car feel super smooth; it feels like I’m

Text by AKHIL JOONDEPH and EMILY YAO

Art by ARIANA CAO

TERMINATING TRUANCY

DISTRICT RESPONDS TO PANDEMIC-

DRIVEN ABSENTEEISM

SPRING OF 2021. Masked students sit in eerily quiet classrooms. The rooms lack life, with the few students there in person separated by clear plastic dividers and distanced by vacant desks.

Now, a year later, the scene looks oddly familiar. The transparent divisions are gone and masks begin to come off, but many blue chairs remain empty. With school entirely in-person for the 2021-2022 school year, however, this is not due to the district’s hybrid learning plans but is the result of one of Palo Alto High School’s greatest post-pandemic challenges — chronic absenteeism.

Over twice as many K-12 students across the nation have been chronically absent this school year compared to pre-pandemic numbers, according to a recent report by consulting firm McKinsey & Company. Palo Alto Unified School District followed similar trends this year — according to data from an Oct. 5 Board of Education meeting, 9.2% of students were chronically absent in Aug. and Sept. of this school year, compared to 5.55% of students

in the pre-pandemic fall of 2019.

“Lack of access to health care, unhealthy environmental conditions, unreliable transportation, housing instability or the lack of safe paths to school, were creating barriers to getting to school before the pandemic and they still are barriers to being in school,” Attendance Works Director of Communication Catherine Cooney said. “The pandemic and distance learning has added nuances related to the barriers students and families face in getting to school, including economic stress and students feeling discouraged because they have fallen so far behind.”

“We’re just trying to get the messaging out there and try to reestablish that it’s important for you to get to every class.

— ERIK OLAH, assistant principal

“ I have students in my classroom who don’t know anyone else sitting in the classroom, and that’s really unusual.”

tiers of interventions with a different meeting after a student accumulates eight, 12, 24 and 40 unexcused absences. With each increase in the number of absences, the seriousness of the meeting increases — district administrators are present at the latter two meeting types.

— DEBBIE WHITSON, teacher

Chronic absenteeism is defined by the California Department of Education as missing over 10% of instructional days, and is associated with long-lasting adverse social, academic and health consequences, according to an American Family Physician study, and its rise has prompted anti-absence initiatives such as mailing attendance letters home and reestablishing intervention meetings.

Anti-truancy triumphs

The renewed focus on attendance this year is a part of PAUSD’s Attendance Improvement Initiative, aimed at dropping the district’s chronic absenteeism rate below 5% across all racial groups and grades.

Paly’s current meeting system has four

According to research from Brown University’s Annenberg Institute, messaging to parents regarding how much school their child has missed — including these meetings and state-mandated attendance letters — can be extremely effective in reducing rates of absenteeism, especially when administrators actively follow up with students when attendance issues persist.

“I like the repeated follow up [of our process],” Assistant Principal Erik Olah said. “All through that pathway, … there are people that are checking in with the student.”

PAUSD detailed in a recent report that they will be focusing its efforts on “historically under-represented subgroups” by connecting them with personal attendance coaches. Across PAUSD, Hispanic and Latinx students had a total of 1,183 unexcused absences while Caucasian students had a total of 989 unexcused absences, despite the fact that there almost three times more Caucasian students than Hispanic and Latinx, according to the district website.

“We already see a positive increase in attendance for students that have been connected with a student success coach,” Engagement Coordinator Miguel Fattoria said in an April 19 board meeting. “Our team has been working tirelessly with sites with schools with families, just to make sure that

27.3% 66.4%

of students surveyed reported that they have received a truancy or attendence letter this semester, as a part of recent district antiabsence initiatives.

we see some sense of positive growth.”

Olah noted that new strategies to combat absenteeism this year are renewed attempts to address a longer-standing issue of poor attendance at Paly.

“When you look at the various schools in the area, we’ve always had more absenteeism than other schools,” Olah said. “We’re just trying to get the messaging out there and try to reestablish that it’s important for you to get to every class.”

Amending the attendance response

Though the anti-absence initiative is aimed at curbing unexcused absences and cuts, some students reported receiving attendance letters due to excused, often health-related, absences.

“I was sent a letter for excused absences which was surprising to me,” junior Sandhya Krishnan said. “I haven’t received any attendance letters in the past and when I looked at the letter, I didn’t really think my absences were that bad.”

Olah noted issues with the recent system of sending letters and emphasized how administrators are working to continually improve their system.

“Since about March or so, we’ve gone to a … different letter program where actually the letters are automatic,” Olah said. “It [the old system] was … not the best. The wording wasn’t quite where it needed to be and the thresholds [that warranted a letter to be sent] were a little low.”

Olah emphasized that attendance letters are a method of state-mandated intervention and not Paly’s main strategy to address absenteeism — that being the repeated attendance meetings that Olah and his colleagues have focused on this year.

of students that received an attendence letter reported that the letter did not motivate them to attend school more often.

Jumping “back in the game”

According to a recent report from the EdResearch for Recovery Project, low student engagement and poor student mental health are associated with absenteeism — both of which are factors that have increased since the onset of the pandemic.

“During the pandemic, I’ve noticed that here at Paly, even though kids came back there, they feel disconnected,” eco nomics teacher Debbie Whitson said. “They’ve missed two years of getting to know your peers. I have students in my classroom who don’t know anyone else sitting in the classroom, and that’s really unusual.”

English and humanities teacher Mimi Park said she has seen a cyclical pattern to absenteeism this year.

“I see students who miss a few classes, and then they get even more worried about coming because they’re worried about the work they’re missing, how much it has piled up, how it will seem to other students since they’ve been gone so much,” Park said. “These students stop coming, which really impacts their education. At the same time, not being here means they can’t get help from their teachers, the tutoring center … to help catch up, so it doesn’t do them any good.”

Data presented is from an opt-in survey by Verde Magazine of 255 Palo Alto High School students and was collected from April 27 to May 6 through a digital form published on Schoology pages and Verde social media. Responses were anonymous and all questions were optional.

for many, students need to connect with their peers face-to-face within the classroom in order to learn at their best.

“You’ve got to jump back in the game and try to find engagement,” Whitson said.

“I think there’s a sense if you stay home: ‘Well, I have my friends online, and I can do this game and it’s social.’ I think [with today’s social media] there’s still a loss of ability to be connected really well. That’s very valuable.” v

Whitson said that though she understands the jump back to in-person learning may be difficult

OUR PLANET OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS UNITE FOR EARTH DAY RALLY

PROTESTERS OF ALL AGES and backgrounds gathered at the Palo Alto City Hall for the March and Rally for Our Earth on Earth Day to emphasize their desires for climate action.

The protest was organized by the city of Palo Alto and was led by student advocates of 350.org, an organization dedicated to fighting climate change through policy and local action. The event included speeches from environmental leaders and local politicians, including Congresswoman Anna Eshoo.

Protestors circled the plaza shouting their chants for climate change awareness, surrounded by banners and posters that soared in the evening wind. Community members united in their calls for more direct action combating climate change at local and federal levels.

Saman de Silva, a Henry M. Gunn High School senior who co-organized the rally, believes that the robust political and technological capital within Silicon Valley provides ample resources for climate action.

“Inaction is passively agreeing to let a problem continue, so weaponizing your power as a student is crucial,” de Silva said. “Vote, stay informed, join grassroots organizations and more. There are so many ways to leverage your voice, and it’s imperative that we all take action when we can.”

With California approaching yet another record-setting drought season and the planet standing on the precipice of irreversible climate change, the necessity for policy change has only intensified. We captured this moment in the following collection of photos. v

Text by SEBASTIAN BONNARD

Photos and design by EMILY

YAO

The harmonies of heritage

SENIOR KEN OGATA EXPLORES ROOTS THROUGH KOTO PRACTICE

Text by ANNUM HASHMI and AKHIL JOONDEPH

THE FULL, RINGING SOUND

of a plucked string fills the quiet afternoon air as Palo Alto High School senior Ken Ogata begins to play the opening notes of a theme from the Japanese movie “Princess Mononoke” on his koto. After a pause, he continues swiftly moving his fingers across the instrument’s 13 strings — transporting listeners to ancient Japan with a series of cascading notes.

