Volume 49, Issue 5, Feb. 6, 2019

February 2019

Volume XLIX Issue V Monta Vista High School

I AM PURE HONEST CLEAN tempted

elESTOQUE

NEWS

OUT OF TIME

A&E

OPINION

5

VAWA expires during government shutdown

STATE DIVIDED

6

Factors leading up to shutdown include lack of compromise and a divided government

STORIES OF THE AFFECTED

8

Different viewpoints following the 2018-19 government shutdown

INTO THE WOODS

Following the government shutdown, national parks struggle with maintenance

10

16

SPORTS

28

A BETTER SUMMER PASSED DOWN Alternatives to expensive summer programs

Family heirlooms handed down through generations

34

HEAD OF THE GAME A behind the scenes ;look at Athletic Director Nick Bonacorsi

SO... WHAT EXACTLY DSLR: DECONSTRUCTED THE RECORD IS GOING ON? BREAKER Examining the Sophisticated makes it harder to process

11

KEEPING UP WITH THE NEWS Teens need to follow the news closely to create a better future

14

components that make up a DSLR camera

25

KNOW WHERE TO GO

Check out these places for entertainment in our own backyard

26

MAKING THE RIGHT STAYING SANE CALL IN THE RAIN

15

Student athletes should consider what motivates them to play sports

How to entertain yourself this rainy season

30

CHANGE AWKWARD ADVICE ADEAR letter to a Accepting and embracing my inherent

17

constant presence in my life

31

MVHS student shatters a Guiness World Record

33

A LEAGUE ABOVE THE REST

36

MVHS wrestling faces new challenges competing in a higher division

THANK YOU, ANDY

The lack of tennis I’ve played in recent months

38

ATHLETE OF THE MONTH EE recognizes soccer player Skylar Ploshay

39

IN THIS ISSUE FEATURES TEMPTATION

The reasons we fall to temptation

2

W

LETTER FROM THE EDITORS

A

s little kids, we were never taught how to lie. It was a habit that came naturally, much like crying or stealing — a simple inconvenience and we’d burst into tears. Sneaking into the kitchen the night after Halloween, we tried finding mom’s candyhiding spot. The next morning, we stuffed the wrappers under our pillows as our parents “cluelessly” asked us about the candy.

Yet we soon grew, and although the crying may have diminished, for some of us, the candy wrappers became cigarette lighters and porn sites — we slam our laptops closed when we realize mom’s coming upstairs.

For some of us, it was a battle against ourselves, the guilt of visiting such sites slowly creeping upon us.

And with age comes technology. Our increasing exposure to media has hard-wired our brains into accepting the use of swear words. Initially, it might have come as a shock, but as high schoolers, many of us have undoubtedly grown accustomed to the frequent use of expletives in our classrooms and on social media. It’s difficult to resist the urge — or temptation — to swear.

And similar to swearing, lying and watching porn also tempt us.

Starting on page 19, reporters Claire Chang, Helen Chao, Rucha Soman, Jai Uparkar and Claire Wen explore the implications of these three temptations, and how we, as high schoolers, have been affected by these urges. What causes us to swear over a dozen times a day? Why is the saying “all guys jack off” so insulting? How have we grown so immune to the explicit lyrics of Mo Bamba?

Even as second semester seniors, we both face all sorts of additional temptations. We feel the urge to copy homework that we would’ve diligently completed as juniors and sophomores. We hear the little voice inside our heads convincing us to let loose in the classes we formerly beat ourselves up over. We feel pressure to hang out with our friends when they ask us to hang out, but we know we have work to do. Whether it is big or small, and whether we like it or not, temptation is everywhere.

Rana Aghababazadeh

W

Roshan Fernandez

CORRECTIONS FROM THE LAST ISSUE In “Growing together” on page 36, the caption incorrectly identifies sophomores Viveka Ramanathan and Sidney Chan as juniors.

elESTOQUE 21840 McClellan Road Cupertino, CA 95014 mv.el.estoque@gmail.com

Editors-in-chief: Rana Aghababazadeh, Roshan Fernandez Managing editors: Helen Chao, Ruth Feng, Gauri Kaushik Copy editors: Charlotte Chui, Robert Liu, Claire Wen News editors: Sunjin Chang, Lakshanyaa Ganesh, Jasmine Lee, Andrea Perng Sports editors: Ankit Gupta, Rajas Habbu, Sreya Kumar, Anish Vasudevan Entertainment editors: Alyssa Hui, Hannah Lee, Jahan Razavi, Emily Xia Opinion editors: Zara Iqbal, Stuti Upadhyay, Brian Xu, Claire Yang Features editors: Claire Chang, Shuvi Jha, Swara Tewari, Jai Uparkar Beats editors: Oishee Misra, Chelsea Wong Design editor: Sara Entezar Business manager: Zara Iqbal PR editor: Sunjin Chang Graphics editor: Sarah Young Visuals editors: Justine Ha, Rajas Habbu, Herman Saini, Rucha Soman Web editor: Collin Qian Staff writers: Ayah Ali-Ahmad, Tyler Cho, Shivani Gupta, Elena Khan, Laasya Koduru, Tina Low, Iman Malik, Tabitha Mendez, Kamyar Moradi, Brandon Ng, Flora Peng, Dhruvika Randad, Keshav Taneja, Katerina Pappas, Ishani Singh, Julia Yang, Annie Zhang Adviser: Julia Satterthwaite Mission Statement El Estoque is an open forum created for and by students of Monta Vista High School.

Opinions expressed in this publication are those of the journalism staff and not of MVHS or the Fremont Union High School District.

The staff seeks to recognize individuals, events and ideas and bring news to the MVHS community in a manner that is professional, unbiased and thorough in order to effectively serve our readers. We strive to report accurately, and we will correct any significant error. If you believe such an error has been made, please contact us. Letters of any length should be submitted via email or mail. They may be edited for length or accuracy. Letters cannot be returned and will be published at El Estoque’s discretion. We also reserve the right to reject advertising due to space limitations or decision of the Editorial Board that content of the advertisement conflicts with the mission of the publication.

COVER ILLUSTRATION | SARA ENTEZAR

EL ESTOQUE | FEBRUARY 2019

3

Walled in

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION | SARAH YOUNG

The second government shutdown of Donald Trump’s presidential term lasted from Dec. 22, 2018 through Jan. 27, 2019. In this issue, we explored the impacts this shutdown had on our community and the nation as a whole.

4

EL ESTOQUE | FEBRUARY 2019

NEWS

Out of time

Violence Against Women Act expires during shutdown

BY RUTH FENG

“J

ust terrible.”

California senator Kamala Harris, who announced her presidential campaign on Jan. 21, tweeted these words regarding the expiration of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). When the government wasn’t functioning, certain domestic violence centers became increasingly pressed for funds.

On Sept. 24, 2018, Harris took to Twitter to warn her followers of the coming expiration of VAWA. Signed by former president Bill Clinton in 1994, this act funded $1.6 billion towards the investigation of violent crimes against women.

But Congress failed to renew the bill due to the government shutdown, so as of Dec. 21, it was no longer in effect.

The act has been reauthorized three times in 2000, 2005 and 2013. In 2005, Congress added provisions including protection for immigrant and LGBTQ+ victims. In 2013, President Obama added provisions extending protection to Native Americans and more funding for rape investigations on college campuses.

President Trump announced a bill to temporarily reopen the government until Feb. 15. The VAWA was extended in this bill, so its funding has been renewed.

Violence occurs behind closed doors. 35 days without VAWA means 35 days without adequate protection for victims.

2.5 million WOMEN IN THE U.S. EXPERIENCE VIOLENCE ANNUALLY*

2/3 OF FEMALE VICTIMS KNOW OR ARE RELATED TO THEIR PERPETRATORS*

1/2

OF VICTIMS REPORT THE CRIME TO THE POLICE* *According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics

The VAWA is a landmark piece of legislation that sought to improve criminal justice and community-based responses to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking in the United States.

NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)

NEWS | FEBRUARY 2019

5

State divided 41,000 T Federal law enforcement and correctional officers impacted

54,000

Customs and border protection agents impacted

380,000 Furloughed employees

Source: ABC News

6

EL ESTOQUE | FEBRUARY 2019

he second government shutdown of Donald Trump’s presidency began on Dec. 22 and persisted until Jan. 27, becoming the longest government shutdown in U.S. history at 35 days. A government shutdown stems from the Antideficiency Act, which is implemented when Congress fails to pass bills or funding for federal projects, or when the President refuses to sign laws or bills. For some government workers, the shutdown meant they were required to work without pay; for others, they were placed on furlough, which meant that they didn’t work or receive pay.

A stalemate between Trump and Congress prompted this shutdown, with Trump demanding government funding for the U.S.-Mexico border wall that he promised as part of his 2016 presidential campaign.

While Trump blames Democrats for stalling funding for the wall, saying over Twitter that they are “having fun” as government employees suffer under the shutdown, Democrats have criticized Trump for enacting the shutdown in the first place.

Senior and president of Politics Club Adamya Srivastava attributes the shutdown to the “split government,” a phenomenon

that occurs when Republicans control one aspect of Congress and Democrats the other. In this case, Republicans control the Senate, while Democrats control the House of Representatives. “[The current government shutdown] is going to set a pretty harsh precedent where the President can ask for funding for any program that he or she finds isn’t getting enough support in Congress,” Srivastava said. “He can basically bypass appropriating funds for the program.”

De Anza College professor of political science Gregory Druehl says that while a shutdown similar to the current one has happened before, it had not lasted this long.

The shutdown in 199596, lasting 26 days, was once the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. At that time, Democratic president Bill Clinton was clashing with a Republican-dominated Congress over a conflict regarding funding for Medicare, among other issues of debate like public health, education and the environment. In Druehl’s opinion, it was ultimately Clinton’s charismatic nature that brought enough pressure onto Congress to end the shutdown.

“He was so popular that the Republicans had to give in because it made them look so bad President Clinton would go on TV and say, ‘Those stupid Republicans in Congress,

“[The shutdown] is going to set a pretty harsh precedent where [...] he can basically bypass appropriating funds for the program.”

Factors leading up to shutdown include lack of compromise and a divided government

BY ANDREA PERNG AND SARAH YOUNG

they don’t know what they’re doing, they need to pass the legislation that I want them to and then the parks will reopen and we all will live happily ever after,’” Druehl said. “And the Republicans actually gave up, passed a law that made President Clinton happy, he signed it and they lived happily ever after.”

At the moment, Druehl didn’t view the closure of non-essential government functions like the National Park Service or NASA as a major issue. Though he ack nowledges the people who are negatively impacted, he says that this situation wasn’t near the scale that it is purported to be. Out of a $4 trillion budget, $5 billion has been set aside for the wall in question, a miniscule amount by comparison, Druehl says. Furthermore, while it is true that 800,000 federal government employees, according to CNBC, have been impacted by their furloughs, not all government employees are going without pay. Those part of the nine affected departments -- Homeland Security, Justice, State and Treasury, and several agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency and

NASA -- had their salaries delayed, as they were deemed “essential” and required to attend to their work.

Druehl believes that both parties are treating the situation as a way to make themselves look favorable by comparison.

A good public image would be crucial for both of them, especially as the 2020 presidential election looms nearer, says Druehl, and Democrats are taking the opportunity to dramatize the shutdown that was started by a Republican president in order to gain an advantage in the next election.

