Volume 42, Issue 1, September 21 2011

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ESTOQUE September 21, 2011 Issue XLII

Budgeting the budget

PTSA $10,000 gift poses spending flexibility news Page 6

Fall TV Preview

A guide to falling in love with this season’s shows A&E Page 35

Freaked out

Dancing exposes gray area in school rules opinion Page 17

Through his

eyes

A view into senior Jordan Sheade’s struggle against ocular melanoma sports Page 23

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3 22 0

32 12

contents

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A look into the process that clubs go through and why they do it

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Budget analysis

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New horizons

8

Where our money goes and why

Transfer students’ perspectives on the school’s culture

Campus handicaps The difficulties that the structure of the school poses for the handicapped

Over my ____ body

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Exploring the conflicts between your own body image and that of the changing media

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A happy medium

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Extreme workout

Finding the right balance for body image and health

Investigation into the physical and mental effects of nitric oxide

A justified change

22

Traditional powderpuff took a hit for the sake of construction; what now?

17

21

A&E

SPORTS

OPINION

SPECIAL

Club Day breakdown

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38

ESTOQUE

NEWS

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11

Not on the same page

Letter of the law versus reality

AP culture

Devil’s Advocate: why AP students really are superior

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Above and beyond

30

Sisterly bond

32 40

Going the distance

42

Modeling, maturing

Senior Melissa Chuang reveals her path to education through gymnastics

Reflecting on the four years of field hockey together

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Sports flash A collection of recaps from this month in sports

Working together

Teachers discuss the nuances of having their spouses on campus

Students travel the globe to pursue interests

Building confidence through the entertainment industry EL ESTOQUE

21840 McClellan Rd. Cupertino, CA 95014 mv.el.estoque@gmail.com Editor-in-Chief: Karishma Mehrotra Managing Editors: Christophe Haubursin, Yaamini Venkataraman, Ashley Wu, Sara Yang Copy Editors: Nona Penner, Lisa Zhang Webmaster: Akshay Agrawal Photo Editor: Kevin Tsukii News Editors: Akshay Agrawal, Aafreen Mahmood, Anushka Patil Sports Editors: Patrick Xie, Dickson Tsai Entertainment Editors: Danielle Kay, Pooja Ravikiran Opinion Editors: Smitha Gundavajhala, Laura Yang Special Project Editors: Cynthia Mao, Daniel Tan Business Editor: Emily Vu Staff Writers: Rachel Beyda, Nellie Brosnan, Carissa Chan, Stephanie Chang, Emma Courtright, Simran Devidasani, Amrutha Dorai, Karen Feng, Kevin Guo, Yimeng Han, Gisella Joma, Megan Jones, Soumya Kurnool, Howard Lee, Forest Liao, Margaret Lin, Angela Liu, Rachel Lu, Jacob Lui, Kiranmayi Methuku, Alexandria Poh, Albert Qiu, Murahd Shawki, Angela Wang, Elvin Wong, Amelia Yang Adviser: Michelle Balmeo Credits Some images in this publication were taken from the stock photography website sxc.hu.

Mission Statement El Estoque is an open forum created for and by students of Monta Vista High School.

Opinions expressed in this publication are those of the journalism staff and not of Monta Vista High School or the Fremont Union High School District. The staff seeks to recognize individuals, events, and ideas and bring news to the MVHS community in a manner that is professional, unbiased, and thorough in order to effectively serve our readers. We strive to report accurately, and we will correct any significant error. If you believe such an error has been made, please contact us. Letters of any length should be submitted via email or mail.

They may be edited for length or accuracy.

Letters cannot be returned and will be published at El Estoque’s discretion. We also reserve the right to reject advertising due to space limitations or decision of the Editorial Board that content of the advertisement conflicts with the mission of the publication.

SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

You’re probably thinking ‘Where’s my newspaper?’

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hat happened to my 17.5 by 11.5 inch newspaper?

What happened to El Estoque?

Let me try to answer.

As a staff, the feeling of news magazine style has been trailing us for years.

Before this year, our staff was split up into a separate online and print staff. A large part of that was that last year was the first year, I feel, we truly mastered that idea of “breaking news” online. This success in one medium inherently brought about some conflict with the other.

“No, that can’t go on online. We are writing about it in print.”

That line that El Estoque reporters often tossed around in our newsroom seemed backward to me.

It didn’t make sense to compete over content. To avoid that conflict, the challenge for the print staff was to shift gears while looking at their coverage. As our online site evolved, we simultaneously revamped print content into the freestyle, dynamic magazine dimension that our genre of newspaper irritatingly omitted.

Our content behaved in a reflective, analytical manner (as any monthly publication should) while the straightnews, immediate reporting was now being allotted to the online medium.

After this growth, our flow of information in print conveyed all characteristics of a magazine and “newspaper” simply no longer fit our personality.

Over the years, this disguise has gradually increased in intensity — to the point where the debate about news magazine versus newspaper was passed down to each new staff. When it came to ours, we made the decision.

To create this letter and answer your question though, I wanted to put this decision in some retrospective. I wanted to know what types of

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change El Estoque has taken on in the past 42 years and its comparison to ours.

As I rummaged through the dusty crevasses of Room A111, I saw the metamorphoisis this publication undertook since the days of typewriters and 10 special fonts per page. Those folks probably didn’t think their paper had to change, that the awkwardly-lit photos and unbelievably confusing formatting that I laughed at would soon become obsolete and grossly outdated. Forty two years later, changing our name from paper to magazine seems trivial.

Soon enough, the newspaper form from 2010 – 2011 will soon blend in with the forms from the 70s, 80s, and 90s — labeled as archaic, vintage.

And someday, a new staff will amend what we consider the cutting-edge style of today. They will make a decision that their audience will inquire about. Then their Editor-in-Chief will answer.

But in the meantime, we hope you enjoy the fresh look of El Estoque.

Letter from the editor

k.mehrotra@elestoque.org

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Teaching

NEWS

to the

TECH

Teachers engage students with technology inside and outside of the classroom

Multisensory Education Prior to arriving at MVHS, Otto was well known at Homestead High school for his interactive, “out-of-your seat“ teaching methods in his World and U.S. History classes.

Otto, who pursued his Master’s Degree in Educational Technology at Santa Clara University, utilizes Powerpoint presentations to connect with students through games or specific Powerpoint themes, many of them including references to pop culture and stories that build up to the openings of lectures.

“They peak student engagement more than just a lecture or traditional [Powerpoint] slide design. I definitely like to believe that my Powerpoints are very much geared toward getting students engaged and into the content,” Otto said.

In order to expose his students to the material in different ways, Otto designs class activities that require students to use senses beyond sight and sound. For example, during a game of Pictionary, Otto had Government students draw onto a tablet from his computer which, as a part of a Powerpoint slide, projected to the screen.

“My idea of teaching is that students shouldn’t be just sitting at

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on

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hen Government and Economics teacher Eric Otto opens his e-mail, he always sees a separate folder designated for parent e-mails that has been growing for the past six years of his teaching.

The parents all expressed disbelief in their child’s engagement in a subject that they initially thought would offer them nothing more than a bunch of old, dusty textbooks.

But only Otto knows the secret ingredient to his students’ engagement: technology.

According to a study conducted by the University of British Columbia research, an interactive and engaging classroom environment was all it took to bolster student attendance and almost double the grasp of the concepts taught in a Physics class. The students uniformly scored twice more than their original scores.

que Photo Illustrati

Aafreen Mahmood| El Esto

by Aafreen Mahmood

a desk all day listening to a teacher talk. They should have an opportunity to touch the history in some sort of way,” Otto said.

Forming a class network online Social Sciences teacher Angela Estrella’s primary technological application to the class curriculum has been a blog in which her students collaborate with each other outside of the classroom.

“As teachers, we’re trying to look at what you can create with all the information at your finger tips. That’s what this blog is for me,” Estrella said.

Students are encouraged to build off of each other‘s ideas on the blog when answering her discussion and free-response questions such as: “Do you think non-citizens should have the same rights as citizens?”

In addition to the blog, Estrella has introduced a number of other software tools for students to use when building projects such as Glogster, Prezi and Popplet. With these online tools, students are able to build projects, mind maps and interactive presentations.

“You’re building a community of knowledge outside these four walls that we all are accountable for participating and providing our input,” said Estrella. “I think in the future we’ll see that.

Your classroom isn’t just 50 minutes in these four walls, but it’s everywhere.”

Technology with personality Throughout his six years of teaching at MVHS, math teacher Brian Dong has incorporated various forms of technology into his class curriculum, from TI-84 geometry programs to review games of Deal or No Deal on Powerpoint. He intends to take advantage of one of the greatest benefits he feels technology has to offer: breaking up the monotony of the average course lesson plan.

EL ESTOQUE

transfer students // budget // teaching styles // handicapped // club day sales

Kevin Tsukii | El Estoque

SHARING KNOWLEDGE: After seeing his students’ growing interest in Prezi, English teacher Matt Brashears teaches his Mythology and Folklore students how to use the software on Sept. 12.

“You don’t need technology to teach high school curriculum. I think I use technology right now for student engagement, motivation, and interest rather than as an instructional tool,” Dong said. “It’s fun for me to be myself and add my own personality.”

Six years ago, Dong conducted a study with MVHS students for his Master’s degree in which he experimented with three different methods of teaching geometry: lecturing, working with manipulatives and using a software on TI-84 calculators. Though the level of comprehension of the material remained relatively constant throughout, Dong received deeper-level questions from his students when using software.

Though he acknowledges that technology is only effective when serving a purpose, he also recognizes the necessity of teacher involvement when incorporating it into class curriculum.

“Technology alone will only peak the interest of kids that find some natural connection to it. Kids aren’t going to latch onto it right away,” Dong said. “[Teachers] have to see a point and a purpose, and I think part of that is teacher enthusiasm.”

Learning how to improve student learning Every year, English teacher Matt Brashears inevitably gets the same question from three or four students in each class: “Whoa... what is that?”

For Brashears, web-based programs, like Prezi, an interactive cloud-presentation software, offer him the best opportunity to approach teaching from different angles.

“The nice thing about Prezi is that you can physically interact with it, so students who especially learn more spatially or through kinesthetic interaction can have the benefit of that as well,” Brashears said. “For me personally, it better fits my learning style.”

Brashears also evolved the editing process for papers through Turnitin tools such as PeerMark and GradeMark, which allow him to places links to websites, other papers, or class notes to show examples of improved structure.

SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

“I really have no desire to go back to having students turning in hard copies of papers or drafts.” Brashears sad. “Often times one of the complaints students have with peer editing is that the feedback that they get doesn’t really help, so this software helps with that.”

During a research assignment, in addition to providing laptop carts, Brashears and social studies teacher Nick Bonacorsi allowed their 64 students to use iPads, smartphones and whatever other networking devices they had to interact and share research with each other in over a dozen different ways.

