Volume 50, Issue 7, May 22, 2020

EE F E AT U R E S 2 7 Nine El Estoque seniors share parting words before leaving high school

NEWS 4

OPINION 16

A&E 30

SPORTS 34

Updates on the impacts of COVID-19 on the community

Seniors should seriously consider taking a gap year

Seniors dress up for prom despite Senior Ball cancellation

Track & Field team helps boost essential worker morale

TABLE OF CONTENTS NEWS 4 COVID-19 for posterity — Updates from the past few months

8 10 12 14 15

FEATURES

Abrupt endings — What seniors did the last day of school SSS — What it means to be a second semester senior Plans beyond quarantine — Life past shelter-in-place Quarantined celebrations — How adults are supporting seniors All too common — Class of 2020 described in numbers OPINION

16 Mind the gap — MVHS students should consider taking a gap year FEATURED COLUMNS

19 Nine seniors’ stories — Parting words before leaving high school ENTERTAINMENT

30 What they would’ve worn — Planned outfits for Senior Ball 32 One last hurrah — The original plans for senior trips SPORTS

34 Leading a helping hand — Track & Field team helps nurses in NYC

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EL ESTOQUE | MAY 2020

If only we had known that Friday, March 13, 2020 would be our last day of high school.

To the Class of 2020, This is not the end that any of us expected. We imagined making lifelong memories with friends at Senior Ball. We imagined skipping our classes and driving to the beach on Senior Ditch Day. We imagined walking across the stage to receive our diplomas — symbols of our four challenging years at MVHS. The celebrations we looked forward to suddenly disappeared out of our sight.

There was no warning to prepare us for the realities we now face.

We have every reason to be sad, and our disappointment is justified because there’s no arguing that COVID-19 mercilessly took away our senior year. But at the same time, we need to remember that we are witnessing a part of history — in fact, we are history.

When we finally return to our normal lives, if that ever happens, this will be an experience that our society will remember for generations and generations. 50 years from now, students will be writing about us in their DBQs for APUSH. 50 years from now, we will be telling stories to our children about how COVID-19 taught us about the importance of relationships with friends and family members. 50 years from now, we will continue to be recognized for our strength and resilience in overcoming such an unprecedented worldwide struggle.

This is a difficult time for all of us, but remember — we are the Class of 2020.

We survived Physics and Calc. We won Homecoming, not once but twice. We spent hella nights studying for so many tests bro, it was mad hard but we did it.

Even though we’re not able to say our goodbyes in person, we want to say this: Thank you to all of our amazing teachers and faculty who taught us the importance of hard work and made our experiences at Monta Vista memorable.

Thank you to all of our upperclassmen and underclassmen friends for showing us what community is and always remaining by our sides.

And most importantly, thank you Class of 2020 — it’s been real.

EL ESTOQUE | MAY 2020

FEB. 3

MARCH 1

MARCh 4

The County of Santa Clara Public Health Department announces that it has received confirmation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of two unrelated cases of novel coronavirus. However, it is unclear whether coronavirus is circulating in the Santa Clara County or Bay Area.

All FUHSD schools will continue to be open; however, the custodial staff has been trained using the Santa Clara County School Outbreak Toolkit to enhance cleaning of school surfaces.

Despite concerns regarding travel and large group events, Santa Clara County Health Officer Sara Cody and County Superintendent of Schools Mary Ann Dewan do not recommend canceling trips and gatherings.

FEB. 27 The district announces that it is working with the Santa Clara County Office of Education, which is monitoring the virus alongside the Santa Clara County Public Health Department.

FEB

COVID-19 UPDATES

BY HANNAH LEE

MARCH 12 AP Physics 1 teachers announce that the annual trip to Great America is canceled.

White makes it mandatory for all service clubs to cancel volunteer events through April 3.

FIRST cancels the FIRST Championship in Houston, which the Monta Vista Robotics Team planned on competing in after qualifying for the first time in three years.

In an email to the FUHSD community, FUHSD Commuications Director Rachel Zlotziver explains that all athletic games and competitions effective Friday, March

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EL ESTOQUE | MAY 2020

MARCh 7 Under guidance of the Public Health Department, the district cancels the following: • • • •

All travel to school-sponsored festivals and competitions, including trips both inside and outside of California through April 3.

All school rallies, assemblies and dances beginning immediately through April 3.

Events that do not allow for participants to be at arm’s-length distance apart from one another.

The Public Health Department does not recommend closing schools at the time, as children are not considered to be at high risk for serious illness from COVID-19.

Assistant Principal Mike White announces that Junior Prom, originally scheduled to be held on March 28, will be canceled and combined with Senior Ball, which will take place on May 30.

Non-essential trips are officially cancelled — MVHS Variations and Bella Voce will no longer travel to Italy, El Estoque and El Valedor will no longer attend the Columbia Scholastic Press Association Spring Convention in New York; the MVHS Dance Team will no longer compete at the USA Dance Nationals in Anaheim, Calif.; MVHS Color Guard will no longer perform at its home show, compete at its circuit championship or attend the world championship in Dayton, Ohio even though it is the team’s first time qualifying and AVID students will no longer take their trip to Southern California.

BRUARY MARCH MARCH 13

MARCH 20

MARCH 25

Zlotziver confirms that the Santa Clara County Public Health Department, in partnership with the Santa Clara County Office of Education, has decided to close schools to students for three weeks beginning Tuesday, March 17 through Friday, April 3. Students will have access to online instructional tools such as School Loop, Schoology and Google Classroom.

The College Board posts an update to its website, explaining the changes it has made to the AP exams for the 2019-20 school year. In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, which has posed unprecedented challenges for multiple schools and communities, the College Board is providing free remote learning resources and offering a new at-home testing option exclusive to those taking an AP Exam this year.

Zlotziver sends an email update to the community, explaining that school closures have been extended through May 1. Spring break will continue as scheduled during the week of April 12.

DECA cancels its International Career Development Conference (ICDC).

MAY 1

MVHS Drama entirely cancels its spring musical, which was originally postponed.

NEWS | MAY 2020

05

aPRIL 1 The University of California Office of the President issues an announcement about the temporary measures it will implement to relax undergraduate admissions for students planning on enrolling at UC for fall 2020 and future years as applicable.

According to their press release, the Regents approved the following series of measures: • • • •

Suspending the letter grade requirement for A-G courses completed in winter/spring/summer 2020 for all students, including UC’s most recently admitted freshmen.

Suspending the standardized test requirement for students applying for fall 2021 freshman admission.

Providing that there will be no rescission of student admissions offers that result from students or schools missing official final transcript deadlines, and student retention of admission status through the first day of class until official documents are received by campuses.

For transfer students, temporarily suspending the cap on the number of transferable units with “pass/no pass” grading applied toward the minimum 60 semester/90 quarter units required for junior standing.

In a press conference, California Gov. Gavin Newsom confirms that schools across the state are expected to remain physically closed for the rest of the academic school year due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.

Zlotziver sends a letter from the Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE) regarding the extension of remote learning through the remainder of the academic school year.

APRIL APRIL 2

APRIL 11

APRIL 29

The College Board announces that 2020 AP exams will take place between May 11 and May 22, while makeup test dates for each subject will be available between June 1 and June 5. Students have the option of taking exams at home or in school, and all students worldwide will take exams at the same time. Exams will be 45 minutes long, with an additional five minutes for uploading material. During this time, students will complete one or two free-response questions (FRQs).

In an email sent to FUHSD staff members, Superintendent Polly Bove announces that the district will shift to credit/no credit grading. Students and parents will receive a letter regarding the change in grading policy in the afternoon.

Santa Clara County Health Officer Sara Cody issues a revised shelter in place order. All county residents are required to shelter in place until May 31, 2020, or until the order is extended, rescinded, superseded or amended in writing.

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EL ESTOQUE | MAY 2020

APRIL 17 Fremont Union High School District (FUHSD) Superintendent Polly Bove provides an email update regarding the cancellation of activities. All five high schools and Middle College will hold a virtual graduation in June. Senior awards will continue to be given by each school.

Senior Ball, Senior Picnic and Senior Allnight Party have been canceled.

IILLUSTRATION | TYLER CHO, SARAH YOUNG

PHOTOS | TYLER CHO, JUSTINE HA

I

VI2i0N

nitially, the MVHS experience was just like any other for the Class of 2020 — full of memorable homecoming skits, victorious rallies and landmark moments. Students anticipated the traditional events of every school year, and the expectations for senior year were no different. Many looked forward to cherishing their last year of high school, whether it be through school events or spending time with friends. But with the COVID-19 outbreak causing an abrupt end to the school year and imposing shelter-in-place requirements, members of

the Class of 2020 found themselves confined to their homes while the most anticipated events of their senior year were canceled. Despite this abrupt turn of events, however, seniors continue to movie forward — they modify their future plans and look forward to a world after quarantine, all while keeping their visions in mind. From memories of their last day in high school to the redefined second semester senior, this package explores what it means to be a member of the Class of 2020 in the midst of a pandemic.

FEATURES | MAY 2020

07

ABRUPT ENDINgS Seniors talk about what they did and how they felt on their last day of high school

BY CHARLOTTE CHUI AND SARAH YOUNG

F

or the class of 2020, the last day of high school came abruptly.

After a letter from FUHSD Communications Director Rachel Zlotziver, what was meant to be three weeks away from school was extended until the end of the school year, cutting senior year short and making March 13 the last day of high school for seniors.

For some, like senior Addy Nevitt, the first announcement of school closure on March 13 was when reality started to settle in. Though they had high hopes about eventually coming back, Nevitt says the subsequent extensions on school closure didn’t necessarily come as a surprise to them.