“Trump’s talking about rapists coming across the border and terrible people entering the country, the Democrats are going, ‘He’s starving government workers and denying poor people a chance to live in America,” Druehl said. “So both sides have some good arguments, but I think a lot of it is posturing.”

Although De Anza political science department chair James Nguyen agrees that image comes into play in this situation, he believes that the shutdown’s effects are felt beyond government workers’ pay and political stances. While he says that a lack of political pressure contributed to the shutdown in the

“Both sides will not give in. The President has his reelection hopes and support of his base on providing this wall, and the Democrats are dead set against it.”

first place, both the Democratic Party and the President’s unwillingness to compromise on the potential border wall were also major factors that led to crumbling negotiations.

Ultimately, Democrats secured a victory in ending the shutdown, but whether or not Trump will try the same tactics when the shutdown restarts.

“Here are both sides [that] are completely dug in,” Nguyen said. “Both sides will not give in. The President has his reelection hopes and support of his base on providing this wall, and the Democrats are dead set against it.”

Nguyen believes that even after the shutdown’s resolution, the effects of the shutdown will echo into the upcoming election and the future of politics. Currently, the effects of furloughing government workers can still be felt across the nation; TSA workers called in sick en masse, impacting major airports. As a result, travel was been inconvenient at best and hazardous at worst, with videos circulating on social media of long lines.

“I mean, that’s what we’re talking about, the safety of airplanes and domestic flights,” Nguyen said. “So border security agents, who don’t work I mean, that could be the real border security crisis. Some people believe that there really is no real crisis except for the one that’s been created now, with the shutdown, [and] that the shutdown is creating more of a safety and security concern, than the crisis that the President went on TV to discuss.”

President Trump has since announced that he will reopen the government, starting negotiations lasting 21 days with the Democratic party to move ahead with his border wall. The government reopening began on January 27. Trump has expressed an intent to shutdown the government again after those 21 days have passed. e

NEWS | FEBRUARY 2019

7

tps://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ui=2&ik=9ad42c2033&attid=0.1&permmsgid=msg-f:1624049561526269411&th=1689c878bc 6f5e3&view=att&disp=safe&realattid=f_jrik2gdg0

Stories of the affected ILLUSTRATION | EMILY XIA

Different viewpoints following the government shutdown

BY SUNJIN CHANG AND LAKSHANYAA GANESH

F

or the past month, around 800,000 federal employees did not receive payment for their government-funded work, according to John Fritze of USA Today in an interview with Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy. The services that the nation takes for granted were becoming increasingly hard to access as fewer national employees were present at their workplaces. Workers called in sick to avoid work, since they were aware they wouldn’t be paid, and many other non-essential government workers were also being furloughed, or being granted unpaid time away from their jobs. The government has issued a temporary three week re-opening as of Jan. 27, 2019.

8

EL ESTOQUE | FEBRUARY 2019

bc

FEDERAL WORKER Federal worker Savita Varma remembers all too clearly being glued to the TV the night the Trump administration announced the official shutdown of the government on December 22. While she received a paycheck for the two weeks that she worked before the shutdown was announced, which helped sustain her and her daughter, freshman Shivani Varma, through January, not being able to work for a month brought a considerable amount of strain on their family.

Living in the Bay Area, paying her bills for rent and utilities proved to be difficult.

Through some loans provided by the Menlo Survey Federal Credit Union, Savita and Shivani were able to live with minimal lifestyle changes, but they still found their current living situation stressful.

“It doesn’t matter to me personally that much because at some point we’ll be able to do things we used to do,” Shivani said. “It definitely is a change, but I don’t mind it.”

After being a federal employee for 11 years, this wasn’t the first government shutdown Savita has experienced. She also went through the 16-day government shutdown of 2013.

For Savita, there are many differences between the 2013 shutdown and the recent shutdown. For one, the length of the shutdown was a surprise to her. During the shutdown in 2013, Savita says she believed federal employees’ jobs were a top priority for the Obama administration, but didn’t see the same sense of urgency reflected in the current administration. “[Republicans and Democrats] are not even talking to each other,” Savita said.

“They’re not trying to negotiate and that’s very unsettling. It tells you you don’t know if there’s a lot more uncertainty now than then. There was uncertainty in 2013 but this is worse.”

For Shivani, seeing her mother under distress posed a different kind of challenge.

She has experienced furloughs and shutdowns in the past with her mother, but not to this degree.

“This [shutdown] especially, all of a sudden so many things are happening like Russia,” Shivani said. “There’s a lot of other stuff being called to the front so I think this one is more important.”

As the temporary re-opening has an unclear future, Shivani understands the agitation her mother may feel and hopes her mother will distance herself from the news. Though staying updated is important, Shivani is worried that her mother is receiving unnecessary stress from different media outlets.

“If you get your job back, someone will contact you,” Shivani said. “Just watching the news itself is making her angry and

she’s making it worse for herself but I can see why she’s doing that.”

“I think what’s even more interesting is that the wall is more of a symbol, because it has no utility,” Parasuram said. “We’re having this shutdown to send the wrong message to the rest of the world, to build something that doesn’t even have any use value.”

TSA ADMINISTRATION The Transportation Security Administration (TSA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, manages the security of public transportation nationwide. From airplane security to the luggage examination, TSA guarantees the safety of the airport.

However, with a drastic decrease in TSA workers, the security of the public transportation nationwide was jeopardized.

In a statement, the TSA expressed gratitude for their officers who continued to carry out the mission of securing the transportation system during this period.

“Transportation Security Officers are among the most mission-oriented and dedicated people in government,” TSA said.

“We also acknowledge the stress that the

partial government shutdown places on our officers and their families and are extremely grateful for their commitment.”

TSA promised to continue their security management across the country through functional checkpoints. Except for workers who were unable to afford childcare or gas due to the shutdown, the TSA union requests that all other employees report to work. They are also working to minimize average wait times to prevent degradation in their security effectiveness, but acknowledge that their average wait times are “well within TSA standards.”

MVHS COMMUNITY Junior Anjana Parasuram believes that the shutdown reflected poorly on America as a whole, and doesn’t think the intentions behind the shutdown were worth the hardships that federal employees were facing at the time.

She considers the main reason behind the shutdown —- funding for the MexicanAmerican border wall — wasn’t the best use of the U.S. government’s money.

Instead, she believes the money should go towards other pressing issues the nation faces, such as the Flint water crisis, education reform and working to reduce the large student debt college graduates face.

“I think what’s even more interesting is that the wall is more of a symbol, because it has no utility,” Parasuram said. “We’re having this shutdown to send the wrong message to the rest of the world, to build something that doesn’t even have any use value.”

For Parasuram, this shutdown came as a surprise. She took Trump’s declaration of building a border wall as a mere campaign tactic, as opposed to an actual plan he was intent on enacting.

“I was surprised because when Donald Trump first got elected, I didn’t actually think he would build a wall,” Parasuram said. “I didn’t think that he would actually get the support for building the wall. On top of that, I was surprised that a lot of people around the country support building the wall and aren’t worried about the extreme amounts of money and resources being depleted.” e

NEWS | FEBRUARY 2019

9

Into the woods I

n national parks across the country, trash and human waste were overflowing, and unattended areas were being vandalized. These misfortunes were just a few of the many negative effects that the government shutdown posed on national parks.

The shutdown that began on Dec. 22, 2018, and ended 35 days later, halted many essential agencies and services, furloughing thousands of federal workers, including scientists, cultural specialists and park rangers working for the National Parks Service (NPS). As a result, national parks and protected monuments, which still remained open to the public, were unable to keep up with regular maintenance.

Jonathan B. Jarvis, executive director for the Institute for Parks, People and Biodiversity at the University of California at Berkeley, previously worked for the NPS for 40 years. Jarvis, who served as the 18th director of the NPS under President Obama, had first-hand experience dealing with a government shutdown due to the previous shutdown in 2013. During that time, Jarvis decided to close all national parks to prevent the potential dangers that would arise from citizens visiting areas unattended by trained park staff.

Without employees to maintain the parks, the current administration’s decision to leave them open was “a terrible idea,” according to Jarvis, who is aware of the misfortunes that occured in various national parks.

“In this case, I think for purely political reasons, the Trump administration has left the parks open but furloughed the staff,” Jarvis said. “And so we are seeing serious issues out there. There’s accumulations of trash, the toilets are overflowing, there have been incidents of vandalism and impact.”

Junior and president of Environmental Science Club Iris Xia shares similar beliefs — the government’s decisions regarding national parks amid the government shutdown have only led to trouble, and the most logical decision would have been to simply close them until the government reopened.

10

EL ESTOQUE | FEBRUARY 2019

Following the government shutdown, national parks struggle with maintenance

BY ROBERT LIU AND JULIA YANG

“I don’t think there’s a whole ton that can be done without government intervention,” Xia said. “There’s been a lot of talk of just closing the parks altogether so then we can prevent all of these disasters from happening.”

French teacher Sarah Finck, an avid backpacker, also shared concern for the unstaffed parks. In addition, she saw the possibility of permanent destruction of nature due to visitors’ carelessness and the lack of staff to prevent these issues.

“The [park] I was [at] in Hawaii [has] a volcanic area with soft sand or fine rock cinder cones that if you walk where you’re not supposed to and make a mark, it’s there forever,” Finck said. “[These things are] irreplaceable, so I think there’s going to be some damage to some beautiful sights.”

In order for the parks to return back to normal service, Finck estimates that large amounts of cleanup will be needed, including trash, fallen trees and trail maintenance.

“I imagine that rangers aren’t going to happy,” Finck said. “It makes their work seem fragile, and they want to have a stable job. If they feel that they’re at the whim of the government, that’s probably not going to encourage people to want to do that work either.”

Likewise, Jarvis believes that based on the aftermath of the shutdown on the parks, the way the current administration handled the issue is not reflective of the international status of the U.S. national park system. Jarvis disapproves of their actions — he believes that they have actually led the NPS to act against its founding principles.

“When the [NPS] was established in 1916, the law that established it directed the Park Service, in very specific terms, to use its responsibilities to ensure that these parks are preserved unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations,” Jarvis said.

“We have this long view, we have a responsibility to generations not yet born, and I think that this current administration is not living up to that responsibility.” e

$400,000 per day lost in entrance fee revenue According to an estimate by npca.org

16,000 Park Service employees were furloughed

According to an estimate by npca.org

35

days, the longest shutdown in U.S. history

According to nytimes.com

BY SARA ENTEZAR

c

SO...

WHAT EXACTLY IS GOING ON?

OPINION

When the world needed it most, news coherency vanished

ertainly, news comprehension has failed to take root.

Prior to the ‘fake news’ era bombardment of recent years, news coherency concerns extended to the principles of news comprehension and readibility.

The diction in a number of texts proves too advanced for the common reader, calling for news simplification.

While there remains a common assumption that news articles are written at a fifth to seventh-grade level, multiple reports disprove this.

In Jerry L. Johns and Thomas E. Wheat’s 1984 journal, Newspaper Readability: Two Crucial Factors, a four-decades long compilation of reports interpreted the range of newspapers to extend from a fifth-grade level to college level, worldwide; this is far from the widely accepted elementary level.

Ben Wasike of University of Texas Rio Grande Valley conducted a similar study in 2016, analyzing 400 local newspapers in Texas for their readability. Wasike used the FleschKincaid grade reading level and the Flesch reading ease scale; both are readability tests designed to indicate how difficult a passage in English is to understand.