The koto is a sixfoot-long zither consisting of a hollow wooden body, strung with long strings that are hand-plucked by the player. Ogata, a skilled koto player, has been playing Japan’s national instrument since fourth grade. Though Ogata said he was not very keen on playing the koto at first, a transformative learning experience with renowned koto master Curtis Patterson taught him to love the instrument.

nese person, but an American dude with a midwestern accent. He’s the reason why I continue to play after all this time.”

Ogata said that as he began learning to enjoy playing the koto, he came to appreciate its unique melodies as well.

“The koto’s got this distinct sound that I absolutely love,” Ogata said. “Even after nine years of playing, I still can’t get enough of it. It’s this flowy, graceful sound — imagine a river or waves on a beach but in music format. It’s a sound that’s authentically Japanese.”

“ I have grandparents that have played the koto and other traditional Japanese instruments, so … it’s a way of honoring them.”

— KEN OGATA, senior

Ogata said he typically plays traditional Japanese songs that are over 200 years old, an experience which, along with other requisites for his koto practice and performance, has allowed him to connect deeply with his roots.

According to Ogata, the cultural significance and power the koto carries allows it to tell authentic stories through its notes and melodies.

“Music can vividly express different intricacies about a culture that can’t be described with words,” Ogata said. “An essay might not be able to express Japanese culture, but the koto can definitely capture the mood and feel of Japan.”

In an effort to spread his love for both his instrument and the culture it represents, Ogata is currently working on obtaining his koto teaching license.

“After earning my teaching license in a few months, I hope to share my music through teaching people that are interested in Japanese culture,” Ogata said. “I also want to transform koto music to a more contemporary feel, so that it can adapt to modern times a little better. … I hope to be able to get someone to fall in love with the koto, just as I did in Japan.” v

“I saw it as an instrument that’s played by old Japanese ladies, and I thought I … didn’t really fit the bill,” Ogata said. “It’s only after I started practicing with my koto teacher in Japan when I started to really get it. … I find it funny that the person that taught me [to love] the koto wasn’t some old Japa-

“The koto forces me to wear traditional kimono robes, sing Japanese songs from the 19th century and study Japanese history,” Ogata said. “I have grandparents that have played the koto and other traditional Japanese instruments, so it’s my way of connecting with my grandparents too. Most of them aren’t alive anymore, so … it’s a way of honoring them.”

CAPTIVATING KOTO — Ogata plucks the strings of his koto as he performs a short set for Verde in his backyard. Though an accomplished player already, Ogata said he is not motivated by fame or fortune when practicing his music. “I don’t really have the goal of being the best player in the world, or anything,” Ogata said. “I just want to make sure that I keep getting better, and that I’ll still be able to play just as well when I’m older. I want to be that cool Japanese grandpa that can do a bunch of cool grandpa things.”

Photo: Emily Yao

SOUNDS OF THE STREET

WALKING AROUND PALO Alto, music flows through the air. From upbeat acoustic guitar duos to a drummer and dancer team, musicians bring a pleasant ambiance and vibrance into our neighborhoods.

Many of these casual performers, or “buskers,” simply play for pleasure, while others hope to display their talent to the world. One group, “Midtown Dreamers,” performs at the California Avenue Farmers Market every Sunday and described what draws them to busking.

“A desire to fill the air with music. A desire to express ourselves, be heard. A desire to become better musicians,” busker Rouin Farshchi said. “But honestly, I like the way we sound and I enjoy just hearing us play. I occasionally step outside myself as we’re playing and just listen to the music and enjoy myself.” v

Text by GOPALA VARADARAJAN

Photos by EMILY YAO

STUDENT BUSINESS SELLS HANDMADE PIECES

Cheung said. “I had to pick up something, and I picked up croCheung is entirely self-taught — her only form of instruction was watching YouTube videos teaching basic patterns and tips. Now, she creates her own designs or freehands her pieces. Cheung’s crochet style is bright and colorful; her favorite piece is a checkered pink and red visor complete with dangling yarn strawberries, hearts and a ruffled light blue

“I like to add a lot of add-ons into my designs like patterns or hanging elements,” Cheung said. “Not just a traditional solid color top or bucket hat; I like to

After about five months of perfecting her craft, Cheung created an Instagram account, @hillyjoc.makes.stuff, where she posts her work, and facilitates orders. So far, the account has amassed 282 followers and collected 25 orders since it began in mid-April 2022.

So far, her sales have included flower and fruit keychains and hats — not just for humans, but also a rabbit — with more forthcoming.

“I just enjoy having a creative outlet,” Cheung said.

“Getting to create something that you can wear specifically is really reward-

Senior Hillary Cheung models her handmade hat. “My favorite piece I’ve made is my little strawberry hat,” Cheung said. “I was really proud of making that unique design

Art by BLAIR MIGDAL

Stylish Stitches

STUDENTS HANDMAKE THEIR PROM DRESSES

WHILE MANY prom-goers often buy expensive attire, a few Palo Alto High School students took on the challenge of sewing their own prom dresses. Verde spoke to three students who all took on the same difficult task, each with their unique backgrounds in the craft — here is what they had to say. v

Victoria Liao

Paly senior Victoria Liao, who has experience in various forms of art such as watercolor painting and poetry, revealed her admiration for the medium of sewing because of its unique advantages that provide more opportunities for expression.

“With sewing, or just crafting in general … there’s a lot you can do in the 3D realm that you can’t necessarily do with … music or painting traditionally,” Liao said. “The Met [Museum] has their costume gala, which is showing how art and how culture can be expressed through clothing, fabric.”

Inspired by expensive dresses she saw online, and driven by her interest in fashion, Liao took on the task of sewing her own prom dress.

“I’ve always entertained the idea of getting into fashion,” Liao said. “It’s always been a hobby of mine to look at fashion designers to see how they’re able to create genuine pieces of art with just fabric and thread.”

Liao decided to use satin for the base of the dress and organza, a shimmery fabric, for the top layer of the skirt. Wanting to go for a princess-inspired look, Liao’s dress features big puffy sleeves and ruffle skirt. While planning out her dress, Liao initially struggled to create a sewing pattern that would fit her and her vision.

“It was a lot of trial and error, be-

cause standard patterns can only give you so much,” Liao said. “There’s a lot of customization that you have to do to just make it fit better for yourself.”

Beginning the work on her dress over spring break, Liao said she worked for the entirety of each day and managed to complete the base skirt, top and sleeves in five days. However, despite being able to finish the dress, the process was not without challenges.

“At one point, I sewed one of the sleeves on the opposite way and I cut one of the skirt parts wrong,” Liao said. “It’s all a learning experience.”

After overcoming the difficulties she faced along the way and completing her dress, Liao looks forward to including sewing in her artistic repertoire.

“It [sewing the prom dress] has definitely inspired me to, pick it [sewing] up as a hobby,” Liao said. “I’m actually thinking of making my own graduation dress as well, just cause I had so much fun making my prom dress.”

Vivian Trach

Junior Vivian Trach, unwilling to purchase the $400 dress she saw online, decided to recreate her dream dress with her personalized design. The red satin gown

has a simple, layered design, mesh fabrics and gathering on the top and side, creating the dress as an amateur seamstress.

“There were always projects where I was like, ‘Oh, I want to make that’ but I didn’t really commit myself to sewing, so I think this is a good project,” Trach said.

Trach’s process began with a sketch of her gown, the selection of her material after careful deliberation, and after a failed attempt, the purchase of a sewing pattern off of Etsy.

“I wanted a really low back because I thought that would be really cool,” Trach said. “So I tried making my own pattern, but that didn’t work out very well.”