For those in Drama, like Nevitt and senior Daniel Schie, the threeweek closure also meant their spring play, “Mamma Mia!,” would likely be canceled. To conclude their months of production, Nevitt, Schie and the rest of the Drama community had a mini dance party in the black box to the “Mamma

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EL ESTOQUE | MAY 2020

Mia!” soundtrack and according to Schie, is also my last,’ but I had somewhat “danced the pain away.” expected something like this to be “When I heard the announcement that happening for some time at this point,” we were going to be off from school, I Schie said. “So I wouldn’t necessarily say still was really emotional,” Nevitt said. I was surprised. I guess that was when “I cried a lot that day because I was not it finally hit me that this was real and a sure when I was going to see my friends real pandemic, instead of some sort of again or if this was amorphous threat.” going to be longer However, for I THINK [MY LAST DAY] than expected. [I] others, like senior Ted WAS A MICROCOSM definitely tried to take Chai, his first reaction advantage of the rest to the announcement OF MY ENTIRE HIGH of my last day.” was a mix of surprise SCHOOL EXPERIENCE For Schie, the and relief at the — A BIT OF ACADEMIC announcement put a prospect of having damper on the rest of some time off from STRESS, A LOT OF his senior year. The school. Believing it EXTRACURRICULAR cancellation of the to be the start of an STUFF AND AND A LOT extended break from play and events like OF FUN WITH FRIENDS. school, Chai and Student Produced was just another sign for his friends went to SENIOR TED CHAI Schie that many of the Half Moon Bay State fun aspects of Drama would no longer Beach, playing spike ball and eating be available. Additionally, on March 13, together to enjoy their Friday night.

Schie had just started his first day as The gravity of the announcement didn’t Government teacher Ben Recktenwald’s fully settle in for Chai until the following teacher assistant (TA).

Monday when local counties and the “My first thought was, ‘Well, this is state began locking down, and the stock somewhat ironic. My first day as a TA market began to take a downturn.

Chai believes his last day of high school was representative of his four years at MVHS and is grateful for how it played out, with the academic stress of two back-to-back statistics tests, handing out boba at a Leo Club meeting and spending time with friends.

“I think [my last day] was more or less a microcosm of my entire high school experience — a bit of academic stress, a lot of extracurricular stuff and a lot of fun with friends,” Chai said. “It was just a normal day; [I] got to spend time with friends and have normal conversations in our normal lunch spots.”

Similarly, for senior Sravani Viswanadha, March 13 was a regular day up until the announcement. Viswanadha hadn’t expected the lockdown to happen, nor did she expect it to extend to as long as it has.

“At first, I was really happy; I’d hoped for them to cancel school for a long time

because my mom is immunosuppressed impact on me, giving them a small gift, and so I wanted to keep her safe,” maybe cards,” Chai said. “Now, the Viswanadha said. “That day during best I can do is probably just an email lunch, I was sitting in the band room with — a bit disappointing but still hoping my friends and band to reconnect [and] I’m teacher [Ricky Alegria, I KNOW HIGH SCHOOL drafting up emails to who] said there’s a some of my favorite SUCKS, [...] BUT IT’S high chance that this teachers right now.”

ALSO GOING TO BE would spread all the Like Chai, Nevitt was way until the end of SOME OF THE MOST also looking forward the year — that’s what FUN YOU’LL HAVE IN to reminiscing and set it off for me.” appreciating their four YOUR LIFE, SO TRY That day, years at MVHS. With two Viswanadha’s parents older siblings who had AND LOOK FOR THE wanted her to come already gone through GOOD PARTS AND home after school their own graduations, APPRECIATE WHAT and stay safe, and she Nevitt had already YOU HAVE OF IT. wasn’t able to make planned out what their plans with friends. last day at MVHS would SENIOR DANIEL SCHIE Though Viswanadha be like. says her last day was fairly normal, “I had been daydreaming almost every she wishes she’d gotten a chance to day, envisioning the perfect last day as a say a proper goodbye to her friends. In senior,” Nevitt said. “I was going to get contrast, Chai was satisfied with his last a bunch of people to sign my yearbook, day and didn’t necessarily have elaborate and reminisce, being in my drama last day plans; instead, he wishes he’d community, seeing all my old classes and fully appreciated these mundanities. walking around with people and laughing “I think I would have just been more at old memories. Then, I was going to go aware of everything, more aware of the over to one of my really close friend’s fact that I should be actively talking to house with my friends that we all kind of my friends during brunch and lunch, go to as our hangout spot.” instead of just passively maintaining a Even though Schie didn’t have solid [conversation] while on my phone,” Chai plans for his last day of high school or said. “I would have been more engaged any regrets, he feels that he missed out on with teachers, as it’s the last part of my high school educational experience, and having that sense of ‘this is the end of a section of my life.’”

Though Chai was unable to do this, he hopes to make up for it after the COVID-19 lockdown is over and, in the meantime, still plans to fully express his gratitude to the teachers who helped him get to this point.

“I always imagined myself visiting the teachers that I really felt like had an

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the celebratory atmosphere that usually accompanies the last day of school.

“There was this apprehension and excitement, looking forward to the future, and also looking back over your year as well, thinking about all that you’ve done and how you’ve changed,” Schie said. “Senior year especially, I’m sad I missed out on that because I’m not just looking back on my junior year — I’m looking back on my entire public schooling experience, as I then go out into the world for the first time. I’m just sad I missed that kind of excitement for the future that seems to overtake your last day.”

While Schie wasn’t able to fully experience his senior year to the fullest, he has some advice to offer and hopes the underclassmen will be able to appreciate what time they have left at MVHS. “I know high school sucks, and I hate it, but it’s also going to be some of the most fun that you’ll have in your life, so try and look for the good parts and appreciate what you have of it,” Schie said. “Also, I’m expecting you juniors — I want to be invited to S[enior] B[all] by one of you guys because I’m going to that [and] you can’t stop me.” e

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FEATURES | MAY 2020

09

SSS: Redefined

Exploring what it means to be a second semester senior during COVID-19

BY MICHELLE CHEN AND SHUVI JHA

I

t was a typical Friday evening in November. Senior Ahish Anant was working on his essay with a friend when, on a whim, he decided to create a Google Doc listing potential activities to do with his friends for the upcoming second semester.

What was supposed to be a short thirty-minute break quickly turned into a four-hour long video chat session, and the Google Doc now contained a variety of ideas. Some ideas were reasonable, such as seeing snow in Yosemite and watching a sunrise and sunset on the same day. Others were more outrageous, such as driving to Los Angeles during school hours.

The bucket list was borne out of Anant’s intention to create cherished

ILLUSTRATION | SARAH YOUNG

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EL ESTOQUE | MAY 2020

memories with his friends before starting college, and his objective for senior year was to complete as many of those activities as possible. When news of COVID-19 cases in Santa Clara County emerged, Anant was initially hopeful for school to be canceled for the remainder of the year. Less in-person instruction would mean more time for him to hang out with his friend group, and in turn, enjoy a fruitful second semester.

However, when the state-mandated shelter-in-place order was passed starting on March 19, Anant realized that his original hopes were not going to be acheivable — COVID-19 had farreaching effects that impacted not only schools, but also many aspects of dayto-day life.

“It took me a day to understand, but when it finally hit me that a lot of people were affected [by COVID-19], I was really bummed out,” Anant said. “I was really hoping school would reopen because I’d get to spend time with my friends and teachers and all the people I’ve made connections with but that wasn’t possible anymore, and knowing that this was happening in our last semester at [MVHS] sucked.”

To commemorate the memories he made at the start of second semester, Anant created a TikTok compilation video with clips of day-to-day life and his friend group traveling to L.A. While making this video paid homage to his high school career, Anant says it also gave rise to unceasing feelings of sadness

and nostalgia despite his daily 10 p.m. FaceTime conversations with his friends and occasional hikes done six feet apart.

“We’re definitely trying to make the most of [social distancing],” Anant said.

“I’ve been trying to keep myself occupied by playing basketball, working out more and watching the TV shows that I’ve been seen much recommended, but it’s never going to be of a change the same as before.” in most of Like Anant, senior Sydney Lin his peers’ efforts enjoyed her first couple months as a in class, compared second semester senior. She and her to in first semester. friend group were excited that they’d Under the credit/ successfully completed their junior year no-credit grading and first semester of senior year, which system, Xu believes are traditionally perceived as the hardest that seniors can’t get months of high school, and could now away with skipping class, focus on simply enjoying themselves for a common practice for many the remainder of high school. second semester seniors.

Unfortunately, this excitement was “The grading [and] the short-lived when the COVID-19 shelter- attendance policy has become a in-place order led to the cancellation of lot more strict,” Xu said. “For some Lin’s second semester plans, including teachers, if you miss a few classes, senior ball and her summer trip. Although you may actually just fail the course. In Lin has definitely felt the impact of school online courses, [the] attendance policy closure, she claims that much of what has become a lot more strict but I guess defines a second people just have been semester senior has doing the work but the THE FACT THAT remained the same work itself is not as WE’VE NOT BEEN even in quarantine. hard anymore.”

This includes having For Anant, the ABLE TO HANG OUT extra time to socialize lighter workload is WITH THE PEOPLE with friends, which certainly a positive.

THAT MAKE US MOST she does through However, in the grand FaceTime, and being scheme of things, he HAPPY RIGHT NOW able to relax with the believes that the second WILL ONLY MAKE US lighter workload. semester experience APPRECIATE SUMMER “To me, a second is characterized by semester senior is the final experiences SO MUCH MORE. someone who is trying he shares with those SENIOR AHISH ANANT to make the most out close to him. This of the remaining time means going to school, they have in high school without focusing actively putting in the effort to spend time as much on the academic part of it, which with his friends and commemorating his I feel like still stands, even in quarantine,” time at MVHS. Lin said.

And although Anant is certain that Senior William Xu agrees with Lin’s he made the most out of the short time definition of what it means to be a second as a usual second semester senior and semester senior. However, he notes that recognizes the need for social distancing, while there is a much lower emphasis on he wishes that his second semester at academic pressure, he personally hasn’t school would’ve lasted just a little bit

ILLUSTRATION | SARAH YOUNG

longer. That’s why he continues to actively monitor the news in hopes that the shelterin-place order is lifted soon and he can reunite with his friends for one last summer before college.

“In some way, the fact that we’ve not been able to hang out with the people that make us most happy right now will only make us appreciate summer so much more,” Anant said. “We can enjoy those moments because we know now we can’t take any of it for granted.” e

FEATURES | MAY 2020

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POSTPONED FUTURE

What seniors plan to do once the shelter-in-place order is lifted

BY AYAH ALI-AHMAD AND IMAN MALIK

S

enior Maya Tate has always considered her post-high school plans more unconventional than most— instead of attending a four-year college immediately after graduating, Tate planned to travel to Turkey to work on her friend’s farm. She also wanted to rock climb, travel through the U.S., intern for a lawyer or professor on the East Coast and get a wilderness certification.