According to the study, news articles were written at an 11.6 grade level.

“With a 77 percent high school attainment level among residents in the population under study,” the Abstract writes, “these readability levels mean that the news articles were written at a level marginally comprehensible to a majority of potential readers.”

Some argue news simplification waters down concepts that demand complexity. However, reports cite that the simplifications are crucial to comprehension.

Michael H. Long and Steven Ross’ 1993 report, Modifications that Preserve Language and Content, reveals that text simplification increases levels of comprehension. Having provided a set of students’ multiple-choice assessments to examine their comprehension, the two found that students who had read simplified texts scored significantly higher than their complex counterparts.

That comprehension is ultimately what makes the news presented to the public a source of information as opposed to a blur of advanced linguistics under a bold headline. The call for news simplification among news articles is unfortunately minimal, however imperative.

It must be taken upon news publications to simplify their articles for the sake of the public’s comprehension. e

EL ESTOQUE | FEBRUARY 2019

11

24

EL ESTOQUE | FEBRUARY 2018 PHOTO | STUTI UPADHYAY

L

ike. Share. Retweet. Hashtag. Our generation is consumed perspectives and desires are still valuable and should be considered. by social media and technology, constantly updated on We must continue to discuss, debate and contribute our ideas, which the newest memes and hottest clothing trends. Despite the in turn will lead to more active and educated voters in the future. accessibility and convenience technology brings to our life, we According to the same Common Sense Media survey, 74 percent sometimes forget to keep track of more important matters – namely, of kids interviewed believe that the news should more actively the news. feature the younger generation, and 69 percent feel like the news Ranging from Twitter to TV channels to NPR, there are countless has “no idea” about the experiences of younger generations. One media platforms around the world that can provide us with news, simply needed to watch Congress “grill” Mark Zuckerberg about and thousands of events being reported. However, many students how to use Facebook to recognize how out of touch those who remain woefully ignorant about what is happening in our world. govern us are about the day-to-day realities of are lives that are only According to the American Press Institute, only one-third of going to exponentially advance. teens actually pick up newspapers, and many teens spend less than High schoolers need to be able to express their opinions now if five minutes a day browsing online news. If we want to be educated they want to see the desired change in their future. And news is individuals capable of making important decisions and taking a the essential foundation. Understand what’s happening in the world. stand for what we believe in, we must actively follow the news.

Understand why it matters. Understand your perspective on it.

Granted, the news is often filled with disappointing information.

Only after we understand what’s currently happening in the In fact, according to a report released by Common Sense Media, world can we improve our world for the future. which interviewed 900 children ages 10 to 18, 63 percent of children Although this may seem like a stretch, if harnessed correctly, the claimed that reading the news made them feel angry or depressed. youth have tremendous amounts of power and influence.

However, the news is an undeniably valuable tool. It informs the According to the U.S. Department of Education, there are over public about what’s happening 56 million high school students in their community and how it in the United States. 56 million may affect them. It serves as a people, who — thanks to mechanism to police the powerful ever-increasing technological and ensure their actions align advances — are more connected with the public’s best interests. than any generation before.

It showcases the problems our Our generation helped make global community encounters Kylie Jenner the youngest ever and the developing solutions. And billionaire. Our generation most importantly, it enables us got an egg to be the most to form our own opinions about liked picture on Instagram events and become not only (49,523,244 likes and counting). more aware individuals, but also And our generation also civically engaged. organized thousands of schools Staying updated with the and students to participate in news does not mean reading a unified walkout to honor the about Ariana Grande’s latest Marjory Stoneman Douglas Pokemon tattoo or Kanye West’s High School shooting in newest Yeezy sneakers. It means Parkland, Fl. understanding Brexit or President Although relatively Trump’s decision to pull the U.S. inexperienced, when high Teens must follow the news out of Syria and what it means schoolers and other young closely to help create a better for groups involved. On a local minds come together, we are future for our generation level, it means understanding the able to achieve remarkable construction projects at Vallco things. Especially in an affluent Mall or Measure CC and their area like Cupertino, where the

BY STUTI UPADHYAY affects on Cupertino residents. student population is so driven And after understanding the and has so many opportunities, facts, it means developing your we have all the tools to do things own opinions on these issues and that truly matter and can truly voicing concerns through letters, impact our community (such as discussions and, as soon as you are eligible, through voting.

MVHS alumnus Dhanurjay “DJ” Patil becoming the first U.S. Chief In our government, most politicians, whether they be Data Scientist). But before this can happen, we must understand Congressmen, Senators or Supreme Court Justices are mostly what matters to us and what impacts us on a personal level, and we significantly older than us. Our system is built in a way where older can’t do that without actively engaging with news. people run the show.

A lot of us are on social media, and all it takes is a few seconds to And the problem with a system dominated by older people is follow CNN on Instagram or subscribe to NBC on Snapchat. We can that younger generations, including high schoolers, often have no say easily interact with the organizations of our choice in an accessible in changes that will most definitely affect them. Issues like climate and non time-consuming manner. We can turn ourselves into much change, the opioid crisis and the refugee crisis are going to become more educated and aware individuals, capable of forming our own increasingly prevalent in the upcoming decades when today’s high perspectives on issues that matter. We can be exposed to different schoolers are tax-paying, voting citizens. But important decisions ideas and viewpoints and broaden our own way of looking at things. concerning these problems are being made now, and we should be And if we can use our knowledge of the news to develop opinions paying attention. and ideas, we can take the first step to creating a better world for Even though most high schoolers aren’t allowed to vote, our our future selves. e

KEEPING UP WITH THE NEWS

OPINION | FEBRUARY 2019

13

PHOTO | OM KHANDEKAR

PHOTO | ROSHAN FERNANDEZ

MAKING THE High school students should consider what motivates them to play sports

A

sharp, throbbing fire pulses through a string of inexplicable, underwhelming your arm, flowing down past the elbow performances leaves us questioning our and swelling at the wrist. The crowd of athletic abilities. With an ever-growing people fades into the background, the web of conflicts surrounding participation soccer game long in sports, it’s forgotten as a silent imperative that scream works its we reevaluate the way up your throat. reasons why we play Peering down sports in the first OPINION OF THE EL ESTOQUE nervously, you place, choosing to examine your hand, continue our sport EDITORIAL BOARD flexing your fingers only if we believe it’s back and forth. You hope the injury isn’t a healthy decision. serious, but within seconds, the pain returns No matter what first gravitated us toward as an unbearable sting and you realize that our sport, our motivation to play evolves, the injury can’t be shaken off. You regret often changing significantly from our first playing in this game — if you weren’t here, encounter with our chosen sport. you’d still be healthy and you’d have a much When we were young, easier time balancing your academics. As we were often enticed by you trudge back to the sideline, you can’t tangible awards, inspired to help but wonder whether playing a sport was keep returning to our sport for the right decision. a chance of earning trophies At one time or another, many student or medals. JDS Industries, athletes have experienced injuries while one of the largest trophy playing sports. As we enter high school, wholesalers in the nation, participating in a sport becomes especially announced that their annual difficult for many reasons. Right as we settle sales revenue increased into practices and get our hopes up for a from approximately $30,000 promising season, a bout of sickness plagues in the 1990s to over $50 our optimism and brings our expectations million in 2015. According crashing down. Right as our athletic abilities to JDS president Scott begin to surge, our time is whisked away by Sletten, this was largely due homework and extracurriculars, leaving us to an increased demand scrambling to find time for our sport. Right for participation trophies in the late 20th as we begin to see a path of improvement, century. With an increase of participation

STAFF EDITORIAL

trophies, instant gratification lures kids into continuing to play sports. At first, this validation may be an understandable reason to pursue a sport, but the allure of gaining physical prizes shouldn’t be a deciding factor when choosing to continue a sport.

Often, students are also pressured into continuing a sport by their parents or peers.

Ever since our first practice, we’ve never had a tangible reason to stop playing our sport, so we continue to train to satisfy others’ expectations for us. We begin to lose sight of our own desires, accepting a sport as a way of life.

“The adults have won,” said Mark Hyman, an assistant teaching professor at George Washington University. “If we wiped the slate clean and reinvented youth sports from scratch by putting the physical and emotional needs of kids first, how different would it look? Nothing would be recognizable.”

Sometimes, the consequences of playing sports for others won’t be immediately apparent, but in the long run, it’s best to pursue what we truly love doing for ourselves, which will keep us motivated and allow us to stay optimistic during conflicts.

NO MATTER WHAT FIRST GRAVITATED US TOWARD OUR SPORT, OUR MOTIVATION TO PLAY EVOLVES, OFTEN CHANGING SIGNIFICANTLY FROM OUR FIRST ENCOUNTER WITH OUR CHOSEN SPORT.

14

EL ESTOQUE | FEBRUARY 2019

PHOTO | EL ESTOQUE

PHOTO | ROSHAN FERNANDEZ

RIGHT CALL At times, pressure from others can to play. A group of close teammates can escalate, causing us to pursue a sport solely inspire us, with group morale improving for a line on our resume. We find that we’re when everybody works hard. A supportive quite talented at a sport, and it’s just too coach can touch the hearts of a team, giving good of an opportunity to pass up. We players more reason to put in their best begin to care less about how we feel while efforts. When all else fails, having a friend by playing the sport, instead focusing on our side when we experience failure can help how we stack up against us overcome adversity. others. This mindset can No matter what our lead to success, but it reasons are for pursuing can often leave us feeling sports, there are a lot hollow when we reflect of potential benefits. on whether or not we truly Sports give us a chance enjoy our sport. to be healthier, refresh On the other hand, ourselves from the many of us play sports strain of academics, for simpler reasons. bond with our peers Understanding the health and gain recognition for benefits of consistent our accomplishments. exercise, we join a sport to However, it is critical destress. According to the that we examine the Center for Disease Control underlying reasons we and Prevention (CDC), play sports, and that students who participate we carefully consider GEORGE WASHINGTON in high school sports are our motivation. Just as 10 percent less likely to with any commitment, UNIVERSITY ASSISTANT face obesity, have lower PROFESSOR MARK HYMAN participating in a sport risk of heart disease or requires numerous tradecancer and can save on offs, whether they be healthcare costs. The CDC recommends in the form of time, injuries or stress. Only one hour of physical activity daily to reap when we are aware of what sports mean to these benefits, and participating in a sport us can we make decisions about whether to can be the perfect way to remain healthy. continue playing sports and what we would For a lot of us, the community behind truly find joy in pursuing. e our sports can be the largest motivation

IF WE... REINVENTED YOUTH SPORTS FROM SCRATCH

BY PUTTING THE PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL NEEDS OF KIDS FIRST, HOW DIFFERENT WOULD IT LOOK? NOTHING WOULD BE RECOGNIZABLE.

73% of students’ motivation for playing sports has changed since they were younger Out of a survey of 119 students

19% of students are motivated to play sports by their coach and teammates Out of a survey of 126 students

OPINION | FEBRUARY 2019

15

PHO TO

ND COURT ESY OF PLUG A

Y PL A

PHO TO

| RA N

H A AGH A BA BA Z A DE

PHOTO BR I A COURT ESY OF

NX

U

A BETTER SUMMER

Internships, work and travel are better alternatives to pricey high school summer programs

BY RANA AGHABABAZADEH AND LAASYA KODURU

T

he beginning of the new year is a prime time for applying to summer programs.