Beginning four months ago, Trach began sewing small projects like a coin pouch, using skills she learned in her sixth grade home economics class. Even with Trach’s artistic background, she has been very cautious in making her dress and chose to make a draft dress out of a cotton fabric before the real gown.

“I’m trying to stay in the lanes and avoid mistakes as much [as] possible,” Trach said. “Then if things go [well], maybe I can play around a little bit and make it a little more complicated.”

A large inspiration for creating the dress outside of saving money was ensuring the dress fit her the way she wanted it to.

“I have a lot of trouble fitting into clothes, because I’m a short person, but at the same time proportionally, I have long legs,” Trach said. “So I just wanted to make something that really fit me best.”

Anushe Irani

Over quarantine, Paly senior Anushe Irani said a close friend inspired her to begin sewing some of her own clothes. After making simple shirts and skirts, Irani decided to make something more complex: a prom dress.

Created with synthetic silk in a pink-purple shade, the dress features a straight silhouette and square bodice, inspired by dresses Irani found on Pinterest. Irani describes her dress as a simple design, though she still had to overcome many challenges when creating the gown.

“At one point … the machine broke so that it actually cut the section,” Irani said. “I had to remove the front piece from that part, and then move that part to the back

and fix that hole somehow so then that just caused me to end up with less cloth.”

Despite difficulties in creating the dress, Irani said she still found that her mistakes were a useful lesson of perseverance.

“I chose to continue because I had already put so much time into it [the dress] and I didn’t want that to amount to nothing,” Irani said. “That was a meaningful moment for me because I was able to keep going even when I ran into such a large setback and I have no regrets for continuing.”

Text by JERRY FANG and KIERAN ZAJAC

DONAKER’S DECKS

SEVEN QUESTIONS WITH PALY SKATEBOARD ARTIST

AS HE OPENS THE BACK OF HIS CAR, we hear the crumple of construction paper and smell the strong aroma of frequently used spray paint cans. Palo Alto High School senior Josh Donaker explains how he designs and paints vibrant skateboard decks while operating out of his trunk in places such as the Paly parking lot. Donaker has painted 13 decks so far for his AP Art and Design portfolio — each centered around a specific theme and art style.

Verde had the opportunity to talk with Donaker about his unique hobby, here is what he had to say. v

1. How did you first start creating skateboard deck art?

“I’ve always really liked the bottom of skateboards. I thought that was a really cool medium. … Over quarantine, I had a lot of time on my hands, so I learned to skateboard because I wanted to paint the bottom of the skateboard deck. So I assembled and painted my very first skateboard after learning to ride.”

2. How would you describe your own personal art style?

“I use a lot of color and lots of bright contrast. … I’ve tried a bunch of different artists’ styles as well and taken a spray paint, modern spin on it. … I also really like the practical art style. … I like art that you can really interact with because I think it’s a lot more fun and cool for someone witnessing it.”

3. What is something unique that you have taken artistic inspiration from?

“I really like old signs; old signs are pretty neat. My second piece is inspired by … this one sign [I saw] when I was driving down to Poplar Beach in Monterey. It’s an old Pepsi sign. I also like seeing

FUTURE ENDEAVORS — Palo Alto High School skateboard artist Josh Donaker looks to share his artistic creations with others going forward. “I’m probably gonna keep my favorite one and maybe give a couple to family,” Donaker said. “I still have a couple blank decks left so I might make some for my friends or myself or auction some of them off.”

street art with graffiti on walls. I have one [a skateboard] that’s themed after cargo or freight cars that are covered with graffiti.”

4. Have you done any other forms of art besides designing skateboards?

“A few years back I designed my baseball glove which was pretty sweet. … I also designed the senior jersey for this year’s class. … I think those projects are a ton of fun and a big range of projects is all the more fun because every project is so different.”

5. Are you driven by a purpose or goal when creating your artwork?

“Personally for me, art is just about the fun of it. There’s no massive, bigger picture. … It’s also super cool to see which ones people like and which ones people aren’t as much of a fan of because it’s so subjective.”

6. Can you recall one memorable moment in your artistic journey?

“I was going to do a comic book, pop art style board and then I brought it home and my mom saw it and she said it looked like a Piet Mondrian painting. He’s the dude who does the blue, yellow and red squares. … I already had some blue squares down and then I changed it up. That’s probably one of my favorite boards.”

7. What plans do you have for your art in the future?

“Hopefully I’ll have time in college to keep doing skateboards. … Trying realism a little bit could be fun down the road, but I think I’ll always stick with this more pop, bright art style. … I would love the opportunity to do snowboard art. Someone reached out to me in the past about their snowboard so hopefully I can do something like that soon.”

setting

sail

STUDENTS FORM TEAM TO COMPETE IN NICHE SPORT

BATTLING POTENT WINDS and splashing waves that threaten to capsize his boat, Palo Alto High School junior Nati Grinkrug holds on to the mast of the C420 dinghy, steering his vessel with expert dexterity. Though the sun shines overhead and reflects brightly onto the choppy water below, Grinkrug remains calm and focused.

Grinkrug is one of few Paly students who participate in the unique sport of sailing. This year, he started a local sailing team and currently serves as team captain. Inspired by his own passion for the sport, Grinkrug hopes to encourage others to give sailing a try.

of sailing, but at the same time it’s also very mentally engaging.”

Freshman Lorenzo Maino, another member of Grinkrug’s sailing team, has been sailing since elementary school.

“I got into sailing because of my dad,” Maino said. “He’s had a boat since before I was born and we used to go out on it.”

“ It’s fun to work together on a single boat, and having two people control one boat makes it complicated and interesting.”

— LORENZO MAINO, freshman

Both Maino and Grinkrug currently sail at Peninsula Youth Sailing Foundation in Redwood City, where they practice three times a week during the November to February sailing season.

Maino said that a typical sailing practice consists of multiple different exercises both on and off the water.

Boating background

Grinkrug was first introduced to sailing through a family babysitter and after trying it out, was immediately drawn to the sport.

“I really appreciate it as a sport for both the mind and the body,” Grinkrug said. “It’s a very physical sport, and I’m completely worn out at the end of a full day

“In a typical practice we arrive, rig and then get on the water and we run drills and races and a coach follows you upwind to help with boat speed,” Maino said. “When you get back on land, you usually get a debrief on the tactical aspect and then de-rig.”

Friendly competition

A high school divisional sailing com-

petition, or a regatta, consists of splitting each school’s team into two divisions: A and B. There are two or three people per boat and each team races the other boats in order to make it to a given finish line. For the regattas Maino and Grinkrug compete in, there are two sailors assigned to each boat.

“It’s fun to work together on a single boat, and having two people control one boat makes it complicated and interesting,” Maino said. “I like the team-play aspect of a double-handed boat and how there are a lot of tactics involved in racing.”

Grinkrug and the Paly sailing team recently participated in the NorCal Divisional Championship, which took place at the end of spring break.

“Paly ranked third overall and I ranked

second in my division out of 14 boats, so it was a pretty good score,” Grinkrug said.

Once the boats hit the water, the strategic component of sailing becomes essential to win a race and adds an element of complexity to the sport.

“On the water, it can get a bit more brutal, because you can use the rules to your advantage,” Grinkrug said. “If you know the rules really well, you can figure out ways to kind of abuse them and gain an advantage over other boats. You’ll hear a lot more yelling off-shore, but we all know it’s in good fun.”

“Generally, most people are really nice and just open to talk and help each other.”

Although there is a culture of competitiveness around regattas, Grinkrug said that competitors are typically good-natured once the race is over.

— NATI GRINKRUG, junior

“Generally, most people are really nice and just open to talk and help each other,” Grinkrug said. “The cul-

ture is that, as soon as you get on land and you’ve gotten your boat out of the water, you come and help everybody else.”

Grinkrug ultimately hopes to inspire more Paly students to participate in sailing

and try the hobby he is passionate about.