Tate believed that taking a gap year would distinguish her from other applicants, but with more universities continuing online learning in the fall, other students are starting to consider a similar plan.

“I didn’t really know exactly where I wanted to go with my studies and my career, so I thought that I would take a gap year to explore, work and gather knowledge to see what appealed to me,” Tate said. “I struggle with anxiety and depression, and junior year was really bad so I didn’t think I [would be] able to handle the applications. Also, I just love being outdoors. I’ve been planning this for a really long time and it sucks that I’m going to probably end up getting lumped into the same category as a lot of people

ILLUSTRATION | SARAH YOUNG

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EL ESTOQUE | MAY 2020

who are just now discovering [they] need to take a gap year.”

Despite travel restrictions and the shelter-in-place order possibly extending into the summer, Tate says she still wants to take her gap year, but is unsure of how to spend her time doing it. For now, though, Tate’s plans remain tentative.

“It’s a little stressful, honestly, because I don’t know where this is going to go,” Tate said. “And I know that a lot of domestic travel in the U.S. has been restricted and it’s kind of stressful. Do I go to community college? Do I [go to Turkey] and risk getting stuck? What do I do? It has been really stressful and [has] made it hard to stay motivated and keep working on what to do during the gap year.”

Because of the school campus closure stretching over three months as of May and all events being canceled indefinitely, many other senior trips and plans have been affected as well. With their trips either canceled or postponed, many seniors have needed to get refunds on flights or reschedule their trips for the next year.

Senior Kaitlyn Chen, who planned to travel to Tahoe and L.A. with her friends, says she is still unsure of whether they will completely cancel their plans or postpone them. Chen believes that once travel restrictions loosen, destinations like Tahoe could still be a possibility to visit while large cities and beaches like L.A. probably will not — so Chen and her friends are still in the works of planning.

“The entire thing [has] so much uncertainty and stuff that’s up in the air,” Chen said. “Also, the senior class office was talking about holding an event for the seniors that is similar to grad and senior ball all in one. I’m hoping that happens.

It would mean a lot to actually have that happen.”

Chen posted a poll on her Instagram story for people to reply with what they are planning to do once mandatory shelter-in-place ends. Chen says she did so to keep herself and others optimistic and hopeful for life to “return to normal.”

“I recently did an Instagram poll to get a list of ideas down, and people had a lot of unique things they wanted to do,” Chen said. “Some that I especially liked

ILLUSTRATION | SARAH YOUNG

were going to the beach, renting a house out ways to replan it or keep just being with friends, bonfires, late-night car hopeful about it. But now that it’s gone, rides, just regular teenage stuff that we’ll you can be disappointed, but I feel like only get to do this last time.”

I just have to move on and plan in the Similarly, senior Alex Yang planned future. You’re not really helping yourself to go to Paris and by sitting around in Barcelona at the your room alone and end of the summer quarantine, feeling NOW I JUST MISS THE with a friend but sad for yourself.”

REGULAR PARTS OF has postponed the Further supporting LIFE — NOT EVEN THE trip due to travel postponing and SENIOR PARTS. JUST restrictions after planning events for other events were BEING ABLE TO GO OUT the future, Yang says canceled. Yang says it is a good way to TO BREATHE FRESH the biggest indicator motivate oneself to AIR, HAVE HUMAN to postpone his trip be productive every was hearing that large INTERACTION AND EAT day and not feel upset events like his friend’s over shelter-in-place.

GOOD FOOD. fencing tournament For those who are were canceled. planning trips, Yang SENIOR KAITLYN CHEN Yang says believes one must that despite his plan with caution as disappointment and the stress that restrictions are always changing. This comes with replanning a postponed trip, holds true for his decision to postpone it is still better than canceling it entirely. his trip, originally a few months away, to According to Yang, delaying the trip gives next summer or next spring break. him something to look forward to in place “Even if things got better when the of the “disappointment of cancellation.” restrictions ended, it would still be rough “It was a slow realization as stuff and [hard to] manage so many things, kept getting worse,” Yang said. “If big that I think it would be best to just have companies can’t figure out what [they’re] something to look forward to the entire going to do, we probably can’t either … time,” Yang said. “If you’re having a hard I wish I could still do it, trying to figure time and you really want to grasp onto

something like ‘I want to go to a concert that’s happening in August’, just go and buy tickets. It’s for yourself, and if you don’t go, maybe the anticipation of thinking about like, ‘I just have to make it through this couple months for the concert’ is worth it.”

Chen shares this mindset of having something to look forward to after the shelter-in-place ends. She misses seeing people and “having options” of what to do. Chen says the first couple things she wants to do once the shelter-in-place order is canceled, besides her senior trips, is get her hair and nails done, hang out with friends and eat good food. Chen believes looking forward to these smaller events is currently more realistic than larger trips.

“Even now, we’re only hoping that we can do regular things — things beyond that are probably already put out of the question, so we’re not even thinking about that,” Chen said. “Now, I just miss the regular parts of life — not even the senior parts, just being able to go out to breathe fresh air, have human interaction and eat good food ... This sounds stupid, but I really need to get a haircut. I want to get a haircut. People also said to get their nails done with friends. I think that’d be really fun just because I felt [like] a frickin’ sock for so long.” e

FEATURES | MAY 2020

13

COVID CELEBRATIONS

How teachers and families of seniors are making up for traditions seniors will miss out on

BY ANUSHKA DE AND SWARA TEWARI

h

ome to senior trips, graduation, her seniors have ditch day and Senior Ball, the fond memories of final months of senior year hold their final couple AP promises of the most anticipated events Chemistry classes. of many students’ high school careers.

“I am doing very But with the cancellation of these events small things, but I and shelter-in-place hope my requirements stretching students will THE ACTIONS ARE for indefinite amounts see the feeling SMALL, BUT THEIR behind it,” Gupta of time due to the MEANING IS THAT COVID-19 pandemic, said. “The actions are YOU’RE VALUED the Class of 2020 has small, but their meaning AND YOU’RE found itself saying is that you’re valued and CARED FOR. goodbye to traditions cared for. We love you, WE LOVE YOU, it has awaited since seniors, and I’ll be letting SENIORS, AND I’LL freshman year. you go with lots of love.”

BE LETTING YOU Despite these English teacher Lynn GO WITH LOTS OF circumstances, Rose reminisces about LOVE. many teachers and her graduation and feels families have done sad that her daughter, KAVITA GUPTA their best to design who is graduating from small celebrations from the confines of high school this year, will not be able to their homes for seniors. In past years, experience the many rites of passage that chemistry teacher Kativa Gupta always she had worked so hard to achieve. made an effort to celebrate her seniors in “My memory of graduation is really class. This year, Gupta polled her classes clear because it was my 18th birthday,” to determine how she could honor Rose said. “I have a memory of walking her seniors over a Zoom call. across the stage and all my friends yelling Gupta considered letting her ‘Happy birthday!’ and being with family seniors leave her class and friends and that camaraderie and two minutes early celebration. It’s hard, as a parent, to not or hosting a be able to witness that after your child Zoom talent has worked so hard and for so long.” show so Rose’s graduation present to her daughter, a two week trip to Japan originally planned for the spring, was cancelled, but Rose hopes that they can reschedule the trip to January.

In the meantime, Rose and her family have been trying to recreate snippets of that experience at home by making different Japanese dishes and frequenting a local Japanese store.

Certain families, however, have been less sympathetic with traditions their

ILLUSTRATION | SARAH YOUNG

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EL ESTOQUE | MAY 2020

ILLUSTRATION | SARAH YOUNG

children are missing out on. Senior Ivanshi Ahuja found that she felt hesitant to talk to her parents about her sadness regarding her highly anticipated graduation.

Ahuja feels that her immigrant parents would not necessarily appreciate or the value that American schools place in ceremonies like graduation. “[My parents] just said, ‘It’s not the end of the world’ because they haven’t grown up in America and they haven’t celebrated the same milestones,” Ahuja said. “They didn’t have prom or anything when they were in school and they didn’t have a senior all-night party or any of that. They think [not having those things is] totally normal.”

Rose, who experienced all the typical senior milestones herself understands the importance of communicating to students that their hard work is validated. “[As a teacher], those last days reinforce the sense of community in those last classes, with bonding and connecting in ways that are outside of the academic realm to spend time with students,” Rose said. “I think teachers should have conversations, especially with students that they’re proud of, to just let them know that we’re proud of them and that the lack of a celebration doesn’t mean that it isn’t one.” e

ALL TOO COMMON

The class of 2020 described in numbers

BY ALYSSA HUI

46% 23%

have cheated academically* have used illegal substances

*According to a survey of 215 MVHS seniors

37%

are leaving California for college or work next year

12%

have been under the influence at school

56% 71%

feel prepared for life after high school have changed their future career path since freshman year

73%

have had a change in their group of friends *According to a survey of 219 MVHS seniors

54% 64%

wish they tried harder academically wish they tried harder socially

*According to a survey of 221 MVHS seniors unless otherwise stated

ILLUSTRATIONS | EMILY XIA AND SARAH YOUNG

FEATURES | MAY 2020

15

ILLUSTRATION | STUTI UPADHYAY

MIND THE GAP MVHS students should seriously consider taking a gap year

M

any of us MVHS students have our minds set on college from the minute we step onto our brick campus. Will joining this club look good on my resume? Which classes will look more impressive on my transcript? What summer program will make me stand out to admission committees?

We’ve grown up in an environment that often over-emphasizes college. College becomes the end goal for us. Although placing a lot of emphasis on college is usually a safe bet, in light of COVID-19, it’s time we broaden our horizons.

Due to COVID-19, thousands of colleges across the world are readjusting their plans for the fall. Many schools, including all the California State Universities, have already committed to a remote fall semester while others, like the University of California campuses, are heavily considering it. Others are planning to resume on-site instruction with major adjustments to housing and class situations. Regardless of the

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EL ESTOQUE | MAY 2020

BY STUTI UPADHYAY outcome, the chances of fall semester resuming as usual is slim to none.

Because of this, it’s important that all of us seniors seriously consider taking a gap year.

Taking a gap year essentially means pushing your college education back by a year and, instead, engaging in other developmental and educational activities.