“We removed that barrier that prevents them from using all of that technology normally, and I was really impressed with what they were able to do with that.”

Finding the balance Despite his affinity for technology, Otto recognizes the power of multisensory, hands-on teaching methods and simulations to convey information in memorable ways. Otto often conducted simulations that involved multiple senses, serving as opportunities in which he could introduce a topic in the most memorable way to his students.

During one simulation of trench warfare in his HHS World History class, Otto had his students crawl through a trench he built, sprayed water upon their faces to simulate bloodshed, and blindfolded some of them, while maintaining the balance between hands-on and technology by using a Powerpoint presentation to display three-dimensional images of actual trench warfare.

Though concepts such as trench warfare in World War I have been taught in World History for years without much need for technology, the teachers still find it helpful to take the extra mile to stay up to date with current issues and learning styles in education.

“That intrinsic interest is the best part; if you want to be a better teacher and you want to incorporate things that you think will help kids, you have to do it,” Dong said. “And it’s a good feeling.” a.mahmood@elestoque.org

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budget // teaching styles // handicapped

NEWS

club day sales // transfer students

MARQUEE: The new internal marquee located on the rally court side of the gym cost $10,000.

Gisella Joma and Kevin Tsukii | El Estoque Photo Illustration

Taking a closer look into the who, when, and why of the MVHS budget

by Gisella Joma

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s students walked into the rally court on the first day of school, they were greeted by a brightly colored screen. Some students have questioned administration’s reasons for purchasing the $10,000 internal marquee on Aug. 17 rather than spending the money on new textbooks or more academic materials.

General funds The general budget covers basic allocations, including all custodial and administrative costs—which amounts to about $320,000.

While some funds are currently unknown due to the statewide budget crisis, the money given to the school is allocated to a general budget and several major programs. Some of those programs include English Learners, which can vary slightly but equates to about $40,000 a year, School Site Council (which is school and library improvement costs-about $45,000), the Gifted and Talented Education program which is about $6,000 and capital outlay which helps pay for desks, tables and equipment which is about $60,000.

Bond measures A bond measure is an agreement between MVHS and FUHSD that allows for technological expansion and pays for

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facilities and reservations.

“It provides matching dollars, so if we were to buy a computer, the technology dollars will buy two, so three for the price of one,” Principal April Scott said. “[It] allows us to be very smart in how we keep current in technology.”

In order to approve a bond, each idea must go through stages of voting by the school parents, the community and the student body. Finally, the Board of Trustees must approve the measure.

This bond measure pays for the current replacement of the roofs, the downstairs B-building bathroom renovations and the new classrooms that will be built. The bond will also use $13 million to restore the track and field beginning this fall. The establishment of the lights is in a two week deadline with the FUHSD Board of Trustees.

The gates will go up around the track and field on Sept. 19.

Grants Grant funds are gifts given to the school by organizations such as PTSA or the Rotary Foundation. People or schools who wish to use the grant money must apply and also state their reasons for applying. If their requests are approved, the money goes to the person or school as a gift.

The PTSA raises money for the school by parent donations. Last year, the PTSA donated $10,000 to the school. Scott made the ultimate decision as to how to use that money. In previous years, it has been used for a sound system in the gym and auditorium, and on benches around the library.

“The things [that PTSA does for us are things] that we are not able to do just with our basic allocations,“ Scott said.“They are kind of the dreams, if we [were to] find a pot of gold somewhere, this is what we would love to do [with it].”

The administration has been talking about purchasing an internal marquee for a couple years as a way of posting more student specific information in a more efficient way.

MVHS news is always posted on School Loop, but according to PTSA Executive Vice President Barbara Goldman “the internal marquee can be seen at any time and is a way the students can get information more quickly and efficiently.”

Even though some students have had feelings of discontent towards the marquee, the administration claims it was established for a specific reason using money that was given to the school. The marquee also allows parents on campus to see what is going on behind the walls of MVHS. g.joma@elestoque.org EL ESTOQUE

budget // teaching styles // handicapped

NEWS

International students start

club day sales // transfer students

ANEW

Education at MVHS draws students from around the world

by Alexandria Poh

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tudents from increasingly widespread areas around the they could. Whatever free time they had was spent preparing world are making MVHS their high school hotspot. In for the next school day. Even outside of school, teachers forbade addition to transfers from Asian countries such as Taiwan Zirak from dancing, a hobby that she enjoys freely today. and India, they have been arriving from the Netherlands and “[Iran’s teachers were] so harsh, you know? They hate Iran recently as well. What is it that draws them thousands everyone. We had to study all the time, nothing else,” Zirak said. of miles away from their homes to attend high school here?

As with Zhou, her school was also small, with an For senior Leon Zhou, it was the in-state tuition that UCs offered. estimated 400 students. Classrooms were so filled that Due to his father’s job transfer, Zhou moved from his Cupertino students sat with their faces just inches from each other. home in seventh grade to Shanghai. After five years at The However, from what English L anguage Development teacher Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. Private School, Chelsa Anderson sees, it isn’t simply the MVHS environment that Zhou returned home in June, where he has to live for one year to be international students must adjust to, but the teaching methods as well. considered eligible for the “Here, answers are very much discounted tuition fee. more open-ended Zhou’s older brother, so that can be class of 2005 alumnus Eric kind of confusing Zhou, previously attended for students at the MVHS, and his parents beginning when they decided to send him down are asking, ‘Well, why a similar educational path. can’t you give me the According to Zhou, SMIC right answer?’ when Private School’s curriculum there isn’t one right wasn’t particularly answer,” Anderson challenging compared said. “I get a lot of to MVHS, nor were the students that say that international school’s it’s very different competitors in the area. here and that you’re “We were the poor not just giving us school, and then there were things to memorize, the higher national schools. but you’re making us We were like...the economy think.” class on an airplane; all the Never t hele s s, frugal Asian parents [sent] Zirak’s firm teaching their kids there,” Zhou said. and diligent studying In junior Sharmin back in Iran has paid Zirak’s case, moving off. She feels that from Mashhad, two of her classes, Iran to Cupertino FLAG FAD: These flags represent countries that students have transferred from this Algebra 2 and Physics, was quite literally a stroke of luck. After year. Clockwise from top left: Iran, India, Japan, Taiwan, China, Pakistan, Hong Kong, South were not challenging enough compared winning the lottery last Korea, the Netherlands. to the standards year in Iran, Zirak’s family settled in California—where she had relatives such as MVHS junior Kianoush Salari—one that Iran had set for her, and took placement tests in hopes of moving month ago. For years, Zirak’s parents had longed to move to up levels after realizing that she wanted to push herself further. Her America for the freedom and opportunities that its citizens have. future goal is to become an engineer, and she doesn’t regret the “There wasn’t any freedom [in Iran]; you couldn’t just decision to move; rather, she feels lucky that she got the opportunity.

“I’m so glad that I’m here, because it’s a change for me,” Zirak said, write the newspaper. They’d move you to jail,” Zirak said.

But limited rights weren’t the only issue. According to Zirak, “A positive change.” classes in Iran were difficult and the teachers were strict, a.poh@elestoque.org pushing the students to spend their time studying whenever SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

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NEWS

HANDY for

♿

HANDICAPPED? CAPPED

MVHS puts forth effort to accommodate physically impaired students

by Rachel Beyda

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or the average student, the trip between the D-building and C-building may look like a short one. But for injured kids on campus, it’s a different story.

To make this same trip, they must detour to the far-away A-building, take an elevator, and then walk—or hobble—across several crowded bridges before they can get to their class, all in a 5-minute passing period.

The campus has five two-story buildings: the A-building, B-building, C-building, D-building, and gym. The first three buildings are connected by bridges. Only the A-building, D-building, and gym have an elevator.

With so many injured kids on campus right now, this arrangement can make it difficult for students to get around quickly. Though the routes may be inconvenient, all areas on campus are handicap accessible.

Aside from caring about the well-being of its students, there’s a reason MVHS’s campus is handicap accessible. By law, it has to be.

According to Facilities Manager Chris Kenney, all upgrades on MVHS’s campus must follow Americans with Disabilities Act requirements. Evidence of its guidelines can be seen all around the school.

Most students are aware of the ramps, elevators, and handicap bathrooms around campus. But they may not realize that every science classroom has a table that’s higher than the others to accommodate students in wheel chairs. Few know that the pool has special handicap lifts to provide access to the entire student body. Even the ground has to be a specific grade to be approved by Division of the State Architect inspectors.

Junior Pouneh Aghababazadeh fractured her fifth metatarsal last fall and returned this year with crutches and a walking boot because it failed to heal. Overall, she feels that the school is fairly accommodating. Aghababazadeh also took classes at De Anza College, which, in her opinion, had facilities less handicap accessible than those at MVHS. “There was a lot of construction,” Aghababazadeh said. “I had to walk up hills to get to all of my classes and down a hill to get to my lecture. All while trying to walk on crutches.”

However, she feels that MVHS would be a lot easier to get around with the addition of another elevator or a bridge between the D-building and C-building.

The administration has looked into constructing a bridge between the C-building and D-building to make routes shorter for students. However, remodeling the lower B-building bathroom and Cafeteria are higher priorities. Also, the cost was estimated to

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be about a million dollars, so it is unlikely to be built.

Like Aghababazadeh, junior Amy Spelick, who tore her ACL playing soccer, feels that the campus’s arrangement can be annoying at times, but the school has been willing to help, making her experience a little less difficult. She has had trouble getting to some of her classes on time, especially one in the upper C-building, but emails were sent to her teachers warning that she might be late. Her guidance counselor even checked in on her to make sure she wasn’t having any major problems.

“Honestly, I don’t think there’s much [the school] could do,” Spelick said. r.beyda@elestoque.org

A troublesome commute Injured students share their most difficult passing period routes between class (see map)

1. Start at D205 2. Take D-building elevator 3. Walk to F building 4. Take a short flight of stairs 5. Arrive at F101 JUNIOR

PounehAGHABABAZADEH EL ESTOQUE

transfer students // budget // teaching styles // handicapped // club day sales

P PORTABLES

Legend TO UPPER FIELD

BUILDING FIELD HOUSE

D203

C

BUILDING

B

BUILDING

Academic Court

BUILDING

G

C210

GYM

LIBRARY

A112

RON FREEMAN AQUATIC CENTER

Rally Court (Sunken)

CAFETERIA AND KITCHEN

G

Elevator

TEAM ROOMS

Wheelchair Ramp

P PORTABLES F101

F

BUILDING

F

F

DRAMA AND WOODSHOP

VOCAL

F

AUDITORIUM

A

LOCKERS

ADMINISTRATION

D205

G

STUDENT CENTER

D

Stairwell

F

BAND

Elvin Wong | El Estoque Illustration

Cross-campus detours

THROUGH MONTA VISTA HIGH SCHOOL

JUNIOR

1. Start at A112 2. Walk across Academic Court 3. Take D-building elevator 1. Start at A112 4. Arrive at D203 2. Take A-building elevator 3. Walk to 2nd floor of CJUNIOR building via B-building 4. Arrive at C210

AmySPELICK

OmarNAGUIB

SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

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budget // teaching styles // handicapped

NEWS

club day sales // transfer students

Behind the scenes of Club Day

Clubs reflect on the rush to sell the most popular foods, impact of sales

by Anushka Patil

in under five minutes—others ended up slashing prices to sell leftovers 10 minutes before the end of lunch. ugust 30, 2011. 8:28 p.m. “[Club Day] is a major source of many clubs’ Pearl Milk Tea Key Club co-president senior funds,” Club Commissioner junior Simona Koteseva approximately 20 sold said. “[I’ve seen] some clubs take in...an estimate of Jeffery Zhang waits at his computer, per minute by Key Club $800 in net profit.” impatiently refreshing his email every few seconds. Finally, at around 8:30 p.m., the form Not all clubs are guaranteed a substantial arrives in his inbox. He hits “submit” a few profit, but need Club Day regardless. Without Club Day, its most seconds later. profitable fundraiser, Key Club would have to raise its membership In a few days, he will have 350 Quickly’s pearl milk teas price to send members to their annual District coming his way.