Parents frantically search the web for a program that suits their child’s, or perhaps their own, interests and ambitions, while summer programs collect excessive application fees.

For many high school students, summer has gone from fraternizing with family and friends to spending countless hours at an expensive summer program, hoping to get a leg up on the college application process.

While it’s true that such programs may look good on a college application, alternative activities such as internships, volunteering or travel may provide students with the rewarding and more affordable experience they’re looking for.

Summer camps and programs are usually a few weeks long and often cost thousands of dollars. Popular programs like COSMOS, an intensive four-week summer program offered at several UC campuses, cost nearly $4,000 for in-state students. Others include Northwestern’s pre-college programs that amount to nearly $6,000 as well as Brown’s pre-college programs that cost almost $3,000 for just one week.

These programs appeal to a wide audience by spreading fallacies that if students take part in these programs, they’ll

16

EL ESTOQUE | FEBRUARY 2019

have a “higher chance” of getting accepted into a high-ranking college in the future. Yet attending these programs for thousands of dollars and for just a few weeks are “the ultimate résumé padding, and universities know it,” according to an article from The Guardian. When it comes to expensive summer plans, internships may be the better choice. They not only provide stipends, but they also give career experience in a realworld environment, smoothing the transition to working professionally in the future.

According to NBC News, summer is the ideal time for students to follow their interests, and this can be achieved “whether they enroll in a formal [summer] program or not.” Especially for students nearing the end of high school, summer may be the best time to seek future career plans. But because of the specificity of summer program courses and subjects, students are restricted to certain academic areas. Internships offer a broad playing field and can call for more interdisciplinary skills. Interns learn to work with different personality types, respond to conflict and learn the value of money. (Yes, you worked 40 hours this week, and you can only buy one new hoodie).

Travel is also beneficial to learning about, observing and experiencing the ways different people live around the world.

Such exposure can be key to being globally competitive in any future career.

However, some students protest that summer programs can be beneficial. They can cultivate friendships between people of similar interests, help narrow down future career choices and expand networks with professionals. Though all of these benefits may exist, internships, travel or a part-time job can offer the same results, all while being more accessible and less expensive.

We often overlook the reasoning behind padding résumés — we view it as an advantage to get into college, rather than gaining life experiences. Internships provide better grounds for a person to represent their capabilities in the workplace rather than their ability to afford a multi-thousand dollar summer program. Soon, in college, our summers will be absorbed with jobseeking and other career-targeted activities, and time for leisure and travel will be less available. As high schoolers financially dependent on our parents, we are in a better position to travel. So this upcoming summer, instead of debating between which expensive summer program to apply to, consider interning, working or traveling. e

AWKWARD ADVICE Accepting and embracing my inherent clumsiness “Your time starts now.”

I stood in front of a room full of eighth graders, and I was supposed to come up with an impromptu presentation about calligraphy in preparation for the AP Chinese exam I’d be taking the following year.

The room was dead silent. I willed myself to speak, but words didn’t form. I could feel the searing eyes of my peers and teacher as my heart thundered. I hadn’t reviewed the textbook the night before, and it was quite obvious: I was a deer in headlights.

A very awkward 30 seconds passed, and the teacher told me to sit down. My eyes watered as I walked back to my desk, defeated and silently criticizing myself. Why didn’t I just say something? Why couldn’t I just make something up that sounded somewhat convincing?

Honestly, I doubt that anyone in that class remembers it happened at all, but whenever my brain spontaneously dives into cringemode and replays all the embarrassing events that have ever occurred in my life, that day is crystal-clear in my memories.

It’s not surprising. If you’ve ever had an encounter with me before, you’d probably know that I’m a really socially-awkward

person. I have no idea how to greet people.

Do I shake hands? Smile and wave? Give them a hug? Randomly burst into dance?

How did I never learn these unspoken rules?

I’ve never understood how people know exactly what to say to dissolve the awkward tension in a room. We all know at least one person who can initiate a conversation with anyone and have it run completely smoothly and naturally, like magic. While they’re making friends and chatting up a storm, I’m over here walking into poles and apologizing to them. And as much as I’d like to say that I just wrote that to add in a bit of humor, it’s EMILY XIA actually happened a few times.

It’s frustrating when people tell me I’m only funny when I make silly mistakes and do “stupid stuff.” That my failed attempts at purposeful humor end up becoming awkward. It’s frustrating when I meet someone new at the same time as one of my less-awkward friends and they only remember my

friend. It’s frustrating that I’m always so easily forgotten.

Always “so-and-so’s friend” or “so-andso’s classmate.” Why can’t I just be Emily?

Now that I think about it, I’m the only one to blame for my exasperation. I’ve tried and been unsuccessful at starting up the conversation so often that sometimes, it’s just easier not to say anything. But when I don’t speak up, there’s just no way that people will remember me. I can’t expect people to magically know my name if I don’t take action and tell them.

Even though I dislike my awkwardness, I have a lot of qualities that I am proud of: friendliness, generosity, selflessness. I shouldn’t let one negative aspect of my life affect how others perceive the more positive characteristics I have. It’s sad to think about all the missed opportunities — the friendships I could have made but didn’t because I was impeded by one obstacle.

When I tell my friends about this insecurity, they agree that I’m occasionally awkward, but when they say it out loud, it doesn’t sound like a fault. In fact, they tell me that my clumsiness is one of the qualities they find the most endearing about me, which immediately makes my situation more positive.

So I guess I can embrace my awkwardness sometimes. Even though it’s annoying in certain situations, it makes my life and the lives of those who matter to me more entertaining, not to mention the fact that it’s one of my defining characteristics.

And besides, I know I’m not the only awkward one out there. I’m sure many of you readers understand when I say that clumsiness is almost impossible to hide. One way or another, it ends up manifesting at the worst times possible.

Maybe we shouldn’t be afraid of it.

Maybe it’s okay to spice up your life with a cringe-filled moment once in a while. I know I do it all the time.

Don’t worry too much — we’ll just be awkward turtles together. e

COMING OUT OF MY SHELL

T RAT

ILLUS

IA ILY X

EM ION |

OPINION | FEBRUARY 2019

17

SPRING 2019 Many selective colleges require SAT Subject Tests for all applicants. There are over 20 different subject tests offered in mathematics, science, history, literature and foreign languages. Don't neglect this important part of your application profile. Elite's expert instructors know their subjects—and the tests—inside and out. Call Elite today for class schedules and for free counseling on what tests are best for you.

MATH LEVEL 2

BIOLOGY

MATH LEVEL 2 PHYSICS

BIOLOGY

LITERATURE

US HISTORY

CHEMISTRY

SAT SUBJECT TEST PROGRAMS

US WORLD strongly recommend students to take Many selective colleges CHEMISTRY LITERATURE LANGUAGES LANGUAGESPHYSICS theHISTORY SAT SubjectHISTORY Tests. Subject tests are of fered for Math (Level WORLD HISTORY

1 and 2), Science (Biology, Chemistr y, Physics) Histor y (US and World), Literature and various Foreign Languages. Call Elite today for class schedules and for free counseling on what tests are best for you.

THE ELITE EDGE

AP PREPARATION

Elite has over thirty years of

Advanced Placement (AP) Courses of fer students a chance to

experience helping students realize

earn college credit and strengthen their college applications.

their potential. We don’t just show

Elite's instructors are among the most knowledgeable

you test tricks. We review

available, and will take students step-by-step through the AP

f undamental principles and show

tests to ensure success on the AP Test and master y of the

you how they apply to the test. Our

subjects.

proven system of weekly practice tests and classes led by instructors who are experts in their fields

We offer the following AP courses:

achieves unsurpassed results. Get

Biology, Calculus, Chemistr y, English Language, English Literature, European

the Elite edge.

Histor y, Physics, US Histor y, World Histor y

FEATURES

TEMPTATION. We’ve all reached for the red apple.

The serpent slumbers, coiled in the shadowy recesses of consciousness. For every tentative step we take towards the apple, he slithers forward, ravenous and ready to prey on conscience in glaring daylight. The serpent hisses.

Conscience falters, temptation strikes and ‘pluck.’

The apple lies in our hands. With the swear word uttered, the lie vocalized and the order disobeyed, the serpent, satisfied, turns tail.

A good day’s work.

According to psychologist Dr. Sara Hyatt, we utter our first lies at 4 to 5 years old, often with an emotional motivation. We’ve now plucked our first apple from the tree.

“It’s because there’s a perception [for children] that if they tell the truth, it won’t be okay,” Hyatt said. “They’ll [think] they’ll be punished, they’ll be made to feel bad, they’ll be told they’re wrong or that was stupid of you to do that.”

Children desire a certain outcome from their lies, often twisting the truth to avoid their parent’s temper or a potential punishment.

Come teenage years, however, the apples we pluck are heavier, of blatant disobedience and rebellion against our parents, the figures we previously looked up to for advice and approval. “[There] is a time of slowly moving away from our parents,” Hyatt said. “When kids do things that seem like it’s more like intentionally rebellious or just being oppositional, they’re expressing the fact that they want to be different, they are different, but they’re moving towards that.”

However, Hyatt emphasizes that this rebellious nature is a transitional period of growth, with children learning to express themselves and develop a responsibility for their own decisions, be they honorable or dishonorable. Gravitating toward the latter, from lying to spare someone’s feelings or stumbling on an adult website, we have all sinned in some manner and to some degree. But, perhaps, sins aren’t meticulously plotted. They may be a momentary lapse — a cave-in to temptation.

FEATURES | FEBRUARY 2019

19

ADVISorY: Adult contEnt

Discovering why teenagers watch porn

BY JAI UPARKAR

PHOTO | RUCHA SOMAN

20

EL ESTOQUE | FEBRUARY 2019

I

shouldn’t have seen this. either pro-porn or anti-porn.

This was all an anonymous MVHS student, who will be referred But she also says that those people do not understand the to as Todd in order to protect his identity, could think when he complexity of pornography. There are many different types of accidentally landed on the infamous website Pornhub. He found pornography, with some being very violent and degrading and the images on the screen to be vulgar, others less extreme. For Harlow, it is the obscene and uncomfortable. variety which contributes to the split However, that didn’t stop him from view on porn. exploring the website. After all, his Harlow emphasizes there are classmates often joked about watching teenagers who might be negatively porn, and the constant buzz and affected or not affected at all by watching excitement over the topic made it a porn. For example, watching more violent mystery. Soon, the arousal kicked in. forms of pornography will have different According to Dr. Chauntelle Tibbals, effects on a teenager than watching a gender and sexuality sociologist at feminist pornography, a genre of film the University of Southern California, dedicated for gender equality. this sexual desire is a natural part of the “There is some research [associated human body. Courtesy of simple biology with watching more violent forms of and psychology, Tibbals says that when porn] that shows negative effects, like humans are maturing into adults, they decreased condom use or being more become more sexually aware and curious. likely to agree with sexist or misogynistic “If you take a young person at attitudes or gender stereotypes or having this stage in their life and treat sex worse real-life sexual experiences,” ANONYMOUS MVHS as a mysterious, shameful, factually Harlow said. “There is also research STUDENT inaccurate and a simply uncomfortable that shows positive effects, like helping phenomenon, a young person may in LGBTQ teenagers feel less alone and turn seek information from the source some positive body image effects. And that’s both accessible and seems the most relevant,” Tibbals wrote in then there is some research that shows no effect at all.” an email. “[Now] thanks to technology, that’s porn.”