“I’m looking for as many people as possible, because then we could do better and attend more competitions,” Grinkrug said. “I would encourage people to go on the PYSF [Peninsula Youth Sailing Foundation] website if they want to learn more about the club specifically and then, join high school sailing — there’s no experience needed.” v

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT — Junior Nati

Grinkrug sails a C420 sailboat during a regular sailing practice. Grinkrug’s passion for the mental and physical activity required in sailing inspired him to encourage other students to take up sailing. “Paly hasn’t really ever had a sailing team,” Grinkrug said. “I got enough people to join the club for us to have one.”

Photo: Yash Shetty

Text by AANYA KUMAR and MERWA MAROF

Photos by MEENA NARAYANASWAMI

by RACHELLE LEE

FLYING TOWARD THE FUTURE

PALO ALTO HIGH SCHOOL

LICENSE

junior Cayden Gu punches in the gate code to enter the taxiway area where he meets his instructor. The sun is shining and the sound of engines fills the air as planes take off. Gu opens the plane door and crawls into the small vehicle.

“The plane itself inside is pretty small, you open the door, you crawl in and you squeeze to get your checklist,” Gu said. His process is the same everytime, he said. He flicks the switches to check the engine and checks the flaps then heads back outside to test the wheels and make sure the stabilizers and flaps are still on the plane and won’t fall off. Once he finishes this process, he crawls back into the cockpit, straps into the harness like a seatbelt, puts on his headphones and turns the ignition on. It’s time for takeoff.

places you can go, people you can take and missions that you can accomplish.”

Although flying enables Blair to feel more free, he still feels anxious before rides but said that it’s not necessarily a bad thing and can be used as a helpful tool.

It opens up so many more possibilities of places you can go, people you can take and missions that you can accomplish.”

— CARTER BLAIR, junior

“My instructor likes to tell me that it’s a good thing if you’re nervous, because it means you’re human, and you have all the right human emotions that keep you safe,” Blair said. “You need those instincts in order to make sure you’re safe.”

Gu, along with junior Carter Blair, is one of the few Paly students who fly planes as a passion.

Carter Blair

Blair has been training to get his pi-

Blair has been interested in aviation from a young age and was able to expand his passion with the help of his parents, other kids with interests in aviation and the Palo Alto airport.

“It was my dad who got me into it [aviation],” Blair said. “He would take me to the airport, and we would just watch planes fly. It [interest in aviation] really took off once I found kids like me who were also in love with aviation and we were able to build off each other, and I got a lot more

FUTURE

cense,” Blair said. “At the end of your train ing, you get to go on a check ride which is essentially your driver’s test.”

In the future, Blair hopes to expand his love for aviation as a commercial pilot.

“[It] took me a while to actually realize that being a pilot, as a career, would be a viable option,” Blair said. “Once I did, it clicked with me … So hopefully, getting my private pilot’s license will be the first step for me.”

Cayden Gu

Gu has been interested in military rather than commercial aviation since he was young and wants to join the United States Naval Academy in the future. Training to get his pilot’s license was just another way for Gu to expand his love for aviation. By reading about military aircrafts and piloting, Gu gained extensive knowledge of military aviation, making him want to pursue it as a career.

“I spent a lot of time reading and absorbing information about fighter aircraft that gave me a love for military aviation,’’ Gu said. “I went to air shore shows in the past. I went to museum exhibits, those sorts of things.”

Due to COVID-19, Gu had to take a break from flying but in May 2020 he

ence itself, just in the open air, seeing all the little things around you and actually having control over that instead of being a commercial [plane], flying that is an experience on a different level,” Gu said.

Getting your pilot’s license is an ex pensive and long process but if he gets to pursue his passion, Gu said it’s worth it.

“I think it’s really worthwhile,” Gu said. “It’s changed my perspective on life in a sense because I feel that it just gives you the feeling that there’s so many opportuni ties you can take in life.”

AVIATION ADDICT (LEFT)

spends hours a day getting ready to become a future pilot. “Generally, my instructor and I will set aside two hours a day,” Blair said. “And I'll rent a plane from a flying club that I'm a part of. I always get there 30 minutes early to preflight the plane to make sure the plane is safe to fly before my instructor gets there.”

FLYING FANATIC (RIGHT) – Junior Cayden Gu dresses in his pilot attire, which also consists of sunglasses and a noise-canceling headset to hear his co-pilot through. Civil Air Patrol is the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force and a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. “The program offers a lot of opportunities, Gu said. “They have a lot of human resources.”

456

POP TEA BAR

MOBILE GAME MANIA

POPULAR LEISURE ACTIVITY UNITES STUDENTS

SCREENS FLICK ON AS PALO ALTO HIGH SCHOOL

students use their phones, tablets and sometimes Nintendo Switches to detach from the stresses of school. It happens on the quad, certainly during brunch and regrettably during class: mobile gaming.

Mobile game use with release dates as recent as 2016 –– such as Clash Royale and Pokemon GO ––– have remained popular among Palo Alto High School students. According to an opt-in survey by Verde Magazine of 255 Paly students from April 27 to May 6, 71.7 percent of respondents currently play mobile games.

As game technology improves, features such as sharper graphics, open-world gameplay and gacha-mechanic monetization continue to attract new gamers, according to Game Refinery. At Paly, a few particular mobile games have taken hold among the student body, each of which has their own appeal to different students.

Clash craze

One of the biggest draws of mobile games is the quick manner in which they can be played. For example, Clash Royale typically involves two to three minute games in which players are matched with other players of similar ranking and use troop, spell and build ing cards to destroy opponents’ towers. Packed with vibrant colors, entertaining sound effects and friendly competition, Clash Royale games invoke excitement and are an easy way for students to take a quick break from their school work.

“What makes Clash Royale so great is that the games are short,” senior Max Bonnstetter said. “There is a lot of strategy that goes into it [playing Clash Royale], which makes winning all the more rewarding.”

Bonnstetter, who placed fourth in the U.S. Clash Royale rankings in January, said he believes the social aspect of the game is what draws so many students to it.

“I play with my friends which makes it all the more fun, because you can compete and play alongside them,” Bonnstetter said. “We are actually a part of a clan with a ton of Paly kids.”

Base-building bustle

Idle games such as Clash of Clans and Drag onvale have also remained popular among students because of their focus on strategy and indi vidual game play. These games require the player to build their bases by gath ering materials, attracting those who prefer a more casual than a compet itive playstyle.

In addition to its on-and-off

playstyle, senior Iris Li said that she enjoys the creative aspect of base-building games such as Hayday.

“When you base-build, you can always put your own twist on it,” Li said. “It’s not strict in the way that you have to play and that’s what I really liked about it.”

Pokemon

proliferation

Freshman Aditya Romfh first started playing Pokemon GO –– an augmented reality mobile game that allows users to catch, trade and train Pokemon –– in 2018. A mini resurgence among his friends prompted him to pick up his old hobby.

“I recently rejoined the game again a few months ago when my friend said I should,” Romfh said. “I have definitely hung out with friends and played video games with them over my shared

Mad for Manresa

MORE THAN A BAKERY — Manresa’s new location features a kitchen where sandwiches and salads are freshly prepared. In its first week, Manresa enjoyed lines out the door. “Everyone has been very welcoming and we are very excited to be here,” manager Daniel Ortiz said. “It’s been fantastic.”

LOCAL BAKERY OPENS PALO ALTO LOCATION

EAGER PATRONS CHATTER AND BROWSE the menu in the polished blue and tan interior of Town and Country’s new bakery Manresa Bread. Its busy, cheerful atmosphere is accompanied by the sweet smell of pastries and coffee.

The bakery’s Palo Alto location opened in mid-April and offers bread, pastries, sandwiches and coffee to-go. Cognizant of its proximity to Palo Alto High School, Manresa is making efforts to reach out to student customers, according to store manager Daniel Ortiz. Paly students will be able to take advantage of a 10% discount on all items.

“We’re going to have some new items coming out, some that are going to be specifically tailored towards the students,” Ortiz said. “They can also order online through their phone for pick-up for lunch. If they want to order, we’ll have it ready for them to just run in, pick it up and they can head on out.”

the name, as Manresa Bread was a staple of the weekly market for years. According to Ortiz, the success of their farmers market stall inspired them to open a permanent storefront in Town and Country.