Convention. Similarly, the money that DECA For club officers, the Club Day rush begins a In-N-Out earns from Club Day goes to its scholarship week before the event, when Club Commission approximately 20 sold fund to provide financial aid for students sends out a Google form for clubs to list their per minute by DECA attending business conferences. top three food choices. No more than two “Even if [we only raised] $10 or $20, it’s clubs can sell the same food item, so popular helping someone out,” DECA President senior items like pearl milk tea, In-N-Out, and Jamba Juice are the Ansh Shukla said. first to be claimed and the first to sell out.

But for Koteseva, the real reward has no monetary value.

Club officers often practice filling out the form “[There are people] who don’t like to go to rallies … they’re or use abbreviations like “PMT” for pearl milk tea not that type of person. But everyone loves Club to save time. Club Commission assigns out food on Day—it’s food,” Koteseva said. “[There is] so much Jamba Juice a first-come, first-served basis. appreciation from the student body.” approximately 8 sold Clubs who sold popular food items sold out per minute by FBLA a.patil@elestoque.org within minutes—DECA sold 100 In-N-Out burgers

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EL ESTOQUE

SPECIAL REPORT SPECIAL REPORT

body

Emma Courtright and Yaamini Venkataraman | El Estoque

(adj.)

In today’s media-heavy society, the contradiction between being yourself and being perfect leads to conflict

by Cynthia Mao and Daniel Tan

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runo Mars thinks you’re amazing the way you are. Selena Gomez says you’re beautiful. But Kim Kardashian has more curves. And Justin Bieber has better hair.

With shows like Gossip Girl and The Biggest Loser, our perception of the “average American” is all skewed. Is he or she the skin-and-bones America’s Next Top Model contestant or the 300-pound, morbidly obese person on One Big Happy Family?

SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

The contradictory messages from the media was also highlighted in the last issue of the Verdedera. While the media promotes remaining true to yourself, it also projects underlying ideas about changing your body to look perfect. “[The conflict is] like a devil and [an] angel,” senior Kathleen Chang said. “You can’t really decide which one you’re supposed to follow.”

Mitigating the conflict Despite Chang’s ambivalence, there is a way to overcome outside pressures and be satisfied with who we are. Student advocate Richard Prinz believes the solution comes from awareness. We should step back and evaluate the effects of the media.

Freshman Yu Hong Hwang understands Prinz. He realized the media was only attempting to get him to follow a generic mold of how a person should be.

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SPECIAL REPORT

BARBIE GIRL At a 1-to-6 ratio, Barbie, at 11.5 inches tall, would be 5 feet 9 inches in real life, weigh 110 pounds and have the measurements 36-18-33 for bust, waist, and hips.

“If people aren’t like this, then they say ‘You should buy this, buy that’ and [they are] basically getting us to give them our money,” Hwang said.

The next step is to make a conscious decision about how we’re impacted. “[We have to] realize we have a choice,” Prinz said. “I think if people get educated about [body image] and start broadening their horizons and get the confines of our culture, then we can feel good about ourselves.”

Senior Michael Goldman has made that decision.

“I decided a long time ago just to block out what the media says because pretty much anything you find [is] just going to be a conflicting message,” he said.

As for Hwang, nobody has ever given him a good reason to pay attention to how his body looks. “Reasons I have heard are shallow and sometimes they’re just weird or silly,” he said. As a result, Hwang has chosen not to care.

It’s also important to realize that what we see isn’t really what we get. Appearances can be deceiving when Photoshop dictates our world. Chang has already discovered that. When she looks at models in Japanese fashion magazines and online shopping catalogs, she tells herself the models have been digitally enhanced. “[It] makes me feel better that [the models are] not perfect people, they’re not mannequins,” she said.

But even she is not completely unaffected by the media. There

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were times when she wanted to be like those models on the page.

“You dream a bit, but you know that you sometimes might never get [that body],” Chang said.

The quickest way to relieve pressure from the conflict between being yourself and looking like a model is through accepting your flaws. That’s how Goldman deals with himself. To him, there’s nothing better than comedy.

“One thing that’s very useful is being able to make fun of yourself,” he said.

Perhaps his humorous nature has been influenced by Lewis Black, Louis C.K., and Jon Stewart, his favorite comedians. By making jokes, Goldman was able to come to terms with his imperfections.

“It makes you feel a lot better,” he said.

Chang came to terms with her body rather suddenly, when she found the courage to dress up for FanimeCon as a cosplayer last year.

“Everyone there was really okay with [how I dressed up],” she said, and was thrilled that complete strangers had accepted how she looked. The experience liberated her by giving a her a day when she didn’t really have to care about how she looked.

A change for better or worse But sometimes, the message of “being yourself” is taken too far.

“We also have that part of our society that’s trying to counter this ‘thin’ [obsession],” Prinz said. “So people are trying to counter that EL ESTOQUE

Loving just the way you are ... not New show focuses on five plus-sized models trying to succeed in New York’s fashion industry

by Emma Courtright

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by saying, ‘It’s okay to be overweight.’”

He warns that it sometimes may get to the point where one accepts an unhealthy body, even if changing is the better choice.

Instead, less-than-fit people can find reason in Goldman’s belief. Even though he doesn’t really care about his body image, he acknowledges that he is slightly overweight. Because of that, his need to change his body is more for health reasons than bodyconscious reasons.

Taking matters into his own hands, he has decided to exercise with his friends. Everyone in that group acts as a positive influence on each other; without them, Goldman would not have as much selfdetermination to continue working out.

Prinz notes that someone who is overweight shouldn’t beat themselves up because of it. It’s important not to create additional problems by putting yourself down or becoming hopeless. Once there’s awareness, more steps can be taken to ensure satisfaction with body image.

“Think of [changing your body] more as a community, not a selfcentered, self-cherishing kind of act,” Prinz said. “[Think of it as:] I need to do this to help out those around me because it’s going to be more costly, I’m going to be in the hospital more, my loved ones are going to be more concerned, so I need to take care of myself.”

ith the tag line, “Not all fat girls want to be skinny,” the show “Big Sexy” tries to distance itself from other model-based reality shows like “America’s Next Top Model,” and “Project Runway.”

On Aug. 30, the network TLC premiered the new program that centers around the lives of five full-figured women struggling to break into New York’s fashion industry. The show does not place the models in made-for-television competition, but instead hones in on the issue of plus-size models trying to make it big.

Surrounded by an industry that bows to size zeros, the women struggle to find the type of recognition each feels they deserve. Forced to sit on the sidelines of New York’s Fashion Week due to their weight, the women decide to take a proactive stance against the favoritism clearly shown towards thinner models. By putting on their own runway show only featuring plussized models, the women make a small scratch on the surface of the fashion industry, notorious for its inclnation towards the thin.

The show also focuses on the personal lives of every member of the group. Further understanding these models makes the show more engaging for the viewer. Audrey Lea Curry, one of the women, fights to find the confidence to walk on the runway in front of her mother, who was once a model herself. Audrey reveals how she constantly feels like TLC | James Hercule a disappointment to her thin mother BIG, BEAUTIFUL Tiffany causing a fragile relationship that Bank is one of the stars of is slightly reconciled after the plussized fashion show. The confidence TLC’s new show, “Big Sexy.” that Audrey exudes on the runway helps persuade her mother to finally accept her daughter exactly as she is: full-figured.

“Big Sexy” then poses the question: How key is confidence? From a young age, the motto of “loving yourself” is drilled into many. Individuals are told to accept who they are, regardless of ethnicity, gender or size. Yet clearly, acceptance of oneself does not translate acceptance from society. While these particular women have learned to feel comfortable and confident in their bigger frames, that has not been enough to convince the rest of the fashion industry to accept them as well.

Watching women who are proud of their fuller-sized is particularly refreshing. It is not difficult to find a magazine cover graced with the presence of a wafer-thin model. Rarely are woman larger than size 12 even showcased in the media. And what’s so special about size 12? It’s the average size of an American woman. It’s brilliant that these five women are directing their efforts towards altering the fashion industry, but what about the average American? Models are either super thin or plus-sized. What would be truly innovative would be a show about a model who is not size 0, or size 30, but sized 10. In a world that seems to be attracted by extremes, it would take someone average to break the mold.

c.mao@elestoque.org | d.tan@elestoque.org

e. courtright@elestoque.org

Christophe Haubursin and Cynthia Mao | El Estoque Photo Illustration

SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

13

SPECIAL REPORT

THE IDEAL PERSON IS ...

El Estoque surveyed 141 students about questions centered around this issue’s theme, body image.

54%

believe that the internet has the largest influence on how people view themselves

What traits does the media consider the ideal person to be?

12% 33%

believe that TV does

believe that newspaper and magazine articles do

1%

believe that radio does

What affects students’ opinions of themselves?* Media

66%

are satisified with their bodies

42%

34% are not

Family

School

65% 75%

*Some responders selected multiple answers

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EL ESTOQUE

SPECIAL REPORT

Downside of being slender

Most girls shed pounds, but junior Selma Chang wants to gain a few

by Amelia Yang

U

sually, being called “skinny” is a compliment, but to junior Selma Chang it’s an obnoxious insult. People often comment on her body, and she finds that it gets very old—very fast.

“If people just say I’m skinny, it’s okay, but a lot of times people go on about it and then it gets annoying,” Chang said. “Especially when they ask if I’m anorexic. Then I get pissed.”

This happens more than she’d like. Though she laughs it off when people tell her to eat more, her smile is a little forced after. People tend to talk to her not because of her personality, but because they want to comment on her body.

“Instead of trying to understand me as a person, they just look at me as a stick-skinny girl,” she said.