Gap years are not a common path taken

by MVHS students. The graduating class of 2017 and 2018 both had three students taking a gap year, and the graduating class of 2019 had eight. However, given the current reality of COVID-19, we would be robbing ourselves if we didn’t give this option serious consideration.

Even though a remote college education will enable us to continue learning, our education will likely not be on par with what we would receive if we physically attended college.

Research from Stanford University has demonstrated that although online courses are great supplements for in-person instruction,

relying solely on online learning can be detrimental, especially for academically challenged students. Numerous studies have shown that learning is reinforced when you can build relationships with your professors and TAs. Furthermore, so much of college learning occurs in groups. We find academic opportunities by networking with those who have similar interests, and we grow as individuals by discussing ideas with people from different backgrounds and perspectives — this would all be lost if we went to a remote learning environment.

Although academics are obviously an important part of college, college is primarily defined by the experiences it provides. It’s about staying up all night with our roommates and making lifelong friends through classes and clubs. It’s about developing a sense of independence after living with our parents for 18 years. It’s about walking around on club day, taking a hundred flyers and finally discovering organizations that

COVID-19 is a gentle nudge later) and in the rest of our lives.

Granted, it may not be the right option for us to consider this option a for everyone. Some of us are desperate to little more seriously. A whole head to college, or need strict guidelines year of freedom to do whatever to be productive. Some of us know that we want to do, relatively free of we have so much education ahead that the financial liabilities, is truly a taking a year off is not a luxury. But, if once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

It’s not an easy decision you are someone who struggles with your and it definitely mental health, if you are isn’t one to be not sure what you want WE CAN’T LET made lightly. It’s to do or where you want F.O.M.O STOP UP important that to be in the future, if you we don’t let a feel like you need some FROM DOING gap year become more time to explore or WHAT’S RIGHT FOR a year of extra if attending college is a US. JUST BECAUSE Netflix. It’s also financial struggle, then taking a gap year is one IT’S NOT A TYPICAL undeniably hard to see all your of the best decisions you MVHS PATH DOES classmates move can make.

NOT MEAN IT’S THE on while you stay Taking a gap year at home. But it’s is often given a poor WRONG PATH. a decision that reputation as being a could end up waste of time, but the reality is that it can be anything you make being critical to our development. Take it. Regardless of your academic abilities some serious time to reflect on whether or future goals, everyone can benefit a gap year is for you. Don’t worry about from a gap year. You can work several what your friends would say or what jobs so attending college will be less your cousins or neighbors did; this is of a financial burden. You can work on your future and your life. We can’t let a project to create some sort of social F.O.M.O. (fear of missing out) stop change. You can start your own company us from doing what’s right for us. Just if you have an idea you are passionate because it’s not a typical MVHS path about but never had the time for. You doesn’t mean it’s the wrong path.

Seniors, we have already lost so can work in a lab and devote yourself to research. Especially with sudden much. We lost arguably the best changes due to COVID-19, there are so semester of our high school experience. many opportunities for us to find creative We lost countless memories like Senior ways to give back to our community and Ball, graduation, our senior trips. We lost some of our last moments with the those in need.

For too long, taking a gap year has people we’ve grown up with. We don’t been overlooked, especially by many of need to lose the first semester of our us college-obsessed MVHS kids. Now, college experience too. e

OPINION

become families. It’s about rushing frats, studying for hours in the library, joining intramural sports or theater or music groups, finding passion in research and going to parties with your friends.

These moments are next to impossible to experience when you’re sitting at home watching a pre-recorded lecture.

Your first semester of college is a oncein-a-lifetime experience, and taking a gap year can ensure we actually get that experience when we start college.

Taking a gap year can also be a huge advantage financially. Attending a fouryear college is one of the biggest financial commitments of our lives — the total cost of college, accounting for tuition, textbooks, dorms, food, travel and more, can add up to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Many schools are still charging for the full college experience regardless of how the fall semester actually turns out. For those of us who are taking out student loans or picking up extra jobs to cover this cost, it just doesn’t make sense to pay thousands of dollars without truly getting to experience college or take full advantage of academic opportunities.

In the long run, gap years have been proven to help students. According to a study in The New York Times, students who take gap years are more likely to finish college in four years. In a study conducted by the Gap Year Association, 98% of students who took a gap year said it helped them develop as a person and allowed valuable time for self-reflection; 97% said it increased their maturity and 96% said it increased their selfconfidence. Taking this one year off can help us grow as individuals and, in turn, set us up for success in college (a year

GRAPHIC | STUTI UPADHYAY

e OPINION | MAY 2020

17

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PHOTO |

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ILLUSTRATIONS | EMILY XIA

PHOTO |

BRYAN C HOY

Nine El Estoque seniors share parting words before leaving high school hannah le

e

FEATURES | MAY 2020

19

How my cello journey taught me that it is okay to quit

BY HANNAH LEE

I

ILLUSTRATION | EMILY XIA

n September 2018, I patted down my tears, breathed out one last long sigh and bid my final adieu to the world that had welcomed and cared for me.

For the past seven years, I had been in a relationship with Mason. He was my closest companion and the one I could always depend on. We made music together, traveled to Europe during the summer and held each other close in times of hardship. And yet, I decided that it was time for a breakup.

It didn’t make sense to everyone — I myself had a hard time convincing myself that I was sane when I made my decision to part ways with the smooth, polished Italian wood and rich chocolate tones of my cello. I was bombarded with questions asking, “But… why?”

For as long as I could remember, I had never had trouble in school. It was all too simple for me: work hard, get good results.

But then, cello entered the conversation in fourth grade and challenged the formula for success that I had so religiously adhered to.

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EL ESTOQUE | MAY 2020

In the beginning, it all worked out me the results I wanted — created an perfectly. Regardless of how busy I was, uncontrollable fear within me.

I made my way to the practice room I’ve had people tell me too many times every day and eventually learned how to to never give up, to persist in the midst of transform my notes into eloquent songs hardships — almost as if calling it quits and stories. But after a certain point, my is something forbidden. And I believed calloused fingertips, Biofreeze-scented them. I told myself to grow up and to just arms and sweat-stained learn to endure. chairs were not enough to But after stumbling PARTING WAYS produce the effortless tones and falling here and and technical passages that DOES NOT ALWAYS there, I finally realized I had envisioned — I found that being able to self MEAN A MESSY myself unable to overcome reflect and recognize FAREWELL — FOR my plateau. my needs is just as Every weekly lesson ME, IT SYMBOLIZED brave as persisting turned into an uphill through difficulties.

A GRADUATION battle, every competition Parting ways does became a futile attempt not always mean a and every audition re m a i n e d messy farewell — for me, it symbolized an embarrassing memory. I constantly a graduation. So after seven years, I deprecated myself, frustrated at my lack decided to say goodbye to the world I was of progress and desperate for an escape immersed in and turned my page to the from the seemingly unending failures. As next chapter.

I pushed myself into isolation, my friends I continue to carry the discipline, and family members became distant perseverance and expression that I figures in my life, and my only motivation learned and revisit the community that for playing the cello was embraced me with open arms — from my to win competitions. teacher, who watched me progress from I became obsessed a timid child to an experienced cellist with this idea, and and responsible individual; to the lifelong soon, I was no longer musical siblings that I was able to find married to my cello, but along the way; to Elena, my best friend rather to the addictive and soul sister. nature of success My cello journey gave me the and recognition. The opportunity to find a family of the most unique voices that I passionate, caring and fun individuals. It had learned to express is to these priceless relationships that I dissolved into an empty owe my most memorable moments and collection of notes that personal growth.

I played not for myself, While these graduations are terrifying, but for others. they propel me into unexplored galaxies Yet I still — so I continue to chase the extraordinary u n c o n s c i o u s l y beauty of uncertainty and risk to be able gravitated towards to add to my personal constellation and routine and comfort write my story until the time comes for me despite knowing that to flip the chapter again. e it was taking a toll on my own mental health because the idea of breaking up — and essentially accepting that playing cello may not ever give

Reflecting on my weight loss journey

BY JAI UPARKAR minutes, pinch my cheeks and splash water on my face to make it seem that I had been running. However, he caught me one day and yelled at me, “You don’t even feel bad about your weight. It’s shameful.” Those words couldn’t have been more untrue; I had been living with myself — my body — while being told repeatedly that it was too big for so long.

Of course I’m ashamed. Why wouldn’t I be — my body had never been enough for others, so how could it be for me?

The summer before my senior year, my dad threw a Hail Mary. A last ditch of desperation to make me lose weight.

“Lose 25 pounds,’’ he said, “you’ll get a dog.” I guess something clicked because I woke up at 7 a.m. every day to go to Crunch. It didn’t help that I would obsessively check the scale every day, but it gave me some sort of mental progress.

There were many times when I wanted to quit.

So many times I was too tired and stressed from school and college applications to go to the gym, but I persisted.

Endless times when I questioned if that dog was worth it, worth the energy or my “valuable” time. I hated running, so why suffer just for a dog?

I don’t know how, but I willed myself to keep running, keep going and to prove my dad wrong.

Soon enough, I got my dog. Life was good.

For some reason, when I look in the mirror I still see that overweight girl six months ago, insecure and uncomfortable in her own skin. I’m still a work in progress, but I’ve had a pretty revolutionary breakthrough: I’m stuck with my body and you are too (shocker).

We’re only given one body, one mind.

We’re born in it and we’ll die in it too: it’s permanent. It’s not some piece of clothing we can return if we don’t like it — the truth is, we are stuck with our body but we can control it through caring for it, physically and mentally. So treat it well. Don’t berate it for not being enough, don’t abuse it with your harsh mentality — take the time to nurture for it, to care for it. Whether that may be through eating healthier, running a mile or meditating for a couple of minutes, just remember to care of your body. It’s so easy to forget about our body amidst the pressure of school and succumb to our insecurities, but just remember to listen to and respect your body because it’s an amazing vessel — and it’s the only one you have. e

PHOTO | AASHKA GARG

t my heaviest I was 175 pounds.

It was embarrassing. When I looked in the mirror, I no longer saw the girl, known for being athletic, who played competitive tennis all throughout high school. However, the feeling of shame as I scrutinized my thighs and face wasn’t new — it had always been there.

Throughout my childhood, I had always been a “healthy” (it’s an Indian thing) girl. I wasn’t skinny, but I also wasn’t fat. When I would complain or comment about my weight or my body size, my friends and parents would say “Jai, it’s all muscle — you aren’t fat.” I would nod, feeling temporarily assured by their comments, but the feeling would always return minutes later, probably because I was never as skinny as my friends or family.