“There was very high interest in Palo Alto,” Ortiz said. “Our original bakery opened in 2014, and this was the next logical choice to go.”

“ The pandemic actually saw an increase in business for the company.”

—DANIEL ORTIZ, manager

Fans of the California Avenue farmers market might recognize

Their breads and pastries are baked fresh every day at the commissary and then delivered to each of their storefronts in Los Altos, Campbell, Los Gates and now Palo Alto.

While many local businesses closed their doors over the past two years, Manresa was able to power through the pandemic.

“The pandemic actually saw an increase in business for the company,” Ortiz said. “Manresa did a pick-up and take home from our commissary [bakery] in Los Gatos and that was extremely popular and all of our stores saw increasing business afterwards.” v

Savory croissant ($6)

For those who prefer a savory snack, the Fontina & spinach croissant offers a flaky toasted bread with creamy cheese filling and a wilted spinach topping. Unlike many savory croissants, this pastry does not skimp on the filling. Warmed up, this pastry could be a delicious and filling lunch option.

Kouign-amann ($5)

Coated in a thin layer of molasses with sweet flaky crumbs inside, the kouign-amann is one of the most popular pastries offered at Manresa. The crisp coating provides a crunch which creates a delicious contrast between the crust and inside of the bread. The pastry is not too sweet, with a subtle warm flavor; it pairs perfectly with a warm cup of coffee.

Monkey bread latte ($6)

While the dominant taste in the Monkey bread latte was cinnamon, we could taste hints of a sweet bread flavor as the name promised. The latte came piping hot with a light layer of foam on top. Because neither the coffee nor the flavoring is especially overbearing, this drink is a safe bet paired with a pastry.

Seasonal cherry loaf ($12)

We were excited to try this nutty bread topped with seeds and dried cherries inside. Unfortunately, we found the crust to be quite tough. While the combination of seeds provided a warm flavor, the inside of the bread felt bland and somewhat tasteless. The cherries in the crumb gave a pungent sour kick, but overall, the bread didn’t feel outstanding, nor worth the $12 price tag.

CHILLY SWEET AND AROUND THE WORLD IN SUMMER SNACKS

AS THE SUMMER HEAT CREEPS into Palo Alto, residents seemingly have endless options for refreshing snacks. Verde tried and reviewed different snacks from around the world, we tried South Korean bingsoo, Indian pani puri and Italian gelato. v

SUGARY SPOONFUL — Junior Theresa Hart beams before taking a bite of gelato. “I’m always looking for new things in the summer to beat the heat,” Hart said.

Bingsoo

Originating from South Korea, bingsoo is a sweet dessert consisting of small ice shavings layered with fresh fruit and fruit syrup. Other popular toppings include pat-bingsu (red bean), green tea, black sesame or chocolate.

Sophomore Sophia Kim remembers times from her childhood connected to this cool dessert.

“When I was younger, my parents were always busy so we rarely ate out, but when we did we would sometimes go to this Korean plaza that had a shaved ice dessert place in it,” Kim said. “We’d usually get two to share — one patbingsu with mochi and the other with fruit. I remember enjoying it after a nice meal during the spring or summer months.”

The bingsoo from local Korean dessert cafe Sul & Beans had strawberry syrup between layers of shaved ice and was topped with sliced strawberries, a strawberry syrup drizzle and a couple pieces of mochi. This dessert was balanced by the textures from the finely shaved ice and the slices of fresh strawberries. The coolness of the ice and the freshness of the fruit balanced out the sweetness from the syrup.

After eating a majority of the bingsoo, however, the ice shavings started to melt and the syrup became too sweet — there almost became a slush at the bottom of the bowl. Overall, however, bingsoo is perfect after a heavy meal and is best shared with at least one other person.

SAVORY TREATS

Pani puri

Pani puri is a common Indian street food that consists of potato, chickpea, onion chili powder and chaat masala filling contained within a crispy thin shell — the puri. It is also filled with mint and tamarind flavored water, the pani, and is consumed in a single bite.

Junior Shaivi Sanchorawala reflected on the significance of the popular food in her own life.

“Pani puri has been a comfort food in many Indian households for so long, as well as a great afternoon snack,” Sanchorawala said. “The pani is spicy but refreshing on a hot Indian summer day and the puris add the crunchy and exciting part of the snack.”

Verde went to experience all aspects involved with trying pani puri.

Eating this snack was an entire procedure; it first began with watching the vendor poke a hole in the fried puri and fill it with the potato-chickpea-onion mixture. When it was time to eat the pani puri, around a tablespoon of flavored water was ladled into the shell.

The addition of the flavored water started the race against time to get the vessel into my mouth before it leaked down my arm or spilled onto the table. When chewed, the tanginess from the tamarind, the mild spice from the filling and a slight sourness from the flavored water could all be tasted. Overall, this snack is a refreshing bite with the right amount of tang and the perfect mixture of textures.

Gelato

Though its literal translation from Italian to English is “ice cream,” gelato — a frozen custard dessert — and ice cream are not the same. Often compared to ice cream, gelato is denser and stored at a higher temperature, giving it a more intense flavor.

Junior Alex Landolfi, fondly reminisced about eating the sweet treat.

“It [gelato] reminds me of Italy and the countless summers I’ve spent there, just walking around Rome and eating gelato,” Landolfi said. “All the different flavors means it has a variety that makes it never boring, so you can really eat it whenever.”

Verde ventured to Gelato Classico, a nearby gelateria, and tried two flavors, tiramisu and creme brulee.

When scooped with a flat spoon, the gelato stretched and had visible small granules of sugar and ice. The flavors melted on the tongue and were more intense than regular ice cream because the granules of ice were noticeably smaller.

The tiramisu gelato had a deep coffee flavor that packed a punch with every bite, while the sweet chocolate sauce offset the bitterness of the coffee.

The creme brulee gelato, on the other hand, was soft and sweet on the tongue — with an overall smooth and creamy flavor.

Eating the two flavors together was the perfect harmony of sweetness, bitterness and coolness.

Text by OLIVIA MILNE and MIYA WHITELEY

MULTIVERSE MARVEL BROADENS SUPERHERO GENRE WITH

ABLOOD-SOAKED Scarlet Witch limps barefoot across broken glass with a vengeful glint in her eye, leaving the remnants of a brutal massacre in her wake. She’s pursuing a horrified Doctor Strange and young America Chavez through a flickering, dimly-lit hallway.

This unsettling scene — more characteristic of a fright flick than of a superhero film — comes from the new Marvel movie “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” released in theaters on May 6. The two-hourlong movie boasted a budget of $200 million, according to Forbes, and follows the events of “WandaVision” and “Spiderman: No Way Home.” Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) and Wanda, or the Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), star alongside new character America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez). This blockbuster production may be just another Marvel money-maker, but it at least gives the superhero genre a fresh twist: horror.

Strange facing off in a classic, superhero showdown.

“This is the bridge between Doctor Strange and Wanda … one of them is more like sorcerer magic and one’s more like witch magic,” Lee said. “Wanda is theorized to be more powerful, but Doc tor Strange is supposed to be smarter.”

— KYLE LEE, junior “

This is the bridge between Doctor Strange and Wanda.”

America has the unique ability to travel freely through the multiverse, although she has yet to learn to control it. Scarlet Witch, grieving after being separated from her children who exist in the other universes, aims to take America’s power so that she can be with them.

America teams up with Doctor Strange as they travel through the rest of the multiverse evading and battling Scarlet Witch.

Palo Alto High School junior Kyle Lee said he has watched all the marvel movies released to date and read many of the comics and was excited about the prospect of Scarlet Witch and Doctor

Director Sam Raimi has notable works in both the action and horror genre, di recting the first three “Spi der-Man” movies star ring Tobey Maguire, as well as horror titles like “The Evil Dead” and “Army of Darkness.” Raimi’s experience with horror influenced “Multiverse of Madness,” Marvel’s first horror-infused film. Though rated PG-13, it branches out from the typical action-packed Marvel movie template many fans expect, using interesting film effects and depicting dark themes, including grief and corrup tion.