However, Chang uses her body type as a source of humor. Though most people like to avoid their post-lunch stomach inflation, Chang loves it. She calls it her “food baby.”

On a flight back from Chicago this summer, Chang had consumed a can of soda, which “puffed up” her stomach. When she waited in line for the bathroom, she noticed a woman staring at her. “I was kind of cradling [my stomach] as if my food baby was an actual baby, and the woman next to me gave me a judging look.” Chang said.

“After she eats a lot she’ll stick out her tummy,” says her sophomore friend Angie Tong, “and she’ll ask you to rub it.”

When her friends tell her she’s too thin, Chang counters, “No! Call me fat!” Contrary to most girls, Chang considers being called

FOOD BABY Junior Selma Chang shows the difference between her normal stomach and her “food baby.” Chang uses humor to overcome stereotypical comments about her weight.

Amelia Yang | El Estoque

“fat” a compliment. To her, having a little body fat is nice. When buying clothes, she is often frustrated because she only fits an extra small and is often forced to leave stores empty handed. Chang wishes it would be easier for her to gain weight, if only to find better fitting clothes while shopping.

Despite unwelcome words and fruitless shopping trips, Chang uses humor to make peace with the body she’s in. She’s happy with the shape she has, food baby and all. a.yang@elestoque.org

Achieving confidence the right way Senior Hugo Castejon shares his story of finding the right type of outlook

by Emma Courtright

L

ast year, senior Hugo Castejon decided it was time to change his body and lifestyle.

The gym, however, did not satisfy his craving to achieve the ideal body. He began counting every calorie he consumed with the forethought of how he would burn them off.

“I started restricting myself in terms of eating,” Castejon said. The sudden decision to lose weight came from a deep lack of confidence that had festered over time.

“I had this cover that everything was okay and I played it off like nothing was wrong,” Castejon said. “But I still felt uncomfortable.”

With the media constantly relaying the message that thin was best, it was hard to be confident with the increasing insecurities.

SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

“A lot of people who are overweight say, ‘I love myself, I’m beautiful,’” Castejon said. “But at the end of the day, how can you really feel like that in the society that we live in?”

According to his close friend senior Aathi Parthiban, Castejon became obsessed with altering his body image. When he first confronted her about his decision to try and lose weight Parthiban was in complete agreement. “If you want to better yourself,” she said to him, “of course I’ll be supportive.”

Yet as time went on, Parthiban could clearly see that what had started out as a way to boost confidence in her friend had turned into an unhealthy habit. Castejon began using a motivational journal in which he kept pictures of different models. She soon realized there wasn’t

anything she could do to help.

“You can only do so much when someone doesn’t want to eat,” she said. “You can’t shove [food] down their throats.”

The desperation to lose weight and find his ideal body gradually escalated into one too many trips to the gym and veggie detoxes.

“I was tired. I didn’t look as happy anymore,” Castejon said. “I realized it wasn’t a lifestyle I could maintain forever.”

With many of those close to him warning that he was getting too thin Castejon decided to ease up on the slim down. He still frequently exercises but no longer limits his eating habits. It has been a long road to finding confidence but Parthiban said, “He’s comfortable where he is now.” e.courtright@elestoque.org

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SPECIAL REPORT

Weights, sweat and nitric oxide Junior finds balance between health, appearance through use of nitric oxide its consequences, as the junior once experienced.

“He just dropped to the floor and couldn’t stop doing pushups. He lex. Unflex. Flex. had so much extra energy,” Chang said of that incident. “It’s A junior, who requested his name not be revealed, NITR scary. It’s like caffeine.”

IC OX obediently flexes his chest at junior Irene Chang’s IDE I Weight training and PE Elect teacher Jeff Thomas S ...

• a requests. As he flexes proudly, he knows that his hard disapproves of nitric oxide usage in general. natur comp al chemic work from daily workouts has paid off.

“Any kind of stimulant ... when you’re working out is ou al w iden nd used t Hard work, and a little bit of nitric oxide. never really a good idea because you can’t sustain it,” he b o allow lood ve ss Nitric oxide is a common and legal body-building m said. “You can’t keep doing that the rest of your life.” nutrie ore bloo els to da nts to supplement that enables users to exercise more The junior insists he uses the supplement carefully, but he mu flow nd to • ta scles efficiently and substantially. Since the beginning empathizes with other underclassmen who are struggling with ken 3 befor 0 to 60 of freshman year, the junior has been pressured to building muscle, acknowledging that society portrays men in a m e pill, t working inutes become bulky. He started using nitric oxide after his single way: “Big.” ablet out in or po for first year of working out. wder “It’s not so much the media but the people around them who • kn m o w n “I heard it would make me work out longer so I are pressuring them,” the junior said. musc to help in le can get better results,” he said. “[And] now I can Thomas agrees. “It’s got something to do with [a boy] being a bulk, mass an crease d w work out for, like, three to four hours.” musc hile allow man,” he said. “And they want to look good; there are a lot of social le nutrie s to abso ing Despite its benefits, nitric oxide comes with pressures.” rb m nts a o faste n its side effects. Dilating the blood vessels and The junior, despite feeling less pressure than he did before, admits r from d recove re r exerc exercising for long periods have been known to ise to not yet reaching total body confidence. But there is one thing he strain the heart, and taking too much nitric oxide knows for certain. can be toxic to the body. Along with the common by“I don’t hate how I look,” he said. “Society tells guys to be buff and products, the junior has also noticed that taking nitric oxide limits muscular ... but now I just want to be stronger for myself.” his focus, causes an addictive dependence and sometimes provides only temporary bulk to his muscles. Taking too much nitric oxide can also have a.wang@elestoque.org

by Angela Wang

F

16

EL ESTOQUE

staff editorial // devil’s advocate // bottom line

OPINION

comic belief // commentary// letter to the editor

staffOPINION editorial OF THE EL ESTOQUE EDITORIAL BOARD

DEGREES OF PROPRIETY

School rules fail to reflect realistic expectations of student behavior

C

ertain things have always been open 70 mph won’t warrant an arrest, but driving the fact that “freaking” is begrudgingly secrets on this campus: how “off- at 85 might. Similarly, with the “freaking” tolerated by the administration, there is a and-away” doesn’t always mean off- policy of both-partners-90-degrees-from- certain shame in admitting—on paper, for and-away, how the “discretionary” dress the-ground as the “speed limit”, dancing at the world to see—that we are a body of code really isn’t, and what really happens at 80 degrees might not get you kicked out of people who grind and freak even as we cram the annual Welcome Back Dance. Frivolous the dance, and stress. as these examples may be, they indicate at but dancing And when it a much bigger issue at this school—the vast at 40 might. comes down to it, difference that exists between the letter of But that no one—student or the law and the administration of the law. still leaves administ ration— Students have to look no further than a question: wants to be on the ble the school dances issue to see where policy what about receiving end of a Unaccepta and enforcement diverge. Take, for example, the rest parent inquiry as to the “Student Relationships” section on page of us who why her daughter 15 of the Student Handbook. It states, in are simply is “freak dancing” no uncertain terms, that “physical contact driving at up against someone should be limited to holding hands or the speed else’s son. sitting next to each other.” Yet, members of traffic?

The dilemma of administration, only weeks earlier, had Could this regarding how much demonstrated the various exceptions to the not quite to legislate on paper no “physical contact” rule. Through a series radical, but is a real one, but Christophe Haubursin | El Estoque Illustration of abstract and perplexing hand motions, nonet heless the bottom line is members of administration attempted f o r w a r d this: we can’t have to clarify and define the bounds of what l e a n i n g our cake and eat it too. Administration, in appropriate touching and dancing looks group, be the so-called silent majority that conjunction with the student body, has a like during, ironically, a zero tolerance is quietly but persistently transforming choice to make, and so far, they have not presentation. administrative policy? chosen. What has been done is the bending There is a lack of clarity not because If this is indeed the tide of school culture and twisting of existing rules. Yet, that gives of a lack of written regulation. Written turning, then one can’t help but wonder if way to an unshakable sense of hypocrisy regulation does exist. It, just like the no this shift towards lenient policy-making is as the student body pledges to one code of “sexually suggestive dance moves” rule, here to stay. There remains the issue that, for behavior and lives by another. This discord fails to reflect the all intents and purposes, only highlights how vital it is for our school’s evolving expectations For student stafety, aggressive no actual MVHS cultural and social identity that we align the dance behavior (e.g. slamming, policy has changed. letter and the spirit of the law. of student behaviors.

To break it down: “moshing”) will not be tolerated. What has changed is Wherever the alignment falls, there fac e-to-fac e-w it h-a- “Freak dancing” and sexually sug- administration’s now- are trade-offs to be made. The inevitable little-bit-of-space is gestive dance moves will be moni- lax interpretation and tug-of-war between the rules as they are and has always been tored and students may be asked enforcement of rules written and the rules as they are enforced okay. The trouble and involving student will compel the student body and the to leave. the confusion lies in the conduct. Like the off- administration to finally decide where Monta Vista Student Handbook front-to-back area. For and-away policy that is our collective values lie. If they happen the first time ever, administration has come subject to individual teacher discretion and to encompass an embarrassingly detailed out to verbalize what a significant portion of the dress code that no one seems to have “freaking” policy, then so be it, but the issue the student body has been waiting to hear: read, the gray area surrounding dances has is much bigger than “freaking”. It is about front to back dancing, or better known as widened to the point of obstructing any real committing to a single standard of conduct “freaking,” is finally okay. meaning. across the student body and eliminating Rather than resolving the issue, this The question of why leads to a rather the gray area. Because, really, it is time for concession has made the line between what murky and uncomfortable idea: could the some clarity. Once that is gone, not even all is acceptable and what is not murkier than vagueness and archaic attitudes of the the complex hand gestures in the world can ever. To take administration’s own analogy, policies be intentional? Could it be that we, bring that clarity back. “freaking” is like driving above the speed as a student body, want a degree of freedom limit. At a speed limit of 65 mph, driving at that we cannot verbalize? Perhaps, despite

SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

17

OPINION

Planking: You know you want to The world’s most exciting, complicated, and popular sedentary sport

Y

our friends are doing it, your neighbors are doing it, heck, even your mom is doing it.

That’s right, I’m talking about the newest sport that people of any age, gender or physical coordination can enjoy. Planking.

It is the newest online trend in which one posts a picture of oneself lying facedown on top of an object with one’s hands stuck firmly to one’s sides. This slightly idiotic trend has been on the rise ever since its start in Europe and Japan.

Now I could spend my time lecturing about how planking is horrible because the term “planking” alludes to how slaves were tied down when they were being shipped from country to country. They were chained from their waist to their wrists and not allowed to move throughout the voyage of several days—many of them did not survive the journey.

But that would be boring, wouldn’t it?

I mean, come on, we are talking about “planking”—not Shakespeare—here.

There are many urban legends about the origins of this exciting, trailblazing sport.