According to Harlow, it’s important to be educated about what But according to Tibbals, porn is not intended for or marketed to some of the negative and positive effects of porn might be, a concept young people, although it is still easily accessible for teenagers. She called media literacy: the ability to critically analyze media content mentions that since the topic of sex is regulated by social norms and that a person interacts with. surrounded by taboo, the information and answers teenagers seek “It’s about going beyond just watching pornography, and instead regarding sex become difficult to find. thinking about how that media might affect your behavior, attitudes For Tibbals, curiosity is the basic and simple underlying factor that and beliefs,” Harlow said. “It really comes down to being informed draws teenagers to porn. Alleviating about what you are watching or listening stress, seeking arousal or boredom to.” are other factors for watching porn, Both Tibbals and Harlow agree according to Psychology Today. For that educating youth is important for Todd, sexual desire coupled with stress controlling the influence of porn. Tibbals urges him to watch porn once a week. mentions that since porn isn’t intended According to a survey of 154 MVHS for young people, it’s important for students, 25 percent watch porn them to understand the production and regularly, though only 26 percent talk fantasy that goes into adult content about it with others. According to Todd, creation. the majority of people aren’t able to talk Harlow expands on media literacy about porn due to the awkwardness that and says that it informs teenagers about stems from the vulgarity of the topic. gender norms that are portrayed in This same discomfort produced Todd’s pornography, consent and how a lack of initial regret when he watched porn for consent is never acceptable. Even though the first time. they may see violence in pornography, “Porn is vulgarity times a million, students must recognize that healthy so I guess that’s why it’s frowned upon relationships in real life do not and and why I initially felt bad about seeing should not involve violence or any kind. it,” Todd said. “But then I got past my Todd has himself seen the effects of *ACCORDING TO A SURVEY OF 97 MVHS STUDENTS naivete and realized that it isn’t bad to the lack of media literacy surrounding watch, as long as it’s in moderation. I adult content. Recently, he started realized this when I saw people that I noticing the damaging effects of porn, knew for years, girls and guys, including including the way it skews views about people who have never uttered a vulgar word — ever — start to sex and takes out the element of intimacy. speak about sex and porn. I realized that most people watch porn.

“We understand Hollywood filmmaking and fantasy and stunt driving, thus we don’t see rampant mimicking of ‘Fast and Furious’It’s [a] biological desire.”

For Tibbals, the idea that porn must have some impact on young esque driving styles and heist behaviors,” Tibbals wrote. “If we people is compelling. Pornography has developed into a polarizing educated young people and understood the production and fantasy issue, and according to Alyssa Harlow, a doctoral student at the that goes into adult content creation, we might see fewer behaviors Boston University School of Public Health, many people are often that seem to be copying the content.” e

“I REALIZED MOST PEOPLE WATCH PORN. IT’S A BIOLOGICAL DESIRE.”

56% OF STUDENTS* FIRST WATCHED PORN FROM THE AGES OF 11-14.

FEATURES | FEBRUARY 2019 21

THE

TRUTH ABOUT LYING

Exploring the reasons behind lying and how it changes with age

BY CLAIRE CHANG AND CLAIRE WEN

22

EL ESTOQUE | FEBRUARY 2019

H

e had two options: do his homework or watch TV. He hesitated for a bit, thinking that being productive would be the right thing to do — but then again, there was only one assignment left. He turned on the TV. A little while later, his mom came in, asking if he’d finished his homework. Yes, he lied. As a third grader at the time, he’d tried to avoid lying when he could. Now a junior, Ronith Kalidindi still distinctly remembers this experience from his childhood.

“I feel like it kind of did impact me because before then, I’d never lied to my parents about anything related to academic stuff,” Kalidindi said. “I feel like that definitely affected how I like to go about doing homework now, [which] leads to procrastination. So I guess that lying kind of led to the procrastination issues and stuff that I deal with today.”

According to National Geographic, the average 13 to 17-yearold tells approximately three lies per day. The reasons people lie vary, but professor and Canada Research Chair Tier One Kang Lee describes the two main types as self, for self-protection or self-gain, and social, as in white lies to spare someone else’s feelings.

“When you tell white lies to people around you, they feel good,” Lee wrote in an email. “That is why your people often tell [you] how great your artwork is. We tell white lies all the time because they are prosocial lies that we can justify. We are nice people and want to make others feel good. [But] telling big lies is uncommon in our everyday life.”

Junior Fatima Ahmed agrees with Lee that white lies can be used in a prosocial way, or in a way that promotes social acceptance.

“Small lies are fine,” Ahmed said. “If you [are] sparing someone’s feelings or you’re trying to keep yourself in a good position or whatever. But big lies, you should just own up to it.”

65%

OF STUDENTS’ OPINIONS ON LYING HAVE CHANGED SINCE THEY STARTED LYING* *ACCORDING TO A SURVEY OF 208 MVHS STUDENTS

PHOTO | JAI UPARKAR

According to Lee, white lies are fairly common. However, there perceive lying, and that as a child, it’s very black and white: lying is are few differences between white lies and larger lies, aside from bad. But, as she’s grown older, she’s realized lying isn’t necessarily their potential impact. a bad thing.

For both types of lying, the person has to figure out what the other “There’s a gray area,” Krishnapura said. “So when you start person knows and what is true, a process called theory of mind. The encountering white lies, you start to see the gray line. You start to next process is executive functioning see when lying might not be as bad and counterfactual reasoning, where as you thought or times when you the person inhibits the truth and don’t see direct consequence, which comes up with an alternative. The is where I feel like we can fall into person then needs to mobilize their a dangerous situation as we grow whole body for convincing speech: older.” body language, eye gaze and facial Krishnapura’s view of a changing expression. relationship with lying is shared by “There is no major difference Ahmed, who acknowledges that between [how convincing] children when she first started lying as a and adults [are],” Lee said. “There child, she felt guilty about it being are kids who are good liars and there a conscious decision, but now, she are adults who are bad liars.” doesn’t feel as bad. She finds herself However, while there may be no lying about what she was doing to her difference between a child’s and an friends if she was watching Netflix adult’s ability to lie, when a child first and procrastinating — she considers learns to lie, the impact it has may be that normal now. a turning point and a crucial memory While Ahmed and Krishnapura for them. believe that their relationship with In Kalidindi’s case, his experience lying has changed as they’ve aged, of lying as a child is ingrained in his lying, according to a survey of 195 memory because of his association MVHS students, has become a daily between emotion and memory, occurrence for most teenagers, with SENIOR ANANYA according to Dr. Patti Simone, the 52 percent lying at least once a day, KRISHNAPURA Director of Neuroscience at Santa whether it be saying someone looks Clara University. In an email, Simone nice or telling their parents they’re said that when people lie, their doing homework.

Krishnapura sympathetic nervous system is aroused and releases the hormone maintains that this isn’t a wholly negative statistic. and neurotransmitter epinephrine. This chemical, also known as “I think lying helps you form opinions,” Krishnapura said. adrenaline, helps lay down the memory of the incident.

“Because when you’re little and have opinions, you don’t necessarily Senior Ananya Krishnapura believes that since the first significant get to express it in the same way, whereas lying is one of those steps time someone lies, a person’s relationship with lying evolves. She where you form your opinion at the same time you form your ability feels that there are differences between how children and adults to express it.” e

“THERE’S A GRAY AREA. YOU START TO SEE WHEN LYING MIGHT NOT BE AS BAD AS YOU THOUGHT.”

FEATURES | FEBRUARY 2019

23

DIRTY MOUTH

The psychology behind why teenagers swear

BY RUCHA SOMAN

I

n the summer of 2016, sophomore Krish Kumar’s friends dared him not to swear for a month. Almost two years later, he still resists the temptation to swear, telling himself it’s a bad habit because of the effect it has on his identity.

Swearing is a psychological response to emotion according to Timothy Jay, a professor of psychology at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. His theory, Neuro-Psycho-Social, describes a complex that urges swearing. Examples of each part of the complex include expressing emotion, personal state and academic or professional environments.

The social aspect of the NPS theory explains how pressure of the school environment often causes the use of profanity. Kumar believes that high school kids swear to seem cool in a setting with their friends.

However, once he thought it was a bad habit because of its effect on his image, he stopped swearing.

“I don’t think [swearing is] a way of responding to people,” Kumar said. “I use the letters of the main swear word like for the f-word I say ‘f.’”

Despite it being considered a bad habit, according to Jay, swearing is still a form of expression. Freshman Sophia Chen doesn’t swear often, but will in certain specific instances.

“I swear because it accents the situation and I can express my feelings,” Chen said. “If I [stub] my toe, I’m going to say a swear word to accentuate the situation.”

Jay discusses the religious context and background of words relating to offensive practices and sexual references. Chen’s definition of swearing is similar to Jay’s.

“Profanity has a negative connotation and I think the message,

24 EL ESTOQUE | FEBRUARY 2019

the meaning and the history behind it builds upon the word,” Chen said. “The way people use it, [and] the situations they use it [in], [contributes to that negative connotation].”

The way a word is received by people correlates to whether they find it crude. The word “goddamn” is considered offensive to religious people because the exact meaning of the word is berating and criticizing God. Similarly, the word “whore” has the literal meaning of a prostitute but is colloquially used to describe a woman that sleeps with more than one person. Jay addresses this in the psychological part of his NPS theory, when he talks about how a word like “whore” may be more offensive to sexually sensitive people who have faced any type of sexual drama in their past.

In his book “What to Do When Your Students Talk Dirty,” Jay discusses how he believes a teacher should step in when a student’s mouth goes off, mostly to ensure that the other students are in a safe, learning environment and are concentrating on school rather than getting distracted by foul language.

“Teachers should try to prevent swearing where it would be a form harassment, discrimination, bullying or any other illegal communication or where it would PHOTO | RUCHA SOMAN break a law,” Jay said.

Disregarding what people find offensive, Chen believes that swearing is a personal choice. She believes that her non-swearing friends use their personal morals based on what they think is right and wrong. Although Kumar doesn’t mind other people swearing, his decision to stop was in correlation to his character.

“I did swear, but I stopped because I just didn’t want to do it anymore,” Kumar said. “[I was] swearing so badly that [it was] taking over my language.” e

A&E

DSLR DECONSTRUCTED Examining the components that make up a DSLR camera

BY JAHAN RAZAVI

A

digital single-lens reflex camera, or DSLR, is the modern-day equivalent of a film camera. These use digital storage, often in the form of secure digital (SD) cards, which are a cheaper and sturdier alternative to rolls of film. In addition, the time required to gain access to digital photos is far shorter, as no development is necessary. However, DSLR cameras are generally more expensive than standard film cameras, due to their more complex electrical components. Despite this difference in cost, the resolution of DLSR cameras is not significantly different than that of film cameras, with the two having tens of megapixels.

According to PetaPixel, a new generation of mirrorless camera technology is gradually overtaking DSLR cameras.

These innovations are lighter weight and utilize smaller, faster lenses for burst shots. Additionally, the proliferation of smartphones offers the convenience of simply reaching into one’s pocket to snap a decent photo, which is gradually edging out the niche that digital cameras formerly occupied. However, certain components of a DSLR, such as the viewfinder and image sensor, can be found in mirrorless cameras. But what’s inside a DSLR camera?