This feeling of self-consciousness has been with me my entire life. It’s there when my doctor gives me the same lecture about controlling my diet for the fifth time while looking at the chart of my above average BMI. It’s there when I go shopping with my friends who wear size 2’s and 3’s. It’s there when I hear my skinny friends calling each other fat and “thicc” as a joke.

My relationship with my body worsened when I stopped playing tennis competitively my junior year. The only rigorous form of exercise that my body was receiving was gone. This was when I gained the most weight and didn’t even realize it because I was so busy with school. I had even deleted my Instagram account because every time I opened it, I compared my body to everyone else’s, creating more internal resentment.

For the past 10 years, I was so used to being called “heavy,” that I myself had accepted it. My dad’s comments of calling me “Rebel Wilson,” “an elephant” and “obese” no longer affected me and instead enforced the idea that my body was not enough. My dad, in an effort to make me lose weight, would make me run the dreaded three-mile loop around the neighborhood. Instead, I found a shortcut and would rest there for a convincing 25

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION | EMILY XIA

FEATURES | MAY 2020

21

LETTER FROM THE EDITORS

How some troubling experiences as a freshman led me into journalism

BY ANISH VASUDEVAN

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION | EMILY XIA

leaned against my locker, preparing for another tough day at practice during my freshman football season. Earlier in the season, I had already been chased around by a halfnaked senior near this same locker, but I had hoped things would change. Five minutes later, I was in a fetal position crammed inside a varsity locker, trying to laugh along with the crowd of seniors staring at me. Still, inside that rectangular purple locker, I was just trying my best not to cry.

After middle school, I was certain that over the next four years of my life, one variable would remain constant: football.

However, my freshman football season was, to say the least, rough. At 5 feet 5 inches and a whopping 95 pounds, I was an easy target for the humongous football seniors to pick on. I convinced myself that the treatment I received was completely normal, and I continued to go to practice every day. But it wasn’t.

By the end of my freshman season, I was exhausted and flat-out depressed.

Once the season came to a close, I had more time to focus on my classes.

I had spent much more time and effort in one class, in particular, Writing for Publications — captured my interest.

One of our assignments was a sports story, where some of us had the

opportunity to work figured over the past We waited for alongside four longmembers years for our tripout tothat New York only few to months be oftold El Estoque at minute a basketball game.

I wasbesocanceled invested in to become at the last that our trip Iwould —trying all because of the was assigned to work with a senior, and next Jerry Rice that I forgot my fondest coronavirus. as a result of my previous experiences memories as a child were not just on the with them, I field. Instead, some of now officially referred to as COVID-19, dominated was Coronavirus, terrified myhas favorite experiences news headlines, forced thousands into isolation and, worst of all, instigated of getting I REALIZED THAT ALTHOUGH I were reading Sports widespread As PHYSICALLY the number of cases in the U.S.Illustrated approaches 300,every picked on paranoia.

Kids WASN’T PLAYING yet again. month or watching there is a growing concernI WAS about attending public SPORTS, ENJOYING ITgatherings.

However, SportsCenter on when I THROUGH ANOTHER MEDIUM Saturday mornings.

Despite major news sources like the New York Times and Washington r e a c h e d — JOURNALISM. I fell in love with Post addressing the reality of the outbreak — that the fatality in the the gym writing, rate specifically U.S. is most likely between 0.1 and 1.0% according to U.S. health officials, that game sports writing. that the disease is dangerous mainly for the elderly that and those in poor night, I was greeted by a welcoming I discovered I could use my face, something I wasn’t used to coming experiences as seem an athlete to find In others health — the fear people continue to express does not to subside. from someone three years older than that went through the same hardships, fact, it seems to be growing exponentially. me. Instead of belittling me, this senior using this to help me tell the stories of coached me through the different aspects MVHS athletes. I now had two constant Across the world, there are some media outlets that, by writing of covering a game, like positioning for variables for the next three years — sensationalist on the disease’s are contributing to pictures, how to articles take detailed notes and consequences, journalism and football. thistowidespread hysteria.

Their actions are now framed as the face of the how do post-game interviews.

The being feeling of walking into That night,even taking photosthese of theselect playerspublications journalismare class every day was equivalent journalism though not representative of and the investigating passion that they had for to the by feeling of pride resonating in a theseeing valuable reporting performed reputable organizations. the game rekindled my love for sports. I locker room right after winning a football realized that although I wasn’t physically game. That same adrenaline rush I would In the midst of this chaos, journalists are continuously attacked for playing sports, I was expericing it through get on the football field during practice supposedly spreading “fake news.” President DonaldtoTrump has declared another medium — journalism. was identical the feeling of frantically that he believes WHO’sthat assessment global pages death at rate be a “false I then understood the onlyof the designing latetonight. reason I hated because ofU.S. media At a time whenofI felt beaten down, number.”

Thefootball publicwas is accusing outlets manipulating the toxicityand the withholding seniors brought to theinformation. journalism provided me with confidence numbers important team, and now that those players were and inspired me to work my ass off. In gone, I decided I would keep playing. I the two years leading up to senior year, As student journalists, we believe in the importance of conveying the I worked my way up to becoming editortruth at all times — especially as public distrust in for journalism itself continues in-chief El Estoque and a co-captain to increase. It can be difficult to distinguish between fact and fiction, for the football team.

So to thoseshould seniorsnot whodeter found humor between ethical and unethical, but these challenges our in community. teasing me three years ago, thank you. commitment to acting as the voice of the It’s more important Without you, I would’ve never discovered now than ever to scrutinize, analyze and deconstruct the misinformation my love for journalism. that permeates our day-to-day existence and to rely on the hard facts, the And to journalism, thank you for giving data and figures as opposed to hysteria-influenced paranoia. themy truth me something to love Let during time in determine our actions. Let the truth dictate the way we live out our lives, high school — I can’t wait to make you whether we choose to attend the latest public gathering my life’s work. or not.

So, to end in the words of that I think best describe my life by rapper Aubrey Graham a.k.a. Drake: “started from the bottom, now we’re here.” e

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EL ESTOQUE | MAY 2020

Hannah Lee

Anish Vasudevan

A letter to a version of myself that deserves comfort

BY LAKSHANYAA GANESH o this feels weirdly meta, huh?

Pronoun usage in this situation feels complicated and hurts my brain, but I’ll do my best.

Lately I’ve had a lot of time to reflect, and the other day I found our old journals from middle school and freshman year. Sifting through the pages, I realized that we seem to have a lot more in common than I thought. We still love cheesy crime shows and extra bright moons and emotions. We still love being far too sentimental and making buttery pasta and crying to all of Lorde’s discography. We still love our friends and family more than all of those things combined.

But, some parts of you did change. I could go on and on about all the different things we’ve learned, all worthy of being embedded in the depths of Pinterest, but I don’t think you’d be able to digest that in any meaningful way.

Do you remember our first couple weeks in California, when your brain was trying to drink in the landscape of what, compared to North Carolina, was practically another planet? We were in the back of an SUV, driving down some highway with a too blue sky and foreboding mountains.

Slowly, though, as the blues of the sky gave way to oranges and pinks and eventually dark purples, the landscape seemed to melt into something softer.

The mountains started to twinkle, like they were wrapped in LED lights, and the scorching heat chilled to comfort.

I distinctly remember thinking, “Huh, maybe I’ll actually like this place, maybe things will turn out okay.” You immediately pushed that thought down, because at the time, every problem you had seemed as big as the universe.

I wish I could see you, hug you, bake you a plate of cookies and tell you that you were absolutely right that night on the highway. Things did end up working out, in an admittedly weird and unexpected way.

Here’s the thing — right now, we’re stuck in a pandemic, and there are so many things in our life that are uncertain.Things are still scary and you’re dealing with other losses that hurt just the same. You’ll be moving another couple thousand miles away from home soon.

Yes, these things are all scary and awful

and some days I can’t muster up the strength to get out of bed just thinking about how many essential workers risk their lives and go to work just to save ours.

And yet, little pockets of compassion and warmth pop up, with people staying resilient, people singing in balconies, people donating homemade masks and free coffee. For us (me?) personally, these pockets of warmth — moments like on the highway — are what we’ve grown to draw strength from. These past four years have been the wildest roller coaster I’ve ever been on (seriously, Big Thunder Mountain has got nothing on us), and we wouldn’t have made it out whole if not for the sunshine that peeked through in different forms — the drives with Dad and countless Target runs with friends and watching movies with Mom and watching Pratik grow up right in front of our eyes.

MVHS has a way of breaking all of us down, wearing us out to the point of questioning what rewards our hard work would even amount to, but you know this already.

What you don’t know, though, is that it also has an interesting way of building you back up. We start building strength and resilience through the caffeine-fueled late nights and test papers bleeding from red markers. We start realizing our own

worth and start thinking critically about the world beyond Schoolloop and biology labs. We built a family in room A111, having mental breakdowns in the studio with our friends and laughing in frustration at Adobe InDesign during late nights. We built a family in Speech, believe it or not.

You found your voice, finally. The suits you wore started empowering you, instead of making you want to sink into the floor.

I haven’t figured it all out and I really don’t know much more than you do. I do know, however, that you’ll make it. We got into college, we grew into someone that I think you’d like. I’m gonna keep trying to find these small moments to get me through whatever life throws at me.

God, I’m so proud of you (of us?) for surviving high school, for surviving far longer than you thought possible. Now I’m gonna keep making you proud, and I’ll keep in touch.

Love, Lakshanyaa

e

ILLUSTRATION | EMILY XIA

FEATURES | MAY 2020

23

Redefining my narrative and time in Cupertino

BY SREYA KUMAR upertino never felt like home. It took me approximately 18 hours to realize that. The air was unfamiliar and stale, too cold and sharp for my body, which was used to the fervent nature of tropical heat. For the 10 years I lived in Singapore, America had always been some kind of dream land for me — the land of cheap clothes, celebrities and cold winters, and I was finally living the dream, right?

I stepped foot into Monta Vista in my hot pink tights, a dark green Old Navy jacket and a big, fat smile, even though you could see all my crooked teeth.