Some say two guys traveling in Europe were

bored of taking the normal tourist pictures .

Instead, they decided to plank face down at each tourist attraction they visited. Others say that two guys in England first called this the “Lying Down” game.

After a while, they started taking pictures of themselves in addition to cont inua lly lying down in random public places and posting them on to Facebook—and the rest, they say, is history.

There are two basic types of plankers— regular plankers and extreme plankers.

Regular plankers lie on sturdy objects, such as couches, pianos, and tables, facedown.

Extreme plankers take it to another level entirely. They have been seen on cliff edges, basketball hoops and even atop the Statue of Liberty.

But you have to be careful not to exceed your limits. While this sport is relatively safe

and does not require much protection, there have been some casualties. A 20-yearold Australian man fell seven stories after attempting to plank on his balcony and died.

Extreme planking fail.

On a lighter note, isn’t it amazing to think how creative, weird and unique people are?

Think about it, some guys were just bored one day and then BAM! A worldwide trend was born. People all across the world are scrambling to update their facebook profile pictures to make sure they catch this planking bandwagon before it rushes away.

Oh wait, you’re too late, guys. This just in, planking is out.

Change your profile pictures guys.

Owling is now in.

What’s the point anyway?

The Bottom Line

m.lin@elestoque.org

Students are upsettingly unaware of the nation’s economic status

by Kiranmayi Methuku

I

t took my AP Economics class an entire period to answer this simple question— what is economics? Well, here it is.

Economics: a social science concerned chiefly with description and analysis of the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services (courtesy of merriamwebster.com).

Mind you, this is a class of extremely capable students. These are students who have chosen the AP label, and thus are

18

asking to be mentally tortured. How then is it acceptable that in such an economic downturn students are clueless about the single most crucial problem prevalent in the U.S. today?

Many of us will reach voting age within the next few years. And if you are electing a president without any knowledge of the economy, our nation is heading for utter chaos.

So here is your little (yet extremely

important) lesson for today: the U.S. government is in the middle of a major economic crisis that has resulted in the loss of over 14 million jobs and the downgrade of the nation’s treasured AAA credit rating.

As of now there is no recovery in sight.

It is your responsibility as students and citizens to learn the rest.

k.methuku@elestoque.org EL ESTOQUE

commentary // staff editorial // devil’s advocate // bottom line // comic belief // letter to the editor

The student-facility debacle

MVHS not to blame for lack of facilities for injured and disabled students

by Stephanie Chang

T

the cost and work wo elevators, needed for the bridge. four buildings, It was just a no-go. only five However, the minutes.

The faculty really is frenzy, the hurry, trying to do its very the competition. In best to accommodate short, life sucks when all of the students you’re on crutches considering the dire or in a wheelchair. circumstances—the According to a budget cuts—that survey El Estoque they have been conducted of 140 working with. For students, 40% of that, they deserve a injured or disabled round of applause. students would be Also, if you have late to class due to ever wandered over the inefficiency of to the B Building facilities. We need bathrooms, you have a better way, but probably already there is no other way. noticed the big, The Americans Stephanie Chang | El Estoque wooden blockage in with Disabilities front of the entrance.

Act requires that INCONVENIENT TRUTH: With no other viable option to get around school, Construction workers all public locations, handicapped and injured students are left to use the elevators on opposite sides of the will be remodeling such as public school. the bathrooms schools, offices, and starting October. malls give a method of transportation and use for those who that would mean spending more money. There has also been much talk amongst are injured or disabled. All buildings that Everything costs money, and our school students and staff about the possibility of do not follow these rules will usually be simply can’t afford ‘everything’. Some simple additional classrooms, a new cafeteria, and torn down and rebuilt again. Naturally, luxuries are priced at more than they seem. an extra dining area to make eating all the Take, for example, the nonexistent bridge more easier for those who are handicapped. our school follows the ADA restrictions So keep heart, MVHS. The as well: everything from the pool to from the C building to the D building. People the ramps to the science labs obeys the have been talking about adding another administrators do care about us students. stringent ADA architectural regulations. bridge there since the dawn of time. But They only want the best for us and Although MVHS does abide by ADA guess what? The production for the C nothing less. Right now, our school just requirements, getting more facilities—such as buidling to D building bridge would cost don’t have enough cash and resources to elevators, ramps, and lifts—would certainly about a million dollars. No joke. It has been fulfill your every wish and every desire.

At least, for now. would make traveling to classes much easier brought up over and over again. The school s.chang@elestoque.org for handicapped or injured people. But even called an engineer over once to evaluate

Infinite Campus serves limited function

by Smitha Gundavajhala

I

nfinite Campus is not worth the hype.

We students were made to believe that this change would shake the foundations of this school from the earth upon it rests—but instead, we get a small button beneath the School Loop link on the MVHS homepage, and 2600 extra sheets of yellow paper dedicated to giving our parents access to grades that they could have easily seen on School Loop.

“The District is excited about the SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

potential that the Campus Portal provides for keeping parents informed,” the handouts say. However, our parents already have access to Naviance and to School Loop.

Right now, the only perceived difference between School Loop and Infinite Campus is that the latter shows a more detailed attendance record, and all the detail that students actually need (or want) is on the School Loop attendance record anyway.

Aren’t teachers open to communication through email, through Loop Mail, and by phone? Don’t you think that parents (who are

so invested in the school community that they would write our finals for us if they could) would have said something if they felt the need? Infinite Campus is definitely not only about grades and parent communication, or the district wouldn’t be pushing so hard for it. No, there is something more. But until the administration makes clear why this innocuously useless system is being established, we will have no choice but to rant about its infinite uselessness on School Loop. s.gundavajhala@elestoque.org

19

OPINION

Judge me fairly or judge me not Students should not use peers’ biased opinions to judge their teachers Friends biases and own opinions

Our judgments

Teacher’s actual performance

Bias: Friends’ opinions of a teacher or a class can greatly influence our learning experiences.

Kevin Tsukii | El Estoque Illustration

by Megan Jones

T

he first few weeks of school are all about the comparing—comparing clothes bought over summer, comparing locker locations, comparing awkward ID pictures, and the most common of all: comparing teachers.

In the morning before the first day of school, the pink schedule sheets are obsessively shared and assessed. Everyone wants to know your classes, the periods and of course, the teachers. Friends share their own personal insights as to what the class is like, how the teacher teaches and what their experiences were in the class.

As a result, even before you step foot inside your first class of the year, you already have preconceived, and not necessarily accurate, notions of what a class will be like. You walk into class with an unfair judgment of how the class will be and automatically your mindset changes. And this is all before you have even met the teacher.

It is true around this campus, as it is at every other school, teachers earn a reputation based on the judgments of students. This reputation is often not based upon the difficulty of the class, but upon how easy it is to receive an A. Students are constantly searching for insights as to what a certain teacher’s reputation is, and how that certain reputation can hinder, or help, their success in the class. The race for this information is not just limited to school grounds. Websites like ratemyteachers.com give students a chance to rate their teachers

20

on “easiness”, “helpfulness” and “clarity.”

However, other students can then view these comments and take one student’s opinion for fact.

Even if a teacher was not the best in one student’s experience, that same teacher could be the best for another. But these opinionated websites don’t give teachers a chance to prove themselves. Once these blog entries are read, the damage is done.

It is hard to make your own judgments and decisions about a teacher when you read a comment about a teacher that states, “Extremely immature and impatient. No

Even before you step foot inside your first class of the year, you already have preconceived, and not necessarily accurate, notions of what a class will be like. control over her temper. Not fit to be teaching high school kids.” The mind becomes fixed on this one comment, and it is difficult, if not impossible, to change it.

Administration has done its best to change these negative, opinionated ways of judging teachers before students even meet them. They removed the names of teachers from the tentative Running of the Bulls schedules in the hopes of reducing the amount of schedule changes. Students were automatically assuming the worst in their teachers, and as a result were hoping

to take the easy way out by by switching classes. However, administration put a stop to the nonsense and now does not release the teachers’ names until the very first day of school.

But even then, students have found loopholes in this madness—now appealing to guidance counselors that they want to change their schedules, all in the hopes of getting a different teacher. Now, this has reached a whole new level of childishness.

They are after all teachers, not alien life forms that don’t have feelings. So take the higher road and at least meet the teacher and get to know them before opting to switch out of the class.

So while a little background information on teachers may be insightful, make your own opinions. Do not let your friends or a silly website influence your own thoughts and ideas. It is basic human curiosity to want to know at whose mercy you will be for the rest of the year, but it is up to us whether we choose to let our friends’ negative opinions color our own experiences. Give teachers a chance to prove themselves and then make your decision. Do not be too quick to judge. Give them a chance and you might be surprised on how much they have to offer.

While one teaching style might not be good for one student, it might be the perfect one for you. So go out into your classes, and start thinking for yourself. That’s what school is for, isn’t it?

m.jones@elestoque.org EL ESTOQUE

commentary // staff editorial // devil’s advocate // bottom line // comic belief // letter to the editor

Do you agree? Disagree?

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Going beyond titles: AP students

by Simran Devidasani

Y

ou see them walking down the hallways, carrying those big textbooks. They walk with power, strength—and possibly even a slight smirk.

Plastered across the front of their textbook, in big bold letters, you see those words: “Advanced Placement.”

AP students at MVHS are considered by many to be stuck up and excessively proud in their “AP-ness”. In reality however, the majority of these students have an interest in the subject of their AP class. A student who may take AP Biology may be taking it due to the fact that they want to become a doctor. A student who make take AP Music Theory may have dreams of one day becoming a famous composer or musician.

The Religion

Taking AP classes is more like a religion rather than a special or elite group. These students take pride, not in boasting about the high level of classes they are taking, but rather in the culture that lies within their religion. This journey that an AP student goes through is a tantalizing experience which results in much more than just a title.

One may log onto Facebook and find a status like, “That awkward moment when you forget to pk on your frq and you start to answer dbq style.” The APUSHers would immediately chuckle at this status while others may be dumbstruck. Such inside jokes lie amongst all AP class students, an aspect of their profound religion.

These students are not necessarily trying to put others down by emphasizing the fact that they are AP students, but they are simply rejoicing in their own culture.

Being a part of such a group is a feeling of acceptance, similar to that of being a part of a sports team. They grieve and complain together during tedious times, and celebrate during joyous times. Like a soccer team that wins a match, AP students come out of their AP testing, together, comparing what went

well and what could have gone better.

These people do not just take these classes for namesake, but rather with a will for success. Barack Obama set out with the goal of Harvard in his mind, and therefore he decided to take AP classes.

This benefited him in a greater sense as he, you know, became president.