VIEWFINDER Shows the camera user what a photo will look like, before it’s taken. Light is reflected by a mirror from the lens to the viewfinder.

SHUTTER RELEASE Button that flips the mirror and takes a photo. The light is reflected to the image sensor.

DISPLAY CIRCUIT BOARD The hardware behind the screen that feeds information to the display.

IMAGE SENSOR Converts the light reflected by the mirror to a signal, which is sent to the memory card, therefore storing the photo digitally.

PHOTO | JAHAN RAZAVI

A & E | FEBRUARY 2019

25

KNOW WHERE TO GO

Fun locations to hang out here in Cupertino

BY GAURI KAUSHIK AND KAMYAR MORADI

T

he common misconception to Cupertino residents is that there’s nowhere to go in our city. But in reality, many people just don’t know where to go. From scenic views in the mountains to enjoyable activities with friends and family, read below for five locations around the city that you can explore the next time you can’t decide where to hangout. Scan the QR codes for Google Map directions to each location.

VIEWPOINT— MONTEBELLO ROAD Montebello Road is a scenic road frequently visited

by MVHS students — the winding road makes for a thrilling drive up into the hills, ending in a beautiful view that overlooks the bright lights of the city. The Picchetti Winery is also located at the top, overlooking a view of the entire Bay.

PHOTO | KAMYAR MORADI

FREMONT OLDER OPEN SPACE PRESERVE With nearly 14.7 miles of hiking trails, this nature park lies just outside Cupertino and is open for horseback riding and cycling. In the spring, the historical house of Fremont Older — the land’s original owner — is open for tours. The preserve is also home to Hunter’s Point, which offers a sweeping view of south Bay Area, Maisie’s Peak, the highest point on the preserve and Garrod Farms.

PHOTO | KAMYAR MORADI

26

EL ESTOQUE | FEBRUARY 2019

DI

APPLE PARK VISITOR CENTER Although Cupertino is known for being home to Apple’s headquarters, the campus has faded into the background for many residents. The Apple Park Visitor Center includes a café and a rooftop terrace with a view of Apple Park, where students can spend time with their friends. It also features exhibits and “Today at Apple” sessions, which allow visitors to further explore Apple’s innovative new campus.

PHOTO | KAMYAR MORADI

ICE CENTER Despite the shutdown of the rest of Vallco Mall, the Ice Center brings an active and unconventional form of exercise for both children and adults. Whether one wishes to pin someone to the board playing ice hockey, host a birthday party with friends and family members or simply glide atop the smooth ice for a $15.00 admission with skates included, the skating rink will provide many in Cupertino with a chilly but fun experience.

PHOTO | KAMYAR MORADI

MAIN STREET CUPERTINO Open to the public since 2017, Cupertino’s Main Street has grown into a popular hangout spot for family and friends to take a stroll around the multitude of stores. Along the way, one can stop and grab a bite to eat from the many restaurants and dessert spots, such as the Kebab Shop and 85°C Bakery Café.

Whether one is in the mood for a chicken shawarma wrap or pearl milk tea, Main Street has it all. e

PHOTO | KAMYAR MORADI

A&E | FEBRUARY 2019

27

PASSED DOWN Family heirlooms and antiques handed down within generations

BY ALYSSA HUI AND ANNIE ZHANG

S

tored away in the attic or showcased on mantels, heirlooms help families remember loved ones or keep cultural or religious traditions alive. Ordinary objects and possessions accumulate over time, and to many, these heirlooms are special. The emotional values they hold, the stories behind them and what they represent is passed down and preserved through generation after generation.

“GIRL IN THE HOOP”

“Is there anything you want to take before we get rid of a lot of what’s here to remember your grandmother by?” her grandmother’s wife inquired.

On the dresser sat two iconic items — an image of a woman and a bronze art deco statue called “Girl in the Hoop.” The statue has been on the dresser of her grandmother’s bedroom for as long as she can remember. So when her grandmother’s wife was cleaning out the bedroom after her grandmother’s passing, literature teacher Vennessa Nava knew she had to keep the statue.

“I’d love to take that,” Nava responded.

After bringing the statue back to her house and setting it on her dresser, Nava wondered why she took this statue to remember her grandmother by, after never acknowledging and taking it for granted during her childhood.

Nava says that her grandmother came out as a lesbian when she was still married; afterwards, she got a divorce from her husband and married a woman.

“The fact that she was willing and had the kind of strength of character to assert who she was in a time that was very difficult to do so,” Nava said. “That has always been very inspiring to me that she lived true to herself instead of constantly bowing to the conventions that were expected of women.”

The statue depicts a girl, naked and crouching, inside a hoop. The hoop itself is crooked and imperfect, worn with age. Nava points out that the statue is made of bronze, which is cold and unyielding, and illustrates a vulnerable girl.

Nava alludes that the bronze statue in itself is beautiful, but there’s something “disturbing about its beauty.”

“It’s a girl. It’s not a woman,” Nava said.

“There’s a ubiquity of referring to full grown women as girls a lot. The way we want to infantilize, as a culture, women, who should be self-possessed and autonomous and not have to bow to all the expectations we often are encouraged and inculcated by our culture to do.”

For Nava, this heirloom and its irony are reminders of what her grandmother went through and how she inspired Nava not to force herself into a “hoop” of expectations.

“My grandmother’s entire life was [showing that] you have to break the hoop and stand up,” Nava said. “I think that there’s a beautiful poetry in the image that I didn’t ever confront until the passing of my grandmother.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF VENNESSA NAVA

28

EL ESTOQUE | FEBRUARY 2019

VEENA

Freshman Hiranya Sundar’s family has passed down a veena for at least a hundred years. Described as a southern Indian traditional instrument, Sundar’s family has learned to play the veena, even if it is not played often.

“We’re seeing how long it can last because veenas are very fragile and for this to be there for a hundred years or so is very rare,” Sundar said.

Because of its fragile state, Sundar explains her amazement at its old age.

“It’s inspiring,” Sundar said. “It’s been there for so long.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF HIRANYA SUNDAR

JADE NECKLACE

In Chinese culture, the jade crystal bears sentiment and prestige. Sophomore Kelly Yong’s jade necklace has been a family heirloom passed down for at least three generations. Yong’s dad initially received the jade necklace when he was one-year-old from his grandmother.

Yong’s great grandma was wealthy and raised all her grandsons, including Yong’s

father. She gave all of her grandsons these objects to remember her by.

“He’s kept [the necklace] and cherished it all this time,” Yong said. “When he [gives] it to me, that really means something. It’s one of the only things I can remember of my ancestors: my grandmother, his grandmother. This is one of the things that I can use [to remember].”

PHOTO | ANNIE ZHANG

ANTIQUE SHAVER

PHOTO | ANNIE ZHANG

“Why do you need hot water, Dad?” math teacher Joe Kim asked.

Kim recalls asking his dad about shaving after watching the movie, “The Dirty Dozen,” where soldiers refused to shave because they were on strike for not receiving hot water. He remembers his dad telling him that he needed to use hot water to soften the hairs and allow the pores to open up, making shaving easier.

Kim keeps his father’s shaver as a family heirloom. Kim’s dad used the razor while serving in the Korean military. According to Kim, before being eligible to get a job in Korea, it’s mandatory to serve for two years in the military after graduating from college.

Thus, Kim’s dad served and in turn, received military equipment.

Although Kim has used the shaver before, he prefers modern razors due to the

cuts he recieves on his face from using his dad’s shaver. However, he still keeps it in his bathroom drawer. Kim explains that the shaver opens by twisting it on the bottom and the top will open so a blade can be put in. Then, the blade must be secured by twisting the bottom once again to close the top of the shaver.

Kim views his family heirloom as a “keepsake.” As his birthright, Kim claimed the beard shaver from his dad, knowing that his two older brothers wouldn’t appreciate the sentiment.

“There’s not that much that I have from my dad,” Kim said. “There was a time when we were rummaging through his house and we had to clean it up and either donate it and keep it and those were one of the things that I wanted to keep in memory of him.

Hopefully, my boys will appreciate it too.” e

A & E | FEBRUARY 2019 29

STAYING SANE IN THE RAIN How to entertain yourself this season

BY ISHANI SINGH

TO BINGE

TO COOK

Rainy days are often a good chance to catch up on your television binges. Need a few T.V. show recommendations? Consider these shows to try on a lazy, rainy day as an effective way to destress yourself.

1. “The Office” - This mockumentary is centered around the everyday lifestyle in a typical workplace setting, The Dunder Mifflin Paper Company.

2. “Grey’s Anatomy” - This series follows a budding surgeon’s career trajectory as she struggles to balance her work and personal life while treating unique medical cases in every episode.

3. “Stranger Things” - This Netflix Original, set in the 1980’s, is centered around the uncovering of countless government experiments gone wrong when Will Byers, a young boy inexplicably goes missing.

4. “Brooklyn 99” - This television series is about a talented, nonchalant police officer whose life is turned around when his precinct gets a new commanding officer.

5. “Friends” - This classic sitcom portrays the everyday lives of six typical friends living in New York as they navigate their way through relationships, work and friendship.

With heavy winds and rain, going out to get food isn’t always appealing, which is why it’s a great time to try some new homemade recipes. Try out this quick and easy recipe for hot chicken and biscuits.

Ingredients: For the chicken: 2 large chicken breast halves (bone-in) 3 cups chicken broth 1 small onion, chopped 1/2 teaspoon dried leaf thyme 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 4 tablespoons butter 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 1/4 to 1/2 cup heavy cream (or whipping cream) 1 to 1 1/2 cups peas (or peas and carrots) Salt to taste Pepper to taste

For the biscuits: 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon baking powder 3/4 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped 1 1/2 cups heavy cream (or whipping cream) Optional: 2 teaspoons sugar

PHOTO | CREATIVE COMMONS

PHOTO | FLICKR

Directions:

TO PLAY

Rainy days are also an optimal time to bond with friends or family. Check out the premise of each of these games and see if they are worth trying for a fun night at home to distract you from the downpour outside.

1. Cranium - The object is to be the first to go around the entire game board and into the Cranium Central. To win you must successfully complete one final task.

2. Mafia - The object is either to eliminate all other players if you are the mafia, or find out who the mafia is.

3. Cards Against Humanity - One player will ask a question from a black card, and each other player will answer with their best white card.

4. Guess Who - The object of the game is to be the first to determine which card your opponent has drawn using yes or no questions to eliminate choices.

5. Yahtzee - The object of the game is to get as many points by rolling five dice and getting certain combinations of them.

PHOTO | CREATIVE COMMONS

30

EL ESTOQUE | FEBRUARY 2019

For the chicken: 1. Place the chicken in a saucepan along with chicken broth, onion, thyme and pepper.

Boil the mixture. Then reduce heat and allow it to simmer for 30 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked.

2. Remove the chicken from the broth and set both aside separately. After it has cooled, remove the chicken meat from the bones and cut according to your preferences.

3. Spray an 8-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and preheat oven to 375˚ F. Place the chicken in the dish and sprinkle peas and carrots over the chicken.

4. In a separate saucepan, melt the butter at medium heat. Add in the flour and stir for 1 to 2 minutes.

5. Add the 2 cups of chicken broth gradually and continue cooking it thickens (keep stirring constantly). Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of heavy cream to the sauce. Add salt and pepper to taste.