Some horror elements in the movie include disturbing face-morphing, brutal impaling, eerie music, jump scares and a zombified Doctor Strange that was more laughable than unsettling.

Sisters senior An-

OF MADNESS

HORROR ELEMENTS IN NEW BLOCKBUSTER

the movies together, but they found their taste.

“I don’t really like horror movies much, so it was a little bit scary,” Divya Gandhi said. “But, I think it contributed to the plot in the way that it completely changed Wanda’s character from the Marvel productions we saw before, like in WandaVi-

Despite their distaste for the horror influences, both sisters agreed the movie does a good job developing Scarlet Witch’s character.

“ I think it [the horror] contributed to the plot in the way that it completely changed Wanda’s character.”

sic superhero genre. The movie follows Scarlet Witch’s story arc after the events of “WandaVision,” and follows her as she falls onto a darker, grief-lead path, highlighting Olsen’s captivating portrayal of her character.

— DIVYA GANDHI, freshman

Another way that “Multiverse of Madness” stands out is through the use of intense zooming in and out filming techniques and slanting frames, which give the movie a supernatural and chaotic feel.

However, not all of these experimental techniques worked as well as others.

“I just really liked to see the really different sides of her character,” Anisha Gandhi said. “It seemed like sometimes what she was doing was justified in her own mind, so I thought that was really interesting to see how dark and really violent she got.”

By exploring the dark and light sides of different characters, “Multiverse of Madness” was able to develop conflict without having a clear protagonist or antagonist, a unique way this movie breaks from the clas-

One scene where Doctor Strange fights an altered version of himself introduces the concept of using music as a form of combat.

While interesting in theory and executed well auditorily, the brightly colored, flying musical notes that accompanied it felt cheesy and out of place.

“ I thought it was really interesting to see how dark and violent she [Scarlet Witch] got.”

— ANISHA GANDHI, senior

Exploring the multiverse offers endless potential storylines and characters to be introduced into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and whether or not fans enjoyed “Multiverse of Madness,” there is no denying that it challenges the look of the traditional superhero movie and broadens the realm of creative liberties that directors and producers take in making them. v

Text by MERWA MAROF and BLAIR MIGDAL

B R O F E E

SENIORS REMINISCE OVER LAST FOUR YEARS

ONE AND A HALF YEARS OF NORMAL Palo Alto High School life. One year of sitting in our rooms. Now, we are back in-person for the finale.

The Class of 2022 has had to adapt to many changes throughout our years at Paly, and somehow we have made it to the end. Through Zoom calls, masks, vaccines, social distancing and now — in a new sense of normal — our

class has unified over the bizarre shared experiences we’ve had. We have been able to experience some of the coveted Paly experiences such as the senior deck, camo days, finally winning spirit week, elimination and the last few are still to come. Verde walked around the Quad and asked seniors to reflect on their time at Paly, and share what they have learned before they graduate. v

What was your favorite memory from your senior year?

“We went on a trip with our friends to LA over a weekend just for fun and we went to some concerts and Disneyland. It was really fun.”

— LILY LOCHHEAD, senior

“Fountain-dipping. We went to Stanford and jumped in the fountain. That was pretty fun.”

— AIDAN LEE, senior

“I really liked Spirit Week because it’s my favorite part of every year but I think also the best is yet to come. In my mind, it hasn’t happened yet.”

— NATALIA COSSIO, senior

Photo: Ashley Qiu

Photo: Natalie Chueh

W A W E L K

What do you want the class of 2022 to be remembered as?

“Unique. I feel like this class is so diverse. There’s a bunch of different groups who have found who they are, which I’m proud of.”

— ELLA JAUREGUI, senior

What advice do you have for future seniors?

“Make good connections with the others around you. The friends that you make here will hopefully be your friends for the rest of your life.”

—EUNICE CHO, senior

“Take it slow. College apps are really stressful but don’t worry about it too much.”

— SAM DUONG, senior

“The first class to complete a full in-person year after COVID.”

— PALO SILVA, senior

“Make the most of your memories with your friends. Go full out, especially for spirit week. Go to the football games, really live out your senior year to the fullest because it goes by really fast.”

— CAMILA VALEROS-BARRERA, senior

Art by BLAIR MIGDAL

Photo: Emily Yao

Photo: Tara Correra

STUDENT ART IN LOCAL EXHIBIT

REALISTIC SELF-PORTRAITS, col-

orful abstract paintings and lively depictions of a moment in time. At first glance, the varying art hanging on the gallery walls appears to be a random collage of work.

However, upon closer examination, each of the pieces has one unifying trait: they depict each young artist’s vision for the future.

ArtNow is an annual juried art exhibit for Santa Clara County high schools hosted by the New Museum Los Gatos. The exhibit serves as an educational program to give students an opportunity to display their artwork in a museum

Gwangjang Market GINA BAE

Intricately balancing bold lighting with saturated values, Ginae Bae skillfully recreates her own memorable experience in South Korea at a bustling yet soothing Gwangjang Market.

“I was never treated as an outsider despite my American status and meager Korean vocabulary, which served as a strong contrast when I returned home shortly before the rise of COVID-19 and consequent anti-Asian sentiment,” Bae said. “In the future, I hope for a welcoming ‘brave new world’ that brings all types of people to talk and eat delicious food together despite our differences, just like Gwangjang Market.”

Jeremaiah REESE FORD

Intertwining nude forms with dynamic and lively colors, Reese Ford emphasizes hope for a future of acceptance. Joyful expressions and poses are also integrated to depict the celebration of diversity in religion.

“For me, my piece was about diversity, specifically within Christianity,” Ford said. “The ‘brave new world’ I imagined was one where progressive theology includes people from different backgrounds and LGBT people.”

and to win scholarships and awards.

The 2022 prompt, “Brave New Worlds,” invited students to convey their visions of the future through art.

“You are the builders and leaders of tomorrow,” the prompt read. “Consider what we are growing towards; be bold in your visions of hope, equality, justice and change.”

A total of 580 students submitted their artwork to be reviewed and judged by a panel of university-level art instructors. Of these students, 79 were chosen, four of whom were Paly students — April Wu, Reese Ford, Gina Bae and Ashley Adji. v

Brilliance

ASHLEY ADJI

In Ashley Adji’s piece, various materials — including pencil shavings, tissue and packaging paper — on cardboard forms an abstract depiction of an outstretched hand reaching toward an eagle. The painting’s description includes that the gold-painted pencil held in the eagle’s claws represents the brilliance in creativity, while the scattered cardboard and tissue used in the background emphasize how mundane objects can be an inspiration.

“I wanted to do something other than drawing,” Adji said. “So I just took a bunch of stuff and tried to make interesting textures. Basically, the meaning of it is having creative expression.”

A Breath of Fresh Air APRIL WU

A vibrant self-portrait of April Wu depicts herself pulling down her mask as she smiles at bubbles surrounding her. Bright light shines onto Wu’s face, a sharp contrast to the darkness behind her — representing the coming of a new future.

“It symbolizes how you’re able to have some sense of relief after the pandemic,” Wu said. “Everyone had a quarantine bubble, but now those bubbles were popped because people interacted with each other … and had a bunch of contact.”

Art by Ashley Adji

Art by April Wu

Art by Gina Bae

Art by Reese Ford

Text by JERRY FANG

Photo by INES LEGRAND

A LOOK INTO CRAFTING MECHANICAL KEYBOARDS

ACOMMUNICATOR and an interface to the digital world. The keyboard, arguably our most used device today, is an invaluable, yet often neglected, piece of technology. While handwriting and the pen was the essential skill and tool of yesterday, the modern digital age calls for typing and the keyboard. Just like how the fountain pen is the refined form of the pen, the mechanical keyboard is the elevated version of the everyday typing tool.