The Reality

Taking pride in their workload, AP students work significantly harder compared to those who take regular classes, again, a major aspect of their religion. However, few truly understand how much harder an AP student works than a regular student. When one compares the homework load of an average U.S history student—a RUSH student—to an AP U.S. history student—an APUSH student, the daily homework load of a RUSH student consists of a few scattered written activities, a project once in a while, and reading one chapter every two weeks or so. On the other hand, the daily homework load of an APUSH student consists of reading and note-taking on about two chapters per night, which averages out to around three hours. It is understood that those who follow a different type of religion, that of taking all regular classes have their own culture and ritual.

But likewise, those people do not have the right

to insult the AP religion by pointing a finger at those students saying that they are only taking AP classes for the title or for bragging rights. That is similar to accusing someone of saying that they are only following Christianity because they like the name Jesus.

So next time you see an AP student talking about how they were up late— appreciate, don’t hate. s.devidasani@elestoque.org

AP students may seem to tower smugly over normal students, but many are actually passionate about their education

COMIC BELIEF

Kevin Guo |Photo Illustration

SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

21

staff editorial // devil’s advocate // bottom line

OPINION

comic belief // commentary // letter to the editor

Kevin Tsukii | El Estoque

LET’S CHEER: The class of 2012 showing off their Powderpuff football spirit at last year’s games. However, due to field construction, this year the sport for Powderpuff has been changed to team handball.

Powderpuff shocks students

Powderpuff football changes to team handball, but it’s going to be okay

by Margaret Lin

C

hange isn’t always fun, but sometimes it’s a necessary evil.

This year, instead of playing Powderpuff football, Leadership has changed the sport to team handball for one year, due to the upper field construction.

And while it may be an unpopular decision, we need to make the most out of it.

For many years, students have looked forward to one of the most exciting Homecoming traditions on campus, Powderpuff football. Our blood runs purple and gold as we scream, jump, and cheer our respective teams.

Students will never experience the true fury and extreme spirit of MVHS unless they attend a Powderpuff game. However, this year, it is impossible to hold the Powderpuff games and practices on the upper field due to construction. Thus, the sport has been changed to team handball. Many students are furious about these changes since we have had Powderpuff football as a Homecoming tradition for so long—but it definitely hurts the class of 2012 the most, since it’s the last year they’re ever going to be here to enjoy this experience.

However, this field update has been

22

necessary for a while now and has been for a very long time now. Our school is the last in the district to update our track and field and football fields.

Currently, our upper fields cannot host home games until this new construction update comes in. Home games are supposed to give athletes an advantage, since they have more of an audience and athletes are

POWDERPUFF GAME DAYS: 2013 vs. 2014: Oct. 5 2012 vs. 2015: Oct. 6 Finals: Oct. 11 familiar with the field that they are playing on. It’s a win-win situation when we can host our own games at home. In addition, when other students come to our school, we want to be able to proudly show off how nice our school’s fields are. The benefits of construction definitely outweigh this temporary loss.

Besides, team handball isn’t bad at all.

It’s a fast-paced game where the goal is to get the ball in the other players’ goal. Some

compare it to a mixture of hockey, soccer and basketball. It’s one of the most popular sports in many European countries.

Team handball requires lots of strategy, training, and is much more interesting to watch than a dodgeball game. There is a need for coaches, dedicated players, and of course, dedicated cheerleaders. Leadership couldn’t have picked a better alternative to Powderpuff football than Powderpuff team handball.

Since there’s nothing that can be done regarding this construction, the whole school should help make this Homecoming experience one of the most unique and fun experiences for not only the seniors, since it is their last year here, but also the entire school body.

After all, you will never discover something new and exciting if you don’t try it once first. You never know—this could be one of the best Homecoming experiences if we all are willing to jump on board the team handball idea.

As long as the guy cheerleaders stay, right? m.lin@elestoque.org EL ESTOQUE

TACKLING

CANCER

TWICE FOUGHT,

HARD WON The uncommon struggle of an unstoppable athlete

SPORTS

Senior Jordan Sheade, diagnosed twice with ocular melanoma, overcomes his challenge and performs as key player Akshay Agrawal with additional reporting by

Emily Vu

Photography by

S

Kevin Tsukii

ome 13 years ago, senior Jordan Sheade stepped onto a soccer field at the age of three. As soon as he saw the ball, his mother recalled, he never let it go—that is, not until someone pushed him and took it from him.

“He wasn’t mad they pushed him, but he was mad they got that ball,” Jordan’s mother Judy Sheade said. “He went bam bam bam on the back of the guy’s head. And everybody looks, and then he goes, ‘Oh,’ and he goes over and he puts himself on time out at the baseball [diamond] ... it was so sad to see him ... with big tears rolling down, saying, ‘I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to do that.’”

I’ve known Jordan since kindergarten, and he doesn’t like to lose. But if he does lose at something—whether it be a game of “horse” on the basketball court or a round of Super Smash Bros.—it’s not, of course, his fault. “The ball slipped,” he’ll say, or “I had an itch.”

But Jordan’s excuses are not really excuses—they’re jokes. Jordan has never been much of a complainer.

As Jordan plopped himself onto my couch a couple weeks back, things were just the way they’ve been the hundreds of times he’s been over. Well, almost. We weren’t together to play video games, but to talk about a topic of which I knew little about. I

24

knew that Jordan wears—or at least should wear—sunglasses to protect his eyes. I knew that his right eye can’t see as well as it ought to. But I didn’t know much else; Jordan’s never complained about the dark spots that once resided in his right eye, that once ate away part of his iris.

process as painful. Severe discomfort lingered in his right eye for three weeks after the surgery. He could not open either of his eyes for the first three days; even after that, he experienced a sharp headache when he tried to focus his eyes on anything. But, Jordan noted an upside to his inability to use his eyes: he got an iPod. The initial diagnosis Approximately two weeks after the In April of 2008, back when Jordan was procedure, Jordan was able to return to in eighth grade, Judy noticed a small dark school, although due to his difficulty fleck in Jordan’s bright blue iris; while she focusing his eyes, he stopped reading. Even began to worry, Jordan brushed it off as if it today, if Jordan tries to read for over an hour, was not a problem. he experiences a serious headache.

But the spot began to grow, so Judy Jordan returned to school with another arranged for Jordan to see doctors—five major caveat—he would not be able to of them. The first four were unsure about play sports and would have to sit out of the the nature of the spot, but the last doctor remainder of the school soccer season. recommended that Jordan see a specialist For Jordan, sitting on the sidelines and by the name of Dr. Devron H. Char in San watching everyone else play “sucked.” This Francisco. The spot alarmed Char. Something is a kid who would bounce around the house seemed wrong. The spot had been deforming during playdates in kindergarten. When Jordan’s iris, stretching out Jordan was over, my mom his pupil, which had lost its “I’ve played sports said, there was no way the once-circular shape. Although all my life, and I’d the cushions would stay on uncertain, Char believed that be bored out of my the sofa.

Jordan’s right eye was afflicted mind if I didn’t.”

For the majority of with ocular melanoma—a rare summer of 2008, Jordan type of cancer. had to stay out of the senior Jordan Sheade “I was, like, 12, so I didn’t sun. When he decided to really think too much of it,” Jordan said. begin playing football that fall, during the “I was just like, ‘Oh cancer, I guess this is beginning of his freshman year, he found supposed to suck,’ but it didn’t really hurt or that the surgery had detrimentally affected do anything at all.” his abilities. His depth perception was off, The following day, Char surgically and a constant glare impaired his vision. removed the part of Jordan’s iris that “Starting a new sport like football was contained the spot. kind of scary,” Jordan said. “I could not “I was just in shock,” Judy said. “It catch as well as I used to be able to because happened so fast ... [Char] has a backlog of I couldn’t really see the ball coming in.” patients that come worldwide for months, While playing sports in freshman year, and because it was that urgent, I was so Jordan had to take precautionary measures. afraid that it had to be really, really bad. And During basketball season, he wore sports it was.” goggles to protect his eyes. He’s still The surgery was successful, although supposed to wear them, but he doesn’t.

Jordan described the six week recovery “They’re so nerdy,” Jordan said.

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BREAKING BARRIERS: The football team performs its usual ritual of running through a banner and onto the field during halftime.

Kevin Tsukii | El Estoque

Bad news arrives September 2009. The football season was just getting underway—Jordan was lined up to start as a running back for JV— when his mother noticed once again a small, dark speck in his right eye.

At the last six month checkpoint, Char noticed yet another spot, one unconnected to the original from eighth grade; nonetheless, he believed it to be a tumor and Jordan underwent surgery once again.

“It was more scary the second time,” Jordan said. “It was kind of disappointing. If

it reoccurs, I’m going to have to lose my eye, so that’s really frustrating [and] scary. But, I guess if I lose one I [will] still have four-fifths of my vision, so it’s not so bad. But I still want both eyes.”

And so Jordan had to put up with the same boredom, same inactivity and same pain he had experienced approximately a year and half earlier. His ability to focus his eyes diminished again; throughout the entirety of sophomore year, he was unable to read a single chapter of his assigned reading.

Dean of Students Michael Hicks, varsity football coach Jeff Mueller and World Literature teacher Jireh Tanabe were notified about his condition and helped him to adjust to his return to school.

Even though Char recommended that Jordan abstain from playing contact sports at least until the age of 21, three weeks after the surgery, Jordan was back at school and back on the football field.

“I’ve played sports all my life, and I’d be bored out of my mind if I didn’t,” Jordan said. “[Jordan]’s never going to not smile and tell you he’s not fine. Jordan came back and [it] was full speed ahead from there. That’s just how he is— he’s got one speed, and it’s fast,” junior varsity football coach Nick Bonacorsi said.

“He came back immediately, started producing and working hard.”

Used with permission of Jordan Sheade Similar to the first occurrence, Jordan’s surgery ATHLETE IN THE MAKING Ever since childhood, and the inactivity that went sports have always been an integral part of senior Jordan along with it exacted a toll on Sheade’s life. his football-playing abilities.

SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

“When I got back, I wasn’t nearly as good,” Jordan said. “Didn’t start, hardly played, never really got to playing a whole game. I was a lot slower, too, because I didn’t do any exercise ... I sucked at football sophomore year.”

Full throttle ahead Junior year, however, was a different story. Without specific restrictions on his exposure to the sun, Jordan was able to practice with his football team extensively in the summer following sophomore year.

During the 2010-2011 season, Jordan led the team with an impressive 658 rushing yards, 163 receiving yards and 24 points. For Jordan, junior year was “awesome.”

Per the advice of Char, Jordan wore a tinted football visor throughout the football season junior year in order to protect his eye—according to Judy, if poked hard enough, Jordan’s eye could pop.

Due to such health concerns, Judy initially opposed Jordan’s return to football, although she soon came to accept his decision.

“You know, he’s so much more brave than I am,” Judy said. “Here I am getting all emotional just because he got tackled, and he’s out there having a great time.”

A few games into the season, the referees decided that Jordan would not be allowed to wear the visor. Jordan decided to play anyway, accepting the ruling as part of the football regulations. Judy, however, believes that safety ought to be emphasized more in high school sports.