Colorful and so full of life. But soon, reality hit — life wasn’t supposed to be colorful.

Life wasn’t what I thought it would be at all. It was characterized by monotony, loneliness and a prolonged sense of longing without ever belonging.

Monta Vista has this unique power of

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION | EMILY XIA

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EL ESTOQUE | MAY 2020

changing the lives of anyone who walks through its gates. You never return the same way. Everyone carried the same resentment and grudge but it was almost impossible to break the mould that blanketed everyone’s personalities.

Everyday was colored by the same kind of conversations — sleep, stress, social deprivation. There was nothing else to talk about, really. I learned that life was actually about numbers and equations and scores and success.

Monta Vista begged and begged and I gave and gave until I woke up in the mornings with blue fingers and toes, a pounding migraine, blurry vision and an accelerated heartbeat. I caught myself slipping down and down, and after a point, I just let myself fall. I was at my pediatrician’s office nearly every month, but she just repeated that everything I was experiencing were all normal side effects of stress. It didn’t feel normal though; I was a stranger to my own skin.

There was too much being asked of me, too many expectations, too many questions and I simply couldn’t satisfy anyone or anything.

Everyone kept telling me that failure was normal but I was conditioned to think otherwise. It was a struggle to accept my own triumphs and respect myself when I had achieved practically nothing, compared to everyone else. The whole world was on my shoulders and every breath was suffocating, painful and too much.

The nights were the worst. I would go to sleep praying to not be awakened by a migraine or permanent blindness.

It was

always eerily quiet, too quiet to fall asleep; the air heavy with what-ifs and silent wishes. I was only accompanied by the howling winds, my noisy thoughts and the pitter patter of my irregular heartbeats.

But there was also something so beautiful about Cupertino and the way it made every moment seem like it mattered. Every test, every mistake, every migraine, every football game, every late night drive, every laugh, every smile. Everything felt oversaturated and heightened with emotion, but there is something to be admired about that.

There were no thunderstorms with crackling lightning and on the best days you can look up and see the stars waving back with twinkling eyes. There were flowers everywhere — in my backyard, in my neighbor’s front yards, on the way to school, in the ditches, on the field. They were beautiful, fragile and so colorful.

They made me pause and stare, every single time, and just for a second, I let them take over me, because how are there pink roses growing by my bedroom window sill when the occupant herself feels withered and decayed?

Everyday I have to remind myself to be positive, to look on the bright side because wallowing in my ocean of self pity and lack of confidence brought me nowhere. I learned to ground myself and find reasons to believe in and stay.

And now that I can finally leave, and no longer feel tethered to this piece of land, I can’t help but feel a sense of emptiness within myself, because so many pieces of myself are scattered in the streets, classrooms and fields.

Cupertino never felt like home, and even though there is so much to hate, there is so much to love and remember. e

What I’ll miss about the Bay Area

BY RUCHA SOMAN

G

rowing up in the heart of Silicon Valley, I’ve been exposed to various communities of people from an numerous heritages. I mean, with so many Asians, this place has to be diverse, right?

In reality, it’s not. The Bay Area is crammed with so many boba, ramen and Indian chains that there isn’t much space for different perspectives. Everyone is super smart and ready to enter the world of engineering or pre-med. For the most part, anyone pursuing liberal arts, like me, is looked down upon with a pitiful smile.

This is obviously bad, right?

Actually, it’s not. Our immigrant parents worked extremely hard to get here, and they don’t want anything but the best for their children. Although they often do a terrible job of expressing it, many of our first-generation immigrant parents love us and want us to excel, and the only way they know how to ensure that is by putting us under unmerciful amounts of stress.

So when I go to college, I should be relieved to finally get out of this uber competitive/toxic environment, right?

ILLUSTRATION | EMILY XIA

Honestly, no, I won’t. The only dancer, and without the foundations of environment I’ve ever known is this dance, I wouldn’t be able to do Bhangra. discipline-based, goal-oriented, grade Bhangra taught me to be fierce and to let -obsessed environment that I grew up in. go. Performing the energetic dance on I was never exposed to the many aspects stage and screaming “MV BHANGRA” of a “traditional high school experience” at the top of my lungs was often the —I’ve never needed a job only thing that kept to pay the bills at home, me sane. Even if I NO MORE LATE seen a filled football get a chance to do NIGHTS, NO MORE stadium, had a locker or Bhangra again, I will taken the bus to school. never be part of MV SECTION EDITS I’m unaccustomed to Bhangra again. No AND NO MORE those stereotypes and more dangerous car #GESTOQUED. even though I’m cultured rides, no more blasting according to Cupertino’s Bollywood music and standards, I’m uncultured according to no more #bruahh.

America’s standards.

And of course, El Estoque. A111 As a predominantly liberal area, was the classroom where I frantically the Bay Area’s political atmosphere crammed for tests, fought with my best is overwhelmingly progressive. As a friend and had more mental breakdowns registered Democrat and a part of a small than I can count (Okay, technically, some program called Youth and Government, of these were in A112 and the studio).

I have strong opinions on certain issues. But every time I published a story (even But now, I’m jumping deep into the red the not-so-excellent ones), each time I state of Indiana, and I realized that my covered a game and when I eventually ideals might not align with the student became a sports editor, I was given a community like it did at MVHS. I’m not purpose. I definitely was not the best saying I have a problem with Republicans at journalism — I’ve received a lot of — I genuinely don’t — but I’ve never really criticism along the way — but journalism interacted with a far- has made me into a stronger person. right person, and I’m I’ve learned how to stand up for what I scared I’m going to knew was right for a story and to be a say something that leader as an editor. Even if I get a chance might unintentionally to write again, I will never be a part of offend people. the El Estoque family again. No more As a non-STEM late nights, no more section edits and no kid in this world of more #getstoqued. coding and calculus, Because of the joy-filled moments I’ve often felt like I and true passion in those two activities, was given hope but where was the space for any woes and then ran out of steam. worries? To me, it seemed that one by However, there were one, they all just faded away. two aspects of my Through all my downfalls, all I can life that made all my say is, at least it was here in Cupertino. problems go away.

This crazy place has given me a nurtured First, Bhangra. home that will serve as a launchpad for Joining this dance my future. So dear Cupertino, I can’t team was the second count the reasons I should stay. But I love best decision I you more than words can say. e made in high school (after journalism).

Bhangra taught me the importance of fundamentals.

I’m an Indian classical FEATURES | MAY 2020

25

Reflecting on my fear of growing up and my journey to adulthood

BY SWARA TEWARI grew up at 808 Lois Avenue, in Sunnyvale, Calif. My childhood is a string of carefree moments — endless games of cops and robbers with the neighborhood kids, summers spent running through sprinklers and reading books at night in the pink glow of my lava lamp. It was just another suburban neighborhood in California, but it was my own cozy, familiar world. Looking back on those days, I realized that I loved childhood so much that I never wanted it to end.

To me, it felt like in high school, everyone was racing to grow up as fast as they possibly could. Getting their permits as soon as they were old enough, getting summer jobs. And of course, college.

Since sophomore year, everyone around me seemed to be obsessed with the idea of moving out and living on their own.

Well, I have a confession to make — until a little while ago, the idea of becoming an adult and going to college was downright terrifying to me.

While everyone else raced to grow up, I hung back. I didn’t get a permit until I

ILLUSTRATION | EMILY XIA

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EL ESTOQUE | MAY 2020

was three months away from turning 18. what was so different. There’s this saying I never bothered getting a summer job. that the places of your childhood feel Independence was never my priority. smaller when you see them again after And when conversations turned to growing up. And sitting there behind the college, I would just laugh and say, “Oh steering wheel in front of my childhood my god, I’m going to die in college, I can’t home, I realized that somewhere along take care of myself.” the way, I had grown up.

My parents will readily tell anybody Over the course of high school, I that I’m nowhere near worked harder than I ever independent enough thought possible. I became I HAD SECRETLY to live on my own — a leader, someone people BEEN GROWING over the past several could trust. I let go of petty UP THE ENTIRE months, they’ve been middle school drama and “preparing me” by found real friends. I took my TIME. lecturing me nonstop passion for writing and made about preparing my something of it. I became own meals, being more observant and more self-aware — I now understand that punctual (granted, I was tardy almost I can be stubborn and self-centered, but I every day this school year). It isn’t also know that I’m hard working and have uncommon for my friends to joke about a strong moral compass. I understand my future of “sleeping through all my myself — flaws and all. So driving back classes and starving” in college. I usually home silently, I realized that maybe I laugh and agree — after all, I didn’t know wasn’t as unprepared for adulthood how to boil pasta until the shelter-in-place as I had thought — I had secretly been started and I just recently learned how to growing up the entire time. change a toilet paper roll. The prospect And yes, I do have a lot of small things of growing up and living independently to learn. I have to train myself to not sleep wasn’t exhilarating to me through my alarms. I have to learn how to like it was to everyone handle a credit card, be on time without else — it was daunting and my mom and sister rushing me and all seemingly impossible. the other trivial yet daunting things about Then, about a month ago, living on my own. And now that I can boil two days before turning 18, I the pasta, I should probably learn how was practicing driving when to cook it. But I can finally say that I’m my dad suggested I drive genuinely excited for college. And yes, to my old neighborhood. I will struggle, but I also know that I’ll I agreed, keeping my eyes figure it out. on the road, while thinking I’m proud of myself for taking my time to myself: would it look the to grow up instead of rushing my way to same? As I entered the web adulthood. I’m also proud of myself for of streets around my old enjoying childhood while it lasted, rather house, a wave of nostalgia than waking up one day to find it gone. washed over me.

Now, I know that I’m ready. I’m ready to I pulled up in front close the chapter of my childhood and of 808 Lois Avenue and start this next terrifying, yet exciting looked out at the house in phase of my life. e the dark. Something was off. Physically, everything was almost the same — the same porch with the same screen door, our neighbor’s car still parked in the same place eight years later. I couldn’t put my finger on

Coming to terms with my high school goals and accomplishments

BY EMILY XIA i again! Your friendly neighborhood tortoise, reporting back for duty. I know you probably didn’t expect to see me again after my rather melodramatic exit back in May of 2019, but I’m back to provide some advice in the embarrassing way I always do. It’s been a rather wild ride since I’ve last seen you, so sit back, relax and (hopefully) enjoy.