In eighth grade, I went on the hunt for a keyboard to accompany my computer. But I was not one to settle for any basic item; I wanted something better, I wanted something unique to me. Scouring the web, I landed on a typing test: a simple video of someone typing on a keyboard. There was nothing particularly notable about

Clickclack

the video, yet there was some mystical allure to the crisp, clean keystrokes and the “clicks” and the “clacks” they emitted. As I watched more videos, I realized that no two keyboards were the same — one had bright lime green keys, one was made of red anodized aluminum and one had a curved ergonomic layout.

Diving deeper down the rabbit hole, I slowly uncovered a deep history and passionate community behind these mechanical keyboards. Scouring forums and wikis, I learned of the vintage Apple and International Business Machines (IBM) keyboards made in the 1980s, an era where keyboards were durable and high quality. I found people who obsessed over the finest details — keyboard feel, shape, layout and more — but all for good reason. Seeking the best they could find, many of these people shared the same uncompromising attitude that I had towards quality.

inspired by city lights.

So what makes a mechanical keyboard different? As tech companies looked for ways to produce products more cheaply over the past couple decades, keyboards have lost the quality and robustness they once had. Mechanical keyboards are a revival of this craftsmanship. From the overall shape and layout of the board to how much force is required to press a switch, every part of a mechanical keyboard can be customized. As such, they can be faster and more comfortable to type on.

Mechanical keyboards are a revival of this craftsmanship.

I wouldn’t call myself an artist, but keyboards gave me a canvas for me to express myself. Individualization was a new freedom granted to me. With my keyboard (photographed above), I sought to create a clean, modern look, so I chose a black aluminum case and keycaps whose colors were

In 2020, the mechanical keyboard hobby exploded. With the COVID-19 pandemic, people around the world shifted to working and learning from home. Logically, many sought to upgrade their equipment — including keyboards. Nowadays, mechanical keyboards are widely available and publicized. It’s no longer a niche. No longer just a hobby. The community is still open and growing.

We customize phone cases, we buy nice office chairs and we look for the newest MacBooks. But we never look down at the keys we constantly tap. Perhaps it’s time to consider the keyboard — our fingers deserve it. v

Please select WHITE

P“ASIAN MULTI-RACIAL OTHER your RACE MENA

LEASE SELECT YOUR RACE.”

I could go with “Asian.” Afghanistan is in Asia, so that makes sense, right? Or I guess “White”?

I’m half white and Middle Eastern and North African, or MENA, people are defined as white. But Afghanistan is not technically in the Middle East. So, “other”?

Afghans, and people of other racial groups like Latinx and Afro-Caribbean, often struggle with identifying with the five categories of race defined by the United States government: American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Black or African American, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander and White.

Every time I fill out a school survey, a college registration form or the registration for standardized tests, I am faced with the choice between several categories that I feel no attachment toward. No matter what box I check, I feel as if I’m sacrificing a part of my racial identity.

And beyond being confusing, the overgeneralization in the current racial categories creates systemic inequality. The information collected on racial groups by the US Census is used to create policy and ensure equal access in education, housing, voting, language and employment, as well as for enforcing anti-discrimination regulations.

Because the government does not explicitly define Afghan identities, issues affecting them and millions of other Americans are systematically ignored.

To be able to better count Afghan people, Afghan people should be adopted within the MENA category. Although Afghanistan is currently considered a part of South Asia, it shares more ethnic, cultural and dialectical similarities with its Middle Eastern neighbors like Iran, much

more than its South Asian neighbors, making the MENA grouping a better fit.

However, even being grouped with MENA yields its own issues. Officially, the MENA racial group is recognized as “white.” But, while the federal government treats MENA people as white, the rest of the world does not and they do not get to enjoy the privileges of being white.

In 2016, the Census Bureau conducted tests of a new MENA category, receiving thousands of public comments in support. A Census Bureau report on the research concluded that “adding a

MENA category would … allow the federal government to better serve this population.” Though the categories were not revised in time for the 2020 census, there is still time for the 2030 census.

To create a culture of respect for all races and counteract persistently overlooked injustices for this huge demographic, a MENA category must be implemented within the U.S. Census.

The next time I check a box on a state mandated survey or am participating in research, I hope that my race — my culture, my history, my family, me — will be counted. v

Art by PALINA KUZMINA

RACISM MUST BE CONFRONTED

NO ROOM EXISTS FOR XENOPHOBIA IN ACADEMIA

MY JAW DROPPED I

couldn’t believe what I was hearing as I played the viral Twitter clip.

“They are taught that they are better than everybody else because they are Brahmin elites, and yet on some level, their country [India] is a shithole. ... They’ve realized that we’ve outgunned and outclassed them in every way.”

These were the words spoken by a woman during an interview on Fox News’

Tucker Carlson Tonight on April 11 as she disparaged Indian immigrants, whom she falsely generalized as all coming from an upper caste in the Hindu caste system while slandering their country of origin. Her insults did not stop there. In the same interview, she went on to claim that “non-Western” groups harbor “resentment, shame and envy” against Western people for their “outsized achievements and contributions.”

“Anglo-Protestant culture,” in addition to making racist, divisive and inflammatory claims against people of color.

One instance was a Sept. 2017 podcast interview with Harvard history professor Glenn Loury about the downsides of affirmative action: “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Black student graduate in the top quarter of the class, and rarely, rarely in the top half,” Wax said. “I can think of one or two students who scored in the top half in my required first year course.”

As long as law school professors with Wax’s beliefs are able to spew hate without consequence, the field will remain hostile towards minorities.

How many of the Black students who Wax said were rarely toppers in her class did she treat without any biases whatsoever, given her history of racist statements?

will remain hostile towards minorities. This is why I support the petition created by current students at Penn Law urging Dean Rutger to reaffirm his commitment to diversity and inclusion by holding Wax accountable. To penalize her would be sending a resounding message that white supremacy and racial hatred will not go unpunished in legal academia. To not take serious action against Wax would convey the opposite: her views are acceptable. Is that what we want to broadcast to the world and to students of color?

Now is the time for the leadership at Penn Law to draw a line in the sand for what kind of behavior is tolerated at their institution. Let’s set a precedent for creating an environment that is welcoming of minorities and that allows people from all backgrounds to flourish in the noble profession of law without being made to feel inferior. v

Having lived in the bubble that is Palo Alto for the majority of my life, I can confidently assert that I’ve never been the victim of overt acts of racism or xenophobia — which is what made the words I heard in the Tucker Carlson interview so jarring.

Perhaps even more shocking than the words themselves was that they were being spoken, not by some fringe actor, but by a tenured professor at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School named Amy Wax.

Upon further investigation, I discovered that the Fox News debacle was only one in a long chain of alarming incidents in which Wax has come under fire for openly promoting her belief in the superiority of, in her own words,

Wax’s public maligning of minorities is a reflection of the racism that is broadly present in the legal field today. Pursuing a career in law has long been exclusionary to people of color, especially Hispanic and African American people, with 89% of lawyers and 80% of judges in the United States being white according to American Bar Association’s “Profile of the Legal Profession’s 2020 Report.”

As long as law school professors with Wax’s beliefs are able to spew hate without facing real conse- quences, the field

Text by SADIE IBBOTSON-BROWN

In of drama drama

defense

REFLECTING ON THE BENEFITS OF BROADWAY

IT’S DEC 1., 2021. For most people, this is just an average Wednesday, but for some, it’s the most dreaded time of the year: Spotify Wrapped Day, an annual campaign that allows Spotify listeners to view and share their most listened to tracks and artists.

Why is this such a horrible occasion, you might ask? Although Instagram is flooded with screenshots galore of respectable Wrapped infographics filled with mainstream artists like Taylor Swift, Tame Impala, Lana Del Rey and Drake, other listeners may be greeted with none other than

Broadway artists Andrew Lloyd Webber and Ramin Karimloo as their top artists of the year.