“If that’s such an issue, just give them all [visors] so nobody gets poked in the eye,” Judy said. “Schools don’t talk about [safety], nobody talks about that ... ‘[The players are] just having fun, it’s not that serious, and no one’s making money,’ so it doesn’t get that much attention.”

According to Jordan, his teammates “thought it was really [cool] he got to wear a

25

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visor.” They were not fully aware of the toll that the ocular melanoma and surgeries had taken upon his athletic ability and personal life.

Senior Eric Hu said that Jordan rarely discussed his ocular melanoma with those on the football team.

“He just really didn’t talk about it that much,” Hu said. “We asked him, but usually he just joked around about it because, you know, it’s Jordan. He didn’t really want us to worry. [He] just kept us in a good mood.” Jordan figures that at most, 30 people know that he was affected with ocular melanoma. Those who are unaware of his fight against cancer are often intrigued by his oblong pupil, and by the black splotch that bleeds over into the Kevin Tsukii | El Estoque area where his iris once was.

“People would always be like, STRONG ON AND OFF THE FIELD: Senior Jordan Sheade steps off of the field after a 41-14 win ‘Your eye is so cool. Why don’t you against Overfelt High School on Sept. 3. Even after ocular melanoma, Jordan is still able to play football. just do that to the other eye too?

Make it even,’” Jordan said. “I just thank such as reading or watching television for them [and] then shrug it off. It’s not as cool more than an hour. Doing so gives him a Jordan Sheade Football Stats ‘10-’11 as they think it is. I definitely wish it didn’t severe headache, a “seven” on a scale from happen ... I take it as a compliment because one to ten. Given the complications that Yards Avg TD’s they notice something about me.” arise when focusing his eyes, Jordan has According to Jordan, part of the reason turned to music for solace.

3 Rushing 100 that few people are aware of his struggle 6.58 After being afflicted with ocular against ocular melanoma lies with their melanoma twice, Jordan is more conscious 1 16.30 Receiving 163 hesitance to approach him about it; he of his health. His diet consists of more whole combats their reluctance grains, vegetables and health with his trademark sense shakes, and less meats.

Yards Avg Returns “It’s not so bad. But I of humor.

More than changing his “A lot of people, still want both eyes.” physical habits, according 2 34.50 Kickoffs 69 senior Jordan Sheade they’ll be nervous at first to Judy, the experience has confronting me about my shaped him as a person. eye. They think it’s something I don’t like “He’s a lot more humble,” Judy said. “He talking about, like I got beaten as a child and was so competitive, and so driven, that he fully diagnose it, so they can never fully say part of my eye just popped,” Jordan said. never stopped to think that he wouldn’t win, where it came from and how you get [it] ...

“Sometimes I’ll be too lazy to tell them the and so to have something like that affect just and so he has to live with that for the rest whole story. [I tell them], ‘Oh yeah, I was you ... brought him a realization that, ‘Oh, of his life.” paintballing one day and I got hit with a But Jordan has refused to let the cancer life could be really short.’ I think that kept black paintball and I wasn’t wearing goggles. dramatically change his life. He still plays him more social. I think that was good for That’s why there’s a black spot there.’” sports; he still adventures. him.”

“Jordan was such a trooper,” Judy said.

Adapting to a new lifestyle “He helped me be not so scared. He wasn’t Looking forward My friends and I have often joked about While ocular melanoma has afflicted scared. He goes, ‘Mom what can I do? This Jordan’s laziness—if he’s not not picking up Jordan twice already, there remains a is what I have, this is what I deal with and his phone when we’re hanging out, chances chance that it will resurface once again. Yet I’m just going to live every day like I would are he’s sleeping. We didn’t know, however, the odds are in his favor. According to the anyway. There’s nothing I want to do that that Jordan took to the habit of napping Sheade family, 2 percent of the population I’m not already doing.’ I wanted him to quit frequently after the periods of forced is afflicted with ocular melanoma, and only football and basketball and everything ... he inactivity following his surgeries.

2 percent of that group contracts it again; goes, ‘No. This is my life. This is part of who Jordan’s difficulty in focusing his eyes there is another 2 percent chance that he will I am, and why should I do that? Even if I die, persists today and will persist into the future. be afflicted with it again. If he does, Jordan at least I know I’m doing what I want to do.’”

Although his left eye has become dominant, will have to lose his eye. a.agrawal@elestoque.org he cannot engage in eye-intensive activities “There is no cure,” Judy said. “They can’t e.vu@elestoque.org

26

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ABOVE AND BEYOND: A Balancing Act Gymnast senior Melissa Chuang springs into better education

by Jacob Lui and Albert Qiu

Y

ou know that you are in love with a sport when you dislocate a rib and a toe, break your heel and shin bone, compete three seasons with the broken bones and continue with your back broken in four places. Senior Melissa Chuang knows one thing—she is definitely in love with gymnastics.

When Chuang was eight years old, she found herself caught in a dilemma uncommon for her age. She had to choose one out of the five sports that she was already involved in at the young age: ice skating, karate, swimming, soccer or gymnastics. After deliberation between soccer and gymnastics, Melissa made a pivotal decision to stick with gym—a choice in which the reward was far greater than

28

she had imagined.

On July 22, Chuang received an acceptance letter from Stanford University, guaranteeing her admission and three years of paid tuition. After her tours and unofficial meeting with Stanford coaches during the spring, she applied earlier in June through the Early Athletics Admissions program.

“It’s one of those lifelong dreams where you don’t think you would ever achieve it,” Chuang said. “I’ve always wanted to go to Stanford, but in high school when you realize how hard it is, you kind of give up on it.”

In her junior year, Chuang was also scouted by other colleges.

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football // volleyball // field hockey // water polo // golf // cross country // feature // sports flash University of California at Berkley and Davis both offered her full rides, while Yale and the University of Pennsylvania offered partial scholarships. In the end, Chuang chose the Cardinal for its excellence in both academics and athletics. In fall of 2012, Chuang will be joining the Stanford gymnastics team in 20 hours of practice a week and NCAA competitions.

Despite her ability in gymnastics, Chuang denies the claim that she got into Stanford solely because of her competence in gymnastics.

“A lot of people always say, ‘Oh, you can fail that test because you still have gym,’” Chuang said. “But it’s not like that. I wouldn’t have gotten into Stanford on gym alone.”

Chuang has trained at two gymnastics centers, West Valley and Airborne, both of which maintain a culture of assuring hard work in the gym and at school. On top of the 25 hours a week of gym practice, Chuang still had to give her full effort in school. Of course, gymnastics helped, but it would have meant nothing if Chuang did not also take her share of AP and Honors courses at MVHS. “The balance, the time management and the work ethic of all the girls in our gym Kevin Tsukii | El Estoque Kevin Tsukii | El Estoque really portray who they are,” gymnastics coach Alan Ruggerio said. “And they have obstacles every day, whether it be from AIRBORNE GYMNAST (bottom right) Senior Melissa Chuang chalks up her hands in prepathe intense, rigorous training that their ration to practice her routine on the uneven bars (top) at Airborne Aquatics and Gymnastics bodies go through or their mental stress Center on Aug. 31. (Left) Chuang performs her balance beam routine in view of Airborne’s motto that they go through trying to have their and collage of the gym’s alum’s colleges. Chuang was accepted into Stanford University through academic grades be above and beyond. It’s the Early Athletics Admission program and will be practicing and competing with the womens not something that we require here, but it gymnastics team beginning in the fall semester of 2012. is something that is always portrayed in our gymnasts here.”

“Without it, I don’t think I would have but really used her skill in gymnastics as Previous students from Chuang’s current gym, Airborne, have received scholarships much motivation,” Chuang said, “and I a stepping stone for a greater education.

Further down the road, Chuang hopes to to the University of Denver, UCLA, UC would probably be a complete wuss.”

Right after Chuang broke her heel prior to become a doctor or a sports physician.

Berkeley, University of Pennsylvania, “I always knew I wanted to be in the Brown, Southern Utah University, Cornell freshmen year, she took a month-long break and Yale not based on their ability in gym from gymnastics and contemplated the idea medical field,” Chuang said, “and after all of quitting gymnastics. the injuries, after I saw my sports [trainer] alone, but on their academic However, Chuang and my injuries and pains, I began to achievements as well.

“It’s one of those realized that she had to understand what was happening with my Looking at the full length lifelong dreams stick with her routine of body, so I started to pursue sports medicine of one side of the gym, gym because it simply because I was so familiar with it.” one can see the Airborne where you don’t too big a part of herself With this set aspiration always in mind, motto: “Above and beyond think you would to let go.

Chuang continues to devote her attention to Airborne, our gymnasts ever achieve it.”

“I tried other sports, education and hard work at school while still fly,” with the insignias senior Melissa Chuang like track and swimming, pursuing gymnastics as a hobby. of various colleges that but everything was just “So no matter what she’s come to previous gymnasts were so boring,” Chuang said. face, whether it’s injuries, pressures from accepted to. schoolwork, pressures from parents, she’s Chuang had never planned on using “It just felt like something was missing.”

In college, Chuang will matriculate as a always, always conquered above all,” gymnastics as a step toward college. She saw it as not only a hobby, but a distinct part pre-medical major, a prestigious program Ruggerio said. “And that’s why she’s going of her personality. The sport has changed that further enticed Chuang to stick with to be a Stanford gymnast.” her to become dedicated and strong, and to Stanford. She does not plan on going j.lui@elestoque.org | a.qiu@elestoque.org anywhere with gymnastics after college, face pain with endurance.

SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

29

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FLASH

Matador team updates Scoreboard Los Altos

TBA

Boys Water Polo

TBA Los Altos Date Opponent Score Mt. View

7-12

9/14

Gunn

14-6

9/20

Palo Alto

9/22

Los Gatos

9/13

Fall sports gear up for league season

Field Hockey Date Opponent Score 9/7 9/9 9/14

Saratoga

1-2

Homestead 2-0 Sobrato

4-0

9/20 St. Ignatius

Football Date Opponent Score 9/3

Overfelt

41-14

9/9

Prospect

50-0

9/16 Westmont TBD Los Altos 9/2 9/24 9/7

Los Gatos Saratoga

TBD Elvin Wong | El Estoque

Girls Tennis Date Opponent Score 9/6

St. Francis

6-1

9/13

Palo Alto Mt. View Los Altos Gunn

6-1 42-7 7-0 50-0

Gunn

TBD

9/15 9/20

Girls Volleyball Date Opponent Score 9/14

Wilcox

3-0

9/20

Los Altos

TBD

9/22

Milpitas

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9/27 Homestead TBD

Girls Water Polo Date Opponent Score 9/3 9/9

Saratoga

BUTTING HEADS: The offensive line goes to work as quarterback senior Austin Burrow takes the snap in the Sept.

9 game against Prospect High School. The Matadors scored six rushing touchdowns in their 50-0 win over Prospect.