At the beginning of 2020, I wrote myself a letter to read at the end of the year. I’ll spare you the sappy details, but the main point was that I was so excited for everything that I was going to achieve within the next year. I told Emily from 2019 that I was endlessly proud of how she’d come out of her shell (reference my previous eight columns), and that this year would be my time to reap the benefits of the obstacles she had endured.

I told myself that this year would be just like a movie — I just didn’t know it would be “Contagion.”

Because suddenly, this ambitious, dreamy plan that I had created vanished in the span of three weeks. My final sports season, my first prom, my last semester of high school, my high school graduation and my jam-packed summer — all canceled. For the first time, I didn’t have

a list of things I needed to attend to, or exhausted and early mornings when I laid events to look forward to. As I watched in my bed and wondered whether it was event after event canceled by the day, I even worth it to go to school, I reminded couldn’t muster up the motivation to find myself to keep pushing. If nothing else, new hobbies that were when I attended my more indoor-friendly. final sports banquet YOUR FRIENDLY For years, all I had and walked down that NEIGHBORHOOD wanted was to enjoy graduation aisle, I TORTOISE, REPORTING wouldn’t even think of a single day worrying about absolutely regretting that I hadn’t BACK FOR DUTY. nothing, and now that lived my best life. many of those days I had no idea that have been handed to me, I realized that these mounting words of encouragement I never really wanted it in the first place. would manifest as a destructive need for I thrived off a busy schedule — off a life a tangible prize. filled with innumerable downs, but also But through the past few weeks, I’ve countless ups. begun to understand that not everything One day, in the midst of another needs to have a dramatic or satisfying crying session (jeez, when is this girl closing to have been a worthy experience going to stop?), I finally deduced that the in my life. Just because I don’t have a reason why I was so sad had less to do senior night doesn’t erase the lifelong with my missing so many traditions and friendships and leadership skills I’ve more so with my expectation that this gained from color guard. Just because I year would be a reward for all my efforts don’t have an in-person banquet for El throughout high school. I had looked Estoque doesn’t mean I haven’t left a forward to seeing all my work culminate positive trail behind with my writing. into something.

And perhaps most importantly, Through all those nights just because I don’t get to wear that when I was overwhelmed suffocatingly-hot cap and gown as I walk with studying, color guard down the graduation aisle doesn’t mean practices that made me that the academic merit, work ethic and personal growth I’ve worked my a** off for wasn’t worth it.

Though my life might seem like a cliffhanger right now, it would’ve been pretty boring if high school had just ended happily ever after. In fact, I’ve taken it as a personal challenge — maybe nothing ended the way that I’d hoped, but that just leaves more curiosity and a hungry desire to learn what happens in the next chapter.

So with that, I hope that you thoroughly enjoyed my triumphant return. I’d keep this going on longer, but I guess you’ll just have to wait and see when I’ll be back.

Perhaps the next time we cross paths, we’ll be different people again — only time will tell. e

ILLUSTRATION | EMILY XIA

FEATURES | MAY 2020

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My path to self-confidence

BY STUTI UPADHYAY o matter how many essays a college required, this prompt always started a tug-of-war in my brain. The tugof-war was hopeless; ultimately, I always put down the same three words: compassionate, genuine and driven (or something along those boring lines).

But, in the back of mind was the word I actually wanted to put down, the word I should have put down — the word I never did put down.

Ambitious. I am very ambitious.

According to Oxford Dictionary, the definition of ambitious is “having or showing a strong desire and determination to succeed.”

I think that’s a good description of me. I have big dreams for myself. I’m relentless when it comes to achieving my goals. And although I know it’s not possible, my goal is always to be the best at everything I do.

So why was I so against using ambition to describe me?

Because when you Google “ambitious,” it also tells you that similar words include “forceful,” “pushy,” “aggressive” and even “power-hungry.”

And no teenage girl wants to be identified as forceful or pushy. I thought that openly admitting that I am ambitious would make me seem rude or overly competitive. Countless research shows that the same actions from men and

women can portray men as confident and their achievements or doubt themselves. women as bitchy or uncooperative. And We say things like “I don’t know how I did like many girls my age, I wanted to appear well on this test” or “I got so lucky.” likable, especially to the committees Some of the things I said, I truly determining my future. I didn’t have the believed. Some of the things I said, I said confidence to admit that I was ambitious, to be humble. After all, girls are supposed and so although the word was embedded to be modest in order to be likable. in my mind, my personality and all my It has taken me 18 years to realize that actions, it never met paper. it’s perfectly okay to have the confidence I didn’t think much of my decision to say I’m good at something. To call until March, when I was myself intelligent. To waitlisted from my dream call myself ambitious. To DO NOT EXCUSE school. I was devastated. believe that everything I I was so close, but so far, have achieved, no matter YOUR LACK OF and now I had one last large or trivial, is SELF-CONFIDENCE how shot, one page, to make primarily because of FOR HUMILITY. it clear why I deserved a me, not because of luck spot at this school. or chance.

After countless revisions of flowery Being humble is not about attributing language and subtle references to my your successes to luck; it’s about qualifications, nothing fit. I spent hours accepting your success and recognizing agonizing over my letter, until I finally you still have a lot to learn. decided to be extremely straightforward.

So to my fellow ladies, and whoever My final letter essentially stated that needs to hear it, do not excuse your lack regardless of where I went to college, I of confidence as humility. Stop doubting was going to do great things because I am yourself and stop being scared to say you an ambitious person who never gives up are good at something. on my goals.

I believe confidence is one of the most The minute I pressed submit, I felt so important things a girl can have. There proud of myself. It didn’t matter whether I is so much sexism in the world; we are got off the waitlist or not — what mattered going to encounter bosses, classmates was that I had embraced who I was. In and friends who treat us unfairly and that instance, I was confident, and that’s hold us back from what we deserve. We something I have always struggled with. can’t hold ourselves back, too.

I grew up with an The earlier you learn to believe in older brother who is yourself, the more you will achieve. The one of the smartest more you challenge yourself, the more people I know. risks you will take, and the prouder you Whenever anyone will feel about yourself. would compliment For the past couple weeks, I’ve the two of us, I would started to raise my hand more in class or always reassure apply for things I probably won’t get. I’m them, “No, he’s the confident enough to take risks because smart one; I just even if I fail, I know I’m still a capable work hard.” It never person. These small changes have made occurred to me that me feel so much more empowered. It we’re just “smart” in has taken me a while, but I’m proud different ways. of myself. I know that if I could submit And it’s not just that prompt again, I would be confident me. So many of my enough to put down “ambitious” without friends, especially a second thought. e my female friends, constantly downplay

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2020

WHAT THEY WOULD’VE WORN

Seniors reflect on their planned outfits for 2020 Senior Ball

BY ANUSHKA DE AND LAKSHANYAA GANESH

PHOTOS | JOYCE DAMOZONIO

SHREYA GANAPATHY & JULIAN KIM ELLIE DAMOZONIO

S

enior Ellie Damozonio had been looking for a dress for her aunt’s wedding with her mother when she stumbled upon a beautiful blue dress. It was just after prom season, and stores were lined with racks of colorful dresses on sale.

Damozonio’s mother encouraged her to buy the dress, saying that she could wear the dress to her Senior Ball next year.

One year later, Damozonio found herself in an unprecedented pandemic, her senior year cut short and the senior ball she had anticipated cancelled. As soon as she’d heard that Junior Prom was being combined with Senior Ball, Damozonio had expected the cancellation. She still felt much sadness at not being able to shop for a dress and having such a significant experience of her senior year taken away, but when Damozonio and her mother stumbled upon that dress they’d bought so long ago in her closet, her mother immediately suggested a photoshoot.

“When I did get to put the dress on, I loved it so much, I felt like a princess,” Damozonio said. “It was just such a really fun experience amidst all the uncertainty of quarantine.”

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF SHREYA GANAPATHY

“We never even got the closure that we’re letting go of our high school experience — our senior year just ended with everything else,” Parasuram said. “So it seems unfinished — there’s not that feeling of everything winding down, which was what prom symbolized.”

“People are really split – half of the people want to stay in touch after graduation and half the people just want to cut people off,” Ganapathy said. “But Senior Ball is the last time that we can actually come together and enjoy a night as a class.”

Despite these circumstances, seniors have done their best to make the most of their last days of high school. These four seniors showed the dresses and suits they had planned on wearing to the dance — and the stories that accompany each look.

A&E

E

legant gowns and sophisticated suits twinkle at twilight on the San Francisco Bay as the Class of 2020, surrounded by their childhood friends, bid farewell to their high school careers. This was what many seniors had imagined their Senior Ball being, the final rite of passage before graduating high school and starting college.

Instead, seniors found their final year of high school cut short, and their Senior Ball canceled because of COVID-19. Seniors Shreya Ganapathy and Anjana Parasuram had looked forward to experiences such as Senior Ball, graduation and the Senior All Night Party since their freshman year.

They were disappointed that they wouldn’t get one last opportunity to connect with her class before everyone went down their separate paths.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ANJANA PARASURAM

DIVYA SURESH & GIOVANNI VURRO ANJANA PARASURAM

S

enior Gioavanni Vurro fondly remembers his Junior Prom — from an eventful preprom to being surrounded by his friends at the dance, he knew that the only experience that could top his Junior Prom was his long-awaited Senior Ball with the rest of his class.

“Senior Ball is the closure of our high school experience,” Vurro said. “Just the whole Class of 2020 together in one place, so yeah, we were definitely sad about [the cancelation] because [Senior Ball] was supposed to be our closure.”

Senior Anjana Parasuram felt the same way — she’d long pictured herself in an elegant gown with simplistic makeup, the picture of sophistication finally saying goodbye to her high school self. She had always imagined walking into a gym so well decorated that it was unrecognizable, surrounded by her closest friends, finding finality in their last moments as high schoolers.