6. Pour the sauce over the chicken and vegetables in the baking dish.

For the biscuits: 1. In a large bowl, whisk the flour with the baking powder, 3/4 teaspoon of salt, sugar (optional) and parsley. Blend well. With a fork, stir in the heavy cream until moistened.

Turn the dough mixture out onto a floured surface and, with floured hands, knead 3 or 4 times, just until the dough holds together.

2. Pat into a circle about 1/2 inch thick and cut out with 1 and 3/4 to 2-inch biscuit cutters. Arrange the biscuits over the hot chicken and sauce mixture in the baking dish.

3. Gather the dough scraps together and cut out more biscuits, placing on the chicken mixture or on a greased baking sheet or pan. Repeat until all of the dough is used. You may also freeze extra raw, cut-out biscuits on the baking sheet. Put the frozen biscuits in a freezer bag and bake them at another time.

4. Bake the chicken and biscuits until browned, about 20 to 24 minutes. e

DEAR CHANGE, Y A letter to a contant presence in my life

ou and I go way back. You and the handed to me on a silver platter to my majority of people on Earth have a parents not having time to marvel at my history, I suppose, but I’d like to think beautiful Crayola masterpieces. that our relationship is special. It’s taken me I think any seven-year-old would agree a while to learn how to love you, and yet even with me when I say that not being given now I don’t really attention is know if I can say m is er able.

I truly, truly love But now, that you all that much. s c r e a m i ng , I’ve spent a large at tentionportion of my life s u c k i n g plucking grass monster is out of fields or probably watching flowers the most grow through impor tant LAKSHANYAA GANESH cracks on person in various different my life. My sidewalks and exclaiming “Change SUCKS,” brother has turned my frown upside down expecting sympathy and consolation from more times than I can count, and has taught whichever poor friend I’d decided to project me how to make any car ride interesting, my afflictions with life onto. But I guess how to be calm even when I want to pull my you’re the reason as to why I’m such a firm hair out, how to make light of any situation believer in the quote “everything happens and so much more. Thanks to you, I’ve for a reason.” learned how to be the best sister I can be.

The first time you played a major role The second time you danced your way in my life was when my brother was born. into my life is when we moved to the East You butted your ginormous head between Coast in second grade. I went from eating me and my parents, leaving seven-year-old lunch outside, having ample time for recess me to deal with the consequences of being and having early dismissal every day to left alone for the first time in my life. The eating in a giant cafeteria in a two-story presence of a brand new, screaming, but elementary school eight hours a day. Being admittedly adorable baby in my life changed eight years old and in a completely different everything. I went from having everything state, both physically and emotionally,

LOVE, LAKSHANYAA

wasn’t the easiest, to say the least. But you did teach me how to be adaptable. You taught me how to make friends, and how to embrace my own identity.

As the years passed, you followed me.

Somedays, I think you’re like the gum that’s always stuck to the bottom of my shoe, sometimes surprising and always unwanted.

But now, I’ve learned to see you as a stuffed animal or a best friend of sorts — you’re a constant, almost comforting presence.

You’ve stuck with me through the awkward years of middle school, when I was trying to figure out who I was as a person and who I wanted to surround myself with. You stuck with me through getting braces and then (thankfully) getting them off, through making friends and then losing them, through getting straight A’s and then losing those too.

I once read a quote that read something along the lines of “change is the only constant.” For a while, I’ve always thrown my hands up in frustration at that quote and at you. I’m a big fan of being comfortable, and oftentimes, you’re the complete opposite of comfortable. But looking back, I’ve come to realize the lessons you’ve taught me and the people I’ve gotten to meet because of you. Without you, I wouldn’t be who I am.

So I have to say, I love you, and I’m glad you’re my only constant. I look forward to a lifetime of partnership with you. e

A & E | FEBRUARY 2019

31

AI ACADEMY Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning & Deep Learning If you are interested in math and technology, have a background in Algebra and programming, AI is an important type of technology to learn.

The world's first trillionaire will be an AI entrepreneur - Mark Cuban

WEEKLY CLASSES Next session starting January 2019 at Lynbrook High School

IvyBoost Education

College planning: courses & rigor choice & standard tests plans, extra-curriculum activities, summer programs & career plans,financial aid and scholarship  College application and essay editing  Pre-Med, Pre-Stem, Pre-Law, Pre-Business & other programs 

90% in 1 of their top 3 choices

70% awarded scholarships

Office: 1580 W El Camino Real, Suite 5, Mountain View, CA 94040

Free Initial Counseling

Early registration deadline: Jan. 5, 2019

Call 650-282-5588 or Sign up at ivyboost.com

ENROLL AT: WWW. LEARN-AI.NET

member of NACAC, HECA & IECA

SPORTS

THE RECORD BREAKER How an MVHS student shattered an unusual Guinness World Record

WRITTEN BY ROSHAN FERNANDEZ AND ANISH VASUDEVAN

77

cubes. 24 minutes, five seconds. On Jan. 21, while other students were spending their three-day weekend studying or relaxing, junior Nitin Subramanian spent his time attempting to break a world record for most Rubik’s Cubes solved while running 5,000 meters which had to be done in under 25 minutes. The previous record was 40 — Subramanian shattered that record only halfway through his run. He stopped solving cubes not because he had completed the run, but because he had run out of cubes to solve.

The process of trying to break a Guinness World Record is grueling and tiring, filled with waiting periods and occasionally unfortunate news. In June of 2018, Subramanian discovered the Rubik’s Cube mile — an event during which participants were tasked to solve four cubes in four laps. He then set out to break the world record for the Rubik’s Cube mile, but Guinness denied his request to recognize the attempt. However, in September, Subramanian decided to try for another record which mixed his two favorite hobbies: long-distance running and solving Rubik’s Cubes.

After receiving confirmation from Guinness in November of 2018, Subramanian started planning the details of the run. He had to find city council officials to serve as witnesses since he did not want to pay 10,000 dollars for a Guinness judge to be present at the attempt.

Vice-mayor of Cupertino Liang Chao and Commissioner David Fung were the two officials who attended the event. Subramanian also had to get a significant amount of cubes, which he bought from the UC Berkeley cubing club.

Although most of the event required rigorous preparation, the actual planning of the run itself took place the night before the attempt. The team had to brainstorm how they would utilize a cart to hand Subramanian the next cube, and come up with a plan in case the cart malfunctioned. At 10 p.m. on the night before the attempt, Subramanian says they practiced the logistics of the setup with a car and two people sitting in the trunk. The trial was somewhat successful, but Subramanian admitted they hadn’t smoothed out all the details just yet.

On the day of the run, Subramanian and the volunteers decided that they would need some unique contraptions in order to have the most efficiency while running. They used household items which would help decrease the transition time between each cube. Senior Karthik Guruvayurappan also ran alongside Subramanian during the race to collect his solved cubes.

“We decided that Karthik would not be on the cart but he would be [running] next to me with a laundry basket [where I could drop the cubes],” Subramanian said. “We decided that if [the basket] was

PHOTO | ANISH VASUDEVAN

stationary in one place [then] I would be able to aim better. And that we would use a cooking strainer [to hold the cube] when I reach out because there would be a margin of error if I reached for that and missed.”

Senior Anisha Sinha was on the track during Subramanian’s attempt to help with timing as well as making announcements over the PA system about his progress. She explains that she admires his uniqueness among his peers.

“The thing that sets Nitin apart from most other people at MVHS and in general is his self-drive and the fact that he is such a goal oriented person,” Sinha said. “He decides the passion that he has and he continues to pursue them even if they are not academically relevant. He has a passion for cubing and a passion for running and he found something, a goal, that managed to fit both of them, which is really difficult for people to do.”

Subramanian dedicated his attempt to all of his teachers, explaining that they inspired him to push himself and try something like this even if he would not succeed.

“It’s this feeling that very few people get to feel, that I am best in the world at something,” Subramanian said. “I know it’s a really random [record] but its combining two of my favorite things, cubing and running, and to be on top of the world is overwhelming. All the support and encouragement from my family and friends is why I was able to [achieve] that.” e

SPORTS | FEBRUARY 2019

33

HEAD OF THE GAME A behind-the-scenes look at athletic director Nick Bonacorsi

BY ROSHAN FERNANDEZ e typically stops responding to emails at around 7 p.m.

When he comes into work the following morning, his inbox is full; there are already between 30 and 50 emails to respond to. The topics of the emails vary, whether it’s communicating with a player, coach, referee or another athletic director, but one thing is for certain — athletic director Nick Bonacorsi is always busy.

“I mean, the job description is quite expansive,” Bonacorsi said. “Nothing you’ve done really prepares you for [this] job. I’ve been involved with athletics my whole life, playing, coaching, so at least I have an understanding of the general expectation for the job, but I think it takes probably about three years to really understand the job and do it well. Because the first couple years, you’re really just treading water.”

Despite Bonacorsi being in the midst of his fourth year as athletic director, he explains that he is just beginning to settle in. In November, he was given the Norm McKenzie award by his fellow

H

“

OUR ATHLETES PUT IN A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF EFFORT AND WE ARE EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL, BUT I DON’T THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT.” - MVHS ATHLETIC DIRECTOR NICK BONACORSI

34

EL ESTOQUE | FEBRUARY 2019

PHOTO | ROSHAN FERNANDEZ

Athletic director Nick Bonacorsi holds his daughter on National Women and Girls in Sports Day last year. The event brought more exposure to the MVHS athletic department.

CCS athletic directors, a recognition that goes to a “rookie athletic director.” He will receive the physical award in April at the California State Athletic Directors Conference.

“I didn’t even realize I was nominated, so it definitely caught me by surprise [when I heard I won],” Bonacorsi said.

“But it’s humbling. It’s sort of gratifying in a way to know that maybe some of the things you’re working really hard on are making a difference or being seen, and it’s bringing exposure to our athletic department, so it’s exciting.”

Lynbrook HS’ athletic director Jennifer Griffin was one of the two people who nominated Bonacorsi for the award. Griffin emphasizes that last year, Bonacorsi helped her get started as a new athletic director. She adds that LHS and MVHS both have an academically-driven

environment, so it was easy for herself and Bonacorsi to get along because they shared similar goals for their programs.

“I would not have survived last year without his help,” Griffin said. “He was very helpful and I could just send a text or call him whenever I [had] a question on anything.

It’s nice to know that you have somebody that you can rely on in that way.”

When Bonacorsi first took the job, things weren’t running as smoothly. The previous athletic director stepped down right before the beginning of the school year, and Bonacorsi had to step in immediately. He says those first few months as athletic director were challenging because they required him to start right away and learn on the job.

Because of the initial difficulty of the job, Bonacorsi explains that it was helpful to have a network of more tenured athletic directors to rely on. Now, other new athletic directors

“

regularly reach out to Bonacorsi to ask for assistance. Cupertino HS athletic director James Gilmore says because this is his first year in this new position, he has leaned heavily on Bonacorsi.

“There [were] three people who applied for the job [at CHS], and I was the one who ended up getting it. The two people who didn’t [get the job] happened to be the former athletic directors, so I wasn’t getting much support or help from them,” Gilmore said. “So at that point I reached out to [Bonacorsi] … I don’t know how I would have gotten through the first two months of school without his [assistance] — he didn’t get paid for that, he didn’t need to do any of that, he just wanted to help me.”

Gilmore’s goals also align with Bonacorsi’s “new athletic director model,” which works on building athletes’ leadership skills, along with other factors such as mentoring younger coaches and placing equal priority on athletics and academics.