For the past few years, we have found ourselves in the latter category (one of us may even have been in the top 0.1% of all Lloyd Webber listeners). As people who

do not regularly participate in theater performances, we are constantly careful to con ceal our secret love of show tunes around our indie pop-obsessed peers. However, after a period of deep reflection on the matter, we have decid ed to suppress our true colors no longer. We have become adamant believers that the joys of Broadway music are for all, and that the sweet tunes of the West End should be freely shared beyond traditional theater circles.

Despite be ing a somewhat overlooked genre for our genera tion, musical theater is unique in that it often presents im portant messages promoting so cial change or commentary through a vari ety of different styles. Musicals encompass all different genres of music — from rock to classical to opera — with their subject matter being just as diverse. We believe that there is truly something for everyone in the vast ocean of stories and styles that is musical theater.

York. The overarching subject matter is bleak, but the show highlights the overwhelming importance of connections and relationships when endur-

Musicals encompass all different genres of music, with their subject matter being just as diverse.

was revolutionary for its diverse casting choices and modern

Still, not all musicals have to actually promote a message to be enjoyable.

“The Phantom of the Opera,” Andrew Lloyd Webber’s dramatic adaptation of the classic novel, has been known to creep into the top four songs of our Spotify accounts. At times, the score’s lyrical genius is so enthralling, the Phantom’s voice so enchanting, that we forget we are rooting for a 50-year-old Boo Radley char acter who kidnaps sopranos and drops chandeliers on unassuming audiences.

Broadway for all

For years, Broadway musicals have told all kinds of stories from a variety of perspectives, whether by adapting a classic novel or retelling a historical event through a musical context.

One of our favorites is “Les Miserables,” a classic story of the June Rebellion. Its many diverse and energetic characters, along with a killer score and incorporation of a barricade, have earned it a special place in our hearts. After all, who can resist Inspector Javert in his blue nightcap? No man can keep from cheering alongside the merry inn-goers as “Master of the House” kicks into full swing.

Another one of our favorites is “Rent,” a show sharing perspectives of young artists searching for love, money and inspiration during the 1989 AIDS epidemic in New

Even without hard-hitting polit ical commentary, these productions capture audiences with their imperfect, relatable characters and catchy songs that would make anyone want to get up and bust a move.

The point of no return

We’ve found that once you get sucked into Broadway, it’s almost impossible to escape its clutches. On many occasions, we’ve found ourselves watching taped mu sicals on YouTube, listening through entire soundtracks on “private session” mode on Spotify, or even learning German on Duolingo to better understand foreign musicals.

In particular, we’ve been amazed by the wide variety of theater soundtracks easily accessible to global audiences, and how musicals are translated into different languages and adapted from country to country. One prominent example of an international troupe is the all-female theater group Takarazuka Revue, in which Japanese actresses translate musicals from all over the world for a foreign audience. This group challenges gender norms and attracts fans from across the globe.

With such a wide variety of actors, source material and musical styles, it’s clear that musical theater is not a genre to be ignored. While perhaps you may dislike one particular show, we can guarantee that there’s another musical out there, somewhere, that will intrigue you, and you shouldn’t be scared or ashamed to look for it.

You don’t need to be a Broadway superfan, but the next time you see your friend having a “Hamilton moment” on your Spotify listening activity sidebar, suspend your judgment for an act or two. And if you feel so inclined, don’t be afraid to take a listen yourself, because who knows

EXCLUSION IN SCHOOL SPORTS HARMS STUDENTS rejection comes at a cost

IN THE UNITED STATES, 56.1% of youth ages six to 17 played organized sports in 2019, according to data by Aspen Institute’s Sport and Society Program. At Palo Alto High School, 60.6% of students have participated in a school sport, according to data from an opt-in survey by Verde Magazine of 255 Paly students that was collected from April 27 to May 6. In Norway, however, 93% of the country’s teenagers ages 13 to 19 are in or have played organized sports in 2019, according to a journal article in ScienceDirect.

According to an article by the New York Times, Norway guarantees and encourages every child access to high-quality opportunities in athletics. Nearly every neighborhood has a well-funded sports club and instead of competitions, they focus on participation and socialization. Under Norway’s Children’s Rights in Sport document, children can decide how

much they train and if they participate in games and can easily switch clubs. Despite this inclusivity, Norway has proven to be largely successful in the sports it focuses on, as proven by its 37 medals won in the 2022 Winter Olympics.

The U.S. maintains a similarly strong athletic profile, according to an article by The Guardian, but my experiences have reflected that instead of encouraging all to participate, it too often pushes those who display talent at a very young age to succeed in athletics.

Paly displays a system like this; As a result of a focus on competition, students whose parents have the financial means and a lot of time and patience to support them through years of private sports classes are favored. The sports environment at Paly is too often not a cultivating one, but a selective one that prioritizes competition over opportunity and inclusivity.

The sports environment at Paly is too often not a cultivating one, but a selective one that prioritizes competition over opportunity and inclusivity.

I realized that my lack of awareness in ninth grade of such competition in athletics meant that I never knew that it would have been easier to join my first year of high school or that I should have prepared even more for the tryouts or that private coaching and years of experience were required to even participate in a sport. Quite simply, I still struggle to grasp why the coach of a public school would direct students to a private instructor just to be a contender in tryouts.

Although many students have been able to join sports at Paly, I had a different experience. Last year, I attended the

To create more opportunities for students, the school should make all sports “no cut,” where all students are admitted though only some are on the official roster and compete. Although this means more resources would be needed, including equipment and staff, I believe the benefits of allowing students to train their minds and bodies outweigh the costs. To start encouraging students to join a sport, a sports fair could be hosted in a similar fashion to the club fair.

Norway’s sports system has proven that inclusivity, rather than competition,

Text by PAISLEY ANNES

PARIKH

DEAR FUTURE ME,

LETTER TO MY COLLEGE GRADUATE SELF

I“AM LOOKING FORWARD to the next four

of my childhood.

— Sinserly, Paisley”

This was the final line of a letter to my high school graduate self — scribbled by eighth grade me onto a piece of graphing paper on May 12, 2018.

The letter had been folded into a miniscule rectangle and safely tucked into my jewelry box between a mess of tangled necklaces and my previous letters to my fu ture self.

Reading these notes now, I can see how much I have grown, how trivial many of my concerns and fears were, how my dreams and aspirations have evolved and how truly terrible I was — and still am — at spelling.

So, after two letters to my future self, why stop now?

Dear future Paisley,

As I’m writing this, it’s a few weeks before graduation, and, al though I have not walked across the graduation stage, received my diploma or thrown my cap in the air, I’m essentially done. Done with high school, childhood, liv ing with my family, living on the West Coast and everything I have grown accustomed to. As in my past notes, I’m a bit scared, very excited and completely uncertain about what to expect.

Growing up, Cal ifornia never felt like home. I moved here from the East Coast in third grade and continued to switch schools almost every year until seventh grade. I remember fantasizing about my life had I stayed

in Massachusetts and wishing my family

degrees cold? (I hope not.)

I guess as much as I like to tell myself that moving to the East Coast will be like returning home, I have been neglecting to acknowledge that I have created another one in California.

Future me, your position is the same as mine. You are also saying hard goodbyes and beginning a new chapter. Hopefully you have forged another home at college and have learned from my mistakes, appreciating the new home in the moment — not just the final months.

I wonder what parts of college life remind you of Palo Alto. Is it studying in a coffee shop and recalling sitting in Starbucks and eavesdropping on the “tech bros” discussing their start-ups? Or is it wanting a Trader Joe’s salad for lunch and realizing there’s only one in the state of Maine. Yes, just one. While I still think you should drop that you’re from California all the time — if solely for the coolness factor — also let rural Maine be added to your ever-growing list of abodes. I hope you make friends that you will miss, create plenty of memories to look back on and I hope everywhere you go you are reminded of me and all of our past selves.

Future me, I’m excited to meet you. Don’t forget your West Coast roots.

Sinserly,