“The dances made me start becoming more connected with the people around me,” Parasuram said. “You just cherish those last moments as your [senior year] winds down. Not having it was very anticlimactic.” e

PHOTOS COURTESY OF GIOVANNI VURRO

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | MAY 2020

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PHOTO USED WITH PERMISSION FROM RUKMINI BANERJEE

PHOTO USED WITH PERMISSION FROM RUKMINI BANERJEE

PHOTO USED WITH PERMISSION FROM CATHERINE CHOI

ONE LAST

HURRAH Seniors share their original senior trip plans

BY BRIAN XU AND ANNIE ZHANG

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I

n February, seniors Rukmini Banerjee against COVID-19 — Mexico would be planning her trip to Korea in 2019, but by and Jennifer Liu booked an all- closed to tourists even if the U.S. had February of this year, they became more inclusive vacation package — flight, reduced its cases. aware of the threat of COVID-19 and transportation, meals and hotel rooms To Banerjee, the cancellation of her the possibility of travel restrictions or covered — to unwind at Puerto Vallarta, senior trip made her frustrated at the a school closure. In fact, Choi’s friends Mexico for their senior trip. Banerjee and government’s inaction in responding to had joked about embarking on their trip Liu’s friend group had long planned for COVID-19, as “everyone deserves to before the shelter-in-place orders that the trip to be spontaneous in schedule, have a senior trip.” would come in late March. as their main goal was “I mean, Currently, Choi is leaving her options to “do nothing,” relax it’s just like a open and is still considering eventually YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO and destress from last hurrah,” moving forward with her senior trip to the results-oriented B a n e r j e e Korea. She feels that after shelter-inBE ABLE TO JUST ENJOY atmosphere of MVHS. said.

“You’re place orders are lifted, traveling to Korea A FEW WEEKS WITH “The past four years supposed to be may not be dangerous in comparison to THE PEOPLE WHO YOU has been so stressful able to just enjoy staying in the U.S. Testing for COVID-19 — you’re always a few weeks typically costs around $150 in Korea, CARED THE MOST ABOUT working towards with the people compared to thousands of dollars one THROUGHOUT HIGH something … whether who you cared could expect to spend in the U.S. SCHOOL. NOW, YOU it’s working towards the most about “It’s a lot safer to be in Korea because taking the SAT, taking throughout high you can get tested whenever you want,” DON’T EVEN GET THAT. subjects, college apps, school.

Now, Choi said. “Unlike here, they just asked SENIOR RUKMINI BANERJEE waiting for decisions, you don’t even us to stay home right? … If you get the waiting for [waitlists],” get that. And coronavirus here, it’s really expensive Banerjee said. “In Mexico, there’s nothing it’s not as if it’s our fault, like we did to get treated. But in Korea, … even if you’re working towards ... We can just something. This is the actions of negligent we go to the airport and we get [the] do whatever we want. And that’s why governments and negligent people who coronavirus, [it’s] a lot cheaper [to] get we were really really looking forward to have absolutely no relationship with us. it treated.” the trip because we didn’t really have an And that’s just really unfair.”

Overall, Banerjee feels that while not itinerary or anything we were supposed Banerjee says that shelter-in-place everyone has the same vision of a senior to do.” helped her realize that she needed to be trip, every senior should have the option When the school closure was more grateful for what she had while she to enjoy one. Though Banerjee notes announced, Banerjee and her friend still had it, because attending college in that her friends’ plan to go to a resort in were initially in denial, presuming that the fall, or even an experience such as Mexico is one that may be unusual, even COVID-19 wasn’t a concern in the eating out, may not be possible anymore. holding a party with friends over the U.S. given the low number of cases.

Senior Catherine Choi was also looking summer can be a great last memory to To Banerjee at the time, the pandemic forward to enjoying her senior trips: one share with friends. seemed like a “blip in the road” that to Korea with three of her friends and “Even if you think that this is a chance countries would eventually rebound from one to Europe you may not once testing became widespread and with her family. have because WE’RE JUST STILL KEEPING a vaccine was developed. As a result, Choi’s sister had you’re gonna Banerjee’s friend group didn’t fathom just graduated be too busy in HOPE FOR THE SENIOR TRIP, that their senior trip would be canceled. from medical summer or it EVEN THOUGH I THINK WE “We were really disappointed school this year, just won’t work DEEP DOWN KNOW THAT’S because we’ve been looking forward so Choi viewed out, you should to this for such a long time,” Liu said. the summer as an still plan it,” NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. “Me and my friends were talking about pportunity to relax Banerjee said. how when school first got canceled, we with loved ones at “Even though we SENIOR JENNIFER LIU were like, ‘Okay, as long as we still have the end of her high couldn’t go, we senior prom, as long as we still have school career. still had the fun [graduation] and the senior trip.’ And “I’ve been so of thinking that then obviously [graduation] got canceled, busy every summer with summer camps we were. We had all of the group chats and senior prom got canceled. We’re just or internships so I just wanted to go to that we were making and [we’d] be like, still keeping hope for the senior trip, even Korea [and] see my family in Korea,” Choi ‘Oh my god, our hotel has a pool on the though I think we deep down know that’s said. “And I just really like the Korean roof. Oh my god, the hot tub is open not going to happen.” culture … I feel like Korea is just really 24 hours.’ And even if we don’t get the Once cases in the U.S escalated during pretty in general — all the road shops are actual experience, I’m glad we had the late March, Banerjee acknowledged that really pretty.” novelty of planning it.” e Mexico did not have a prevention plan Choi and her friends had started

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LENDING A HELPING HAND Track & Field team helps boost essential worker morale

BY JUSTINE HA AND TABITHA MENDEZ

PHOTO USED WITH PERMISSION | VIVIAN CHENG

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D

espite there being no practices or games for spring sports due to COVID-19 and school closures, the Track & Field team has been using this time to work together and help others. Inspired by the many essential workers who have been working tirelessly during this time in one of the most highly impacted cities in the United States, Track & Field coach John McKeeman wanted to create a wave of encouragement to help lift up the spirits of nurses in New York City.

As a native New Yorker himself, McKeeman had initially noticed the immense physical and mental strain essential workers were eWnduring in New York as the number of COVID-19 patients increased over the past couple of months.

After speaking to one of his close friends whose sister was working as a nurse, McKeeman started to brainstorm ways to help out.

He had spoken to a couple of other nurses, and he realized that they needed “seemingly simple” things, including food, transportation and words of encouragement. McKeeman decided to focus on creating a forum via an email digest and Instagram page @dearcovidheroes for people to post their words of encouragement for these nurses — by doing so, it would allow people to help out while also doing it safely.

Letters written by the team were also printed out and posted around New York hospitals for nurses. McKeeman highlights the positive impact the thoughtful letters have had on various individuals at the hospital.

“I think what’s been cool is that not only [are the letters] helping them, but some of the [impacted] patients as well who are able to walk around the hospital,” McKeeman said. “[They] just saw that these kids from, 3000 miles away, are thinking about us, they believe in the situation we’re in and are helping us.”

With the help of several matching donation programs via Facebook, McKeeman used the letters to incentivize kids to send more. Each letter correlated to a certain money amount in donations. “[These letters] were received well by the nurses and doctors, so after that I basically, just to incentivize kids, said, ‘OK ... Facebook, my former company, [is] doing a matching program with donations to the CDC,’” McKeeman said.

“This is a good way to make one dollar turn into two and have it go to a good organization and hopefully make some people feel better at the same time.”

As the track team has been working collaboratively to send out letters of encouragement, other members are finding different ways to give back. Captain and senior Ananya Rajagopal sent her Spotify playlist in hopes to help lift the nurses’ spirits. “[The essential workers, specifically in hospitals,] are heroes and they’re doing so much,” Rajagopal said. “This is a novel crisis — there’s no vaccine, there’s nothing and the nurses are doing so much. I ended up sending my Spotify playlist [to these nurses] because whenever I’m feeling sad, I

SPORTS

usually just listen to [music] and it makes me feel happy. that we] could help out the community [this] way because we I sent that, and then when coach John told me that they know a lot of people are in need of help right now.” were playing it in the hospital, in the break room, I was Despite the disappointments students are facing due to just like, ‘Wow, I can’t believe that.’” various cancellations such as competing in the spring sports Similarly, captain and junior Vivian Cheng used her season, prom and vacations, McKeeman applauds the Track & artistic abilities to show her support by drawing a portrait Field team for keeping a positive attitude and actively helping of a nurse McKeeman personally knows. out with this effort.

“I wanted to show my gratitude towards [the nurses] “I’m proud of them obviously ... You know, you’re a week in a way that I could do most effectively,” Cheng said. “I removed from hearing that your seasons are done, your like art, so I painted a picture of the nurse school year is done, your prom that Coach John knows — I painted her in is canceled, your spring [break] THE REASON WHY I her uniform and with a mask [on] because is canceled,” McKeeman said. “[I there have been a lot of Instagram posts of WANTED TO START understand] that’s one of the most nurses who have bruises on their faces after Wfun times of the year … you’re THIS [EFFORT] WAS TO wearing their masks for several shifts in a feeling good [and] to have all that GIVE KIDS A WAY TO BE row. On the mask [in the portrait I drew], I suddenly disappear is not easy.

PRODUCTIVE AND TO BE The fact that the kids were able to wrote a couple of words like hero and brave.

[Overall,] the painting was to show my respond to this and do something APART OF SOMETHING gratefulness for all the effort and sacrifices positive when it would have been POSITIVE. they’re making.” really easy to sit at home and feel Alongside the individual efforts, the team bad for themselves, [really makes COACH JOHN MCKEEMAN has also collectively created ways to get me happy]. even more people involved in the effort.

McKeeman encourages the As many clubs around MVHS have been creating Bingo MVHS community to give back, even if it’s with a small gesture boards for students to stay connected on social media, like sending positive messages to essential workers. the track captains created one that helped raise money “I would encourage people to just spend a little bit of time for people even outside of hospitals. each day thinking of what they can do outside of their own “[The captains] thought of a way where we could turn little worlds,” McKeeman said. “Just keep chipping away and a bingo board into [a] kind of a donation thing, where understand that a small act of good is going to inspire someone each square was a dare,” Cheng said. “People would else [to do the same], and hopefully that leads to millions of donate for us to do [certain] dares, and we would give acts of good for the next couple of years and forever.” e that money to Second Harvest Food Bank — we [thought

PHOTO USED WITH PERMISSION | JOHN MCKEEMAN

PHOTO USED WITH PERMISSION PHOTO | VIVIAN | JUSTINE CHENG HA

Nurses at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center pose for a photo to thank the numerous kids who have sent in a letter via the email forum.

During the 400-meter shootout event, Mckeeman says a speech to the Track & Field team before passing out awards.

SPORTS | MAY 2020

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