Like Griffin, he finds it easy to collaborate

with Bonacorsi because they have similar goals for the future of their programs. Griffin also emphasizes the value of having a network of other athletic directors to rely on, and just like with Gilmore, Bonacorsi is an important part of that network.

“Anytime I had a question he was more than willing to help me out,” Griffin said. “[Being an athletic director is] a job that takes a lot of time, requires a lot of time, and so there’s not always a lot of extra time to give, but he’s always willing to go that extra step to help somebody else.”

This idea of building relationships between athletic directors is borrowed from Bonacorsi’s experience in the classroom as a history teacher, where he works on building relationships with students.

He stresses the importance of doing the same with athletes — he wants them to be the main focus of the athletics program.

In focusing on the athletes themselves, Bonacorsi has given them more power over the past few years by creating the Student Athletic Senate, along with collaboration groups for team captains to learn about leadership. He admits that these two areas are where he has dedicated the most hours.

“I don’t really care about [the personal] awards [that I win] — I want our athletic department to have more exposure [because] I think our athletes work really hard and put in a tremendous amount of effort and we are extremely successful but I don’t think a lot of people know that,” Bonacorsi said.

He explains one of his main goals is to change the culture so that athletes receive proper recognition, therefore improving their experience. For this cultural change to be possible, he believes that the effort must be lead by the athletes, which is what he is trying to do through the Student Athletic Senate. As a member of the Senate, senior Roann Acott appreciates that now there is a forum to bring up issues, especially those that may be common among many MVHS sports teams.

“I feel like freshman year we did have issues but we kind of just kept it on the [swim] team,” Acot said. “Now I’m in this

I DON’T KNOW HOW I WOULD HAVE GOTTEN THROUGH THE FIRST TWO MONTHS OF SCHOOL WITHOUT HIS ASSISTANCE — HE DIDN’T GET PAID FOR THAT, HE DIDN’T NEED TO DO ANY OF THAT, HE JUST WANTED TO HELP ME.” - CUPERTINO HS ATHLETIC DIRECTOR JAMES GILMORE

position where we can talk to [Bonacorsi] about issues, [and] I feel like issues are more addressed now compared to before.”

Acot has also noticed Bonacorsi’s increased presence over the past two years when it comes to athletics — she has noticed him out on the pool deck a lot more often, compared to past years. Acot adds that he has improved by placing an equal priority on all of the sports teams. She says that he is always there to listen when there is a problem, and he will work with anyone to help fix it, whether that be a certain sports team, a coach or his athletic Senate.

“Whenever we have issues it’s like really easy to come up to him,” Acot said. “He definitely makes you feel important.”

The results of the Senate have been delightful for Bonacorsi to witness — he says the ideas the Senate has brought to him have been homegrown and organic, stressing that he would love to have anyone who’s interested come on board. That authenticity is crucial, he says, because to ensure cultural change, the athletes must be the ones leading it.

“There were some things I wasn’t happy with our athletic culture before and I don’t think we’re really where I want us to be, but I think we’re making huge improvements,” Bonacorsi said. “My hope is for athletics to not be a side product of the high school experience, but to be more ingrained into the high school experience.” e

SPORTS | FEBRUARY 2019

35

A LEAGUE ABO After a stellar 2017-18 season, MVHS wrestling faces new challenges competing in a higher division

BY TYLER CHO AND ANISH VASUDEVAN

U

nbeatable. Last season, MVHS wrestling dominated the El Camino division, losing only one dual meet. This newfound success allowed the team to move up into the De Anza division, but some of its key players have since graduated, bringing new challenges this season.

Senior Chris Lee is optimistic about his team’s potential in the new league, but admits that other schools have more numbers and are “just more intimidating.”

According to Lee, only hard work and grit will allow the Matadors to accomplish their goal of placing in league finals this season.

“I think our team is strong this year only if we put in the work,” Lee said. “It’s just the intimidation factor that we are struggling with. I think we have the potential to do really well, but we just need to be focused.

We want everyone to place in league — that’s our goal.”

According to sophomore Akhil Manjesh, another difference between the

PH OT

O

36

EL ESTOQUE | FEBRUARY 2019

IL

LU ST

RA TI ON

|T

YL

ER

CH O

OVE THE REST two divisions is the players themselves “[Two years ago], we were a joint team and their dedication to the sport. Manjesh with Homestead HS and MVHS,” Lee said. stated that many wrestlers use the season “This year and last year [we practiced with as conditioning for other sports, such HHS] and I think the beneficial part of doing as football, but in the De Anza division that is that you get to wrestle with other the players are much more serious about people. If we were by ourselves we would wrestling as a sport itself. just be wrestling the same people over and Wrestling coach Ceazar Agront over again which is not a real life situation recognized the tendency for teams that because you know [your opponent well].” move up into a higher league — they This mixture of sparring and working on normally fall back down the following year. technical details is something that the team But he also stated that this trend only fueled has been perfecting this year. According his determination to help the MVHS team to Manjesh, the team focused a lot on succeed in the tougher De Anza Division. an aggressive mentality in the past year; “Moving up, all of our wrestlers knew however, this year they are trying to find a in order to change the mold, we’d have to more fundamental approach to wrestling. compete harder, practice “This [season] we have harder, drill harder and been focusing more on show up when it comes technicality, working on SCAN FOR to league finals,” Agront what you can do to get FURTHER said. “The pressure the you in the right place,” kids are feeling is to Manjesh said. “We have COVERAGE practice harder, just to cohesively brought those go 110 percent and do two sides together, something different, having a really good because if you’re doing something different mindset and that physical mentality.” than what you did prior you’re going to get Agront explains that the new different results. We don’t want the same mentality the athletes have taken on has results as last time, we want to do better.” already yielded positive results, citing To enforce this culture, the team developed the team’s dominating performance an intense practice schedule. The practice in a San Ramon tournament as a includes constantly rehearsing moves and reason for confidence in the team’s fundamentals to improve technique or future. However, even with some learning new skills to implement in matches successes, the Matadors have while mixing in sparring matches to prepare their work cut out for for tournaments. Another key aspect of the them, still having team’s preparation is working with players no wins in their from Homestead HS, which Lee explains division. Agront helps them practice for matches since they believes that the are wrestling with players they are not future is bright familiar with. for upcoming

seasons, and he hopes that continued determination during practice will eventually result in MVHS sending several wrestlers to compete in events as competitive as the state championship.

“We’ve learned that a good program has to be structured, has to be conditioned and overall [superbly executed],” Agront said. “Going forward, now that we’re out of the breaking [stage], I think we’re going to finally see progressive change.” e

A DEV

TOS

PHO

|A

H NIS

SPORTS| FEBRUARY 2019

U VAS

37

N

THANK YOU, ANDY Reflecting on the recent retirement of my role model

T

ears welled up in my eyes as I scrolled through the webpage filled with articles about professional tennis player Andy Murray’s hip surgery, emotional press conference and the sudden announcement of his retirement before his match at the Australian Open.

A few minutes passed and the tears didn’t stop. All of a sudden I began to laugh.

The news about my JAI UPARKAR favorite tennis player, my idol, should have devastated me, but it shouldn’t have made me cry — I don’t even know him.

However, I soon came to realize why I cared so much about his retirement. It wasn’t only because he was my favorite player — it was because I saw qualities of myself in him. In the beginning, Murray, as a player, never really appealed to me, as he was overpowered and overshadowed by some of the best tennis players in history: Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

While watching him at the 2012 Olympic tennis finals, I had to choose between between rooting for Murray or Federer for who would win gold. Federer was the obvious favorite, having previously beaten Murray in the Wimbledon finals just a couple of weeks before, and so I decided to root for Murray, the underdog.

Listening to the commentators speak about the grunts of the tennis match, I learned that Murray’s playing style was rather unusual because he didn’t hit as hard compared to other players and he was often characterized as a grinder. In other words, he was a fighter.

I was captivated with his style of playing — his fighting spirit made me believe that he was invincible. He was just eight G UN YO when he AH

survived a school shooting that claimed the lives of 17 people in Dunblane, Scotland.

He battled numerous hip injuries which kept him from playing and continued to put in the work when people doubted his abilities. By watching him play and listening to the TV commentators comment on his abilities, it was clear that Murray was the most hard working player on the tennis tour, even if he wasn’t the most talented.

The words people used to describe him as a player are the same which coaches and family do: hardworking, gritty and tough. I am not the most talented tennis player, as I’ve heard from my coach, but I am hardworking like Murray. I run for every ball with arms in reach, and so does Murray. I don’t hit the biggest shots, but I counterpunch and wait for my opportunity,

LESSONS FROMTHE COURT

I

38

N| T IO RA T S LLU

R SA

EL ESTOQUE | FEBRUARY 2019

and so does Murray. I used to throw temper tantrums on the court when I was younger, and so did Murray. I was always considered an underdog, and so was he.

He became my idol because I saw myself in him. In some ways, I believed that if I had the same qualities as him, then maybe one day I could be as good as him. He gave me hope for my own tennis career. Through his struggles and his successes, he showed me that all I needed was drive and desire.

So when I hit the play button of his press conference videos at the Australian Open, I was heartbroken to see him crying and struggling to say that this was his last tournament. He had to leave the press conference halfway through to gather his thoughts and emotions because it was so hard for him to say that he would be retiring.

For a guy who played tennis 28 years of life, who had dedicated his entire life to his craft, it was devastating to see that he could no longer do the one thing he knows best — play tennis. His heartbreaking and tearful interview had made me realize how fortunate I was to be playing the sport of tennis. I never realized how fortunate I was to never have experienced an injury and have a setback in my athletic career.

I never realized that playing a sport was a gift and privilege.

I never realized that it could be taken away from me. e

ATHLETE OF THE MONTH SKYLAR PLOSHAY

BY OISHEE MISRA

G

2 7 4

YEARS ON VARSITY

irls soccer forward and sophomore Skylar Ploshay started playing soccer when she was eight after deciding to join the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) with a couple of her friends. Her passion for the sport further grew from involvement with club teams, and she’s currently a member of Cupertino Football Club. Her love for soccer also developed as a result of being part of the Kennedy MS and MVHS teams. Though she was a member of the varsity team during her freshman year, she lacked confidence and says felt undeserving to play on varsity.

However, with the reassurance of her teammates and coach, she managed to slowly overcome this.

Ploshay recalls one of her favorite moments on the team: scoring her first goal during a game against Cupertino HS. She remembers being supported by her team as well as ending the game with a win. Ploshay credits her passion for MVHS soccer to the challenge it offers her and hopes to help the team qualify for CCS this year for the first time in seven years.

SHOTS ON GOAL

GOALS

*2017-2019 season PHOTO | ANISH VASUDEVAN

SPORTS | FEBRUARY 2019

39

SPORTS MVHS beats Lynbrook HS in the Battle for De Anza Boulevard

A&E A taste from home: Japanese club prepares yakisoba for its members

GET THE MOST OUT OF E L E S T O Q U E . O R G

CORE ACADEMICS GET QUALITY INSTRUCTIONS NEWS San Jose hosts 2019 Women’s March

GPA/SAT/ACT/AP GPA MANAGEMENT

1:1/1:2 CLASS OPTIONS

www.coreacademics.com 408.216.9800 1072 S. De Anza Blvd. San Jose, CA 95129