New option offense lights up running game in football’s start

by Dickson Tsai and Carissa Chan

V

arsity football began the season with a blistering pace. Running backs seniors Sam McCann and Jordan Sheade were the cornerstones of the new option offense with a combined eight touchdowns the first two games while the experienced defense gave the Matadors more offensive opportunities. A tough challenge lies ahead versus powerhouse Los Gatos High School.

1-2

Homestead 2-0

9/16

Sobrato

4-0

9/23

Los Gatos

TBD

SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

Girls Tennis wins prestigious Fresno tournament The girls tennis team claimed first place in Division I at the

California High School Girls Tennis Classic in Fresno after a 5-2 victory over Archbishop Mitty High School in the Sept. 10 final.

The team played two games each day under the blistering Fresno heat. According to head coach Gene Fortino, it was no easy task.

“All the teams in the tournament are very close,” Fortino said.

“Our players were tired and their opponents were tired ... These girls really dug down deep.”

Last week, the Matadors won 6-1 over Palo Alto High School and 7-0 over Los Altos High School to start the league season.

Boys Water Polo participates in pre-season John Schmitt Memorial Tournament As of Sept. 16, the varsity boys water polo team holds a 4-3 record.

After going 3-2 at the John Schmitt Memorial Tournament, the team began league play on Sept. 13, losing against Mountain View by a score of 7-12. However, they were able to rebound offensively against Gunn HIgh School the next day 14-6. The Matadors look to pick up another win when they face Palo Alto on Sept. 20 and will participate in another tournament on Sept. 23-24. d.tsai@elestoque.org | c.chan@elestoque.org

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The

Dream Team

Senior varsity field hockey players celebrate four-year bond of sport and sisterhood

by Christophe Haubursin and Kevin Tsukii

Kevin Tsukii | El Estoque

F

football // volleyball // field hockey // water polo

our months per year, the field hockey team locker room looks like its decorations were born from the creative fusion of the Bee Gees and a kindergarten teacher. The walls are lined with photos of team members, and a board of inspirational quotes is tucked somewhere in the back.

A box of tampons is available around the corner for emergency situations. They even have a disco ball.

It’s right before practice on a hot August afternoon when we first meet the team, huddled in a circle under the dim glow of Christmas lights.

For the field hockey girls, it’s a warmhearted exclamation point of a welcome each time one enters. For everyone else, it’s a long walk to the properly lit, far less eccentric, dull locker room extension meant for other sports.

It took a lot—like staying up until three in the morning making shirts for their seniors last year—for their bonds lock into place. The endeavor was a small gesture, but a big time commitment that forced them to spend time outside of practice together.

Senior Rebecca Alberts halts the conversation.

“It’s really a family,” she says.

“We have each other whenever we need help.”

A swell of of aww’s fills the room before the team imitates bird calls à la Alberts’ nickname: “Becca! Becca!”

This is a room where inside jokes run in the air thicker than the mixed stench of sunscreen and sweat—where coherent conversation is periodically led astray with flourishes of giggles and “like that one time!”

SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

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moments. We start to question if we’re treading ground no man has ever tread just before when custodian Tom Orsua passes through.

He stands no chance against the pack.

“Do the thing!” It’s a loud collective plea. “Do the thing with the flashlight!”

Before long Orsua shines his flashlight straight up at the disco ball, and a million little stars

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glue of the hockey sandwich—a duo that has emphasized bonding as much as teamwork from the start. There’s a chorus of “Bon-bon’s” as we mention Belshe’s name.

“It’s great,” senior Justine Young said. “They’re comfortable with getting personal during bonding activities.”

Senior Raelle Alfaro cuts in— “I feel like they definitely care.”

Christophe Haubursin and Kevin Tsukii | El Estoque

BONDED FOR LIFE From left: seniors Christina Aguila, Raelle Alfaro, Nicole Anderson, Theresa Wong, Hannah Debaets, Danielle Beiser, Christina Aguila, Rebecca Alberts and Zelia Ziegler Hunts. The varsity girls field hockey team has grown close over four years of playing together. throw themselves at the walls, revolving as the ball turns. It’s a moment of awe in a flurry of chaos. Things start to feel as if the girls and their locker room are their own world.

And with a team that could just be one of the tightest of any sport on campus, the reasons for that are clear.

Leading this family are matriarchs Bonnie Belshe and Denise Eachus. They’re the real

Young cuts back.

“Oh yeah,” she says. “They care.”

For the team, the slightest differences make the biggest impact. The coaches weigh in on personal bonding moments just like any other team members, and willingly offer their assistance with any issue off the field—just as a parent might— should the players ever need it.

When we meet the coaches,

it’s morning, with the parents have taking to the field the players to the sidelines. It’s part AYSO family-style game, part “Freaky Friday”—the team has gathered here for their ninth annual Parent/Play Day, a day where students coach their parents for scrimmages. After the games, Coaches Belshe and Eachus recognize select parents for their effort and skill. For them, the games are a unique opportunity to glimpse into the source of their daughters’ utmost dedication, outside of the occasional game or team dinner.

“I think the field hockey program is one of the best in terms of coming together both on and off the field,” said Bruce Beiser, parent of senior Dani Beiser. “The coaches really do a lot for the team.”

Field hockey, as it would seem, might just be so different thanks to the fundamental sense of togetherness instilled in the players from the very start. Varsity and junior varsity players practice together, prepare together, rest together.

Leadership is encouraged at all levels of playing, right alongside understanding one another as athletes and individuals.

“Field hockey really requires everyone to bond as a group,” Young said back in the locker room. “It’s not a sport that anyone has played in middle school, so the upperclassmen help teach the underclassmen, whereas with softball and soccer, everyone has played before.”

For the team, tomorrow is a whole new day of bonding—be it in the ruffles of a sleepover tent, the grit of a match, or even just here in their decorated locker room, right here, right now. But for the moment, it’s time to play, and we’ve got to be shooed out.

And behind the closed door of the girls’ sub-universe, the family remains.

And once again, they’re together. c.haubursin@elestoque.org k.tsukii@elestoque.org

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Pilot Season

Trash or class?

Looking into trends today, traits of a hit show, and which programs to watch

Yimeng Han and Angela Liu | El Estoque Photo Illustration

Growth and popularity of reality TV alarming, but nothing can replace quality of scripted shows

by Rachel Lu

S

candalous reality shows are more than just entertainment, they are today’s new therapy sessions. After a stressful day, especially with New Jersey becoming The portrayal of tanned bodies, fake nails, big hair, and heavy makeup have created an inaccurate image of Italian-Americans, making them seem like shallow and overly dramatic people. The actual “reality” of these shows are called into question because the drama comes of staged or scripted. Focusing on characters that exaggerate certain stereotypes is cruel, but it still tops the charts in the pop culture world.

Watching reality television is like meeting new people in the comfort of their own homes. Making fun of the outrageous egos is easy with an “at least it’s not me” mentality. Despite how mundane life can be, at least the viewers still have their dignity and are not making fools of themselves on national television. However, this formula SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

can only hold viewers attention for so long before they return to scripted television.

Fortunately, there are still respectable shows out there like AMC’s multi-award winning series “Mad Men” which captures the essence of the 1960’s, with all its clean, wholesome glamour. It seems that while people enjoy making themselves feel better about their lives by making fun of the

62% *86 students responded to this survey

of students do not watch reality tv

stars of “Jersey Shore,” they need to also keep things classy by revisiting an older era.

With “Mad Men,” the old times are revitalized to keep up with modern culture while keeping many stylistic elements including the fashion and the ideals of the time.

Of course, anything with a script still uses intense, sometimes unrealistic drama just like reality shows, but they do it in a much more dignified manner. As NBC and ABC catch on with the classic times, both are creating new shows based in the 1960’s, “The Playboy Club” and “Pan Am” respectively, even in the previews the differences can be seen. For “Pan Am,” Frank Sinatra can be heard serenading in the background, a far cry from the pumping electronic dance beats heard in “Jersey Shore.” Although these period programs are not without their flaws, they possess an authenticity that reality TV can ironically never match.

With guilty pleasure shows tempting viewers everyday, they may win a few over for a few episodes, but it’s still the thoughtfully scripted shows that win out viewers for season after season. r.lu@elestoque.org

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Autumn might be associated with the start of school and the end of relaxation, but it is also an exciting time for

Fightor

Flight?

ABC

Sept. 21

dvr A young woman returns to her childhood home in the Hamptons seeking revenge on those who tore her family apart.

Which new TV pilots will live to see another season?

Sept.22

Oct. 21

NBC studios

NBC

Sept.22

Whitney

skip

Scared that her boyfriend of five years is losing interest, one girl schemes with her friends to keep the relationship alive. Comedienne Whitney Cummings created the series based on her real-life experiences.

Sept. 23

Nick Burkhardt fights creatures from fairytales. Now it is up to him save the world from the Big Bad Wolf, Goldilocks, and the other Big Bad Wolf. It took Little Red Riding Hood one only picture book to solve that problem.

Sept. 29

CBS studios

CBS

Sept. 22

dvr

watch A female homicide detective must deal with the stress of her job as well as the lack of respect she receives for being one of few women in a maledominated career. Based on a popular UK show.

watch

dvr

Despite being a carbon copy of “Minority Report,” this crime drama has received the highest pilot ratings of any drama in the past 15 years.

Michael Holt is your typical narcissistic surgeon, but his life is turned upside down when he starts getting some annoying visits from his ex-wife. Oh, and one more thing—she’s dead.

Sept. 26

skip This sitcom follows two men who are polar opposites, but are somehow best friends. Sounds familiar?

Well, it should. It’s based on a book.

Nov. 30

Fox studios

FOX

Oct. 30

watch You know that a show is going to be big when it has time travel, dinosaurs, Steven Spielberg and a budget of four million dollars per episode.

36

Allen Gregory

dvr

skip

Created by actor and comedian Jonah Hill, this Despite a talented cast, including “My animated sitcom features two gay men who Name is Earl” alumnus Jaime Pressstruggle to raise their intellectually advanced son. ley, this sitcom suffers from a plot that is about as sophisticated as the title.

EL ESTOQUE

art // theater // food // music // television // profile // culture // technology // gaming // fashion // books new entertainment. We have gathered some of the more noteworthy shows to premiere in the following weeks.

Sept. 22

Sept. 25

skip

Sept. 28

ABC studios

watch

A remake of the hit 1970’s show, which stars several sexy secret spies who solve crimes for their mysterious boss.

This period drama set in the 1960’s follows the stewardesses of the iconic Pan Am World Airways and the adventures they encounter.

dvr A dad moves to the suburbs with his daughters, and their new neighborhood is annoyingly suburban.

The TV show creator’s guidebook Do your dreams of producing a hit TV show seem unattainable? Do you fantasize about having your idea picked up by a major network, only to be cruelly shot down by your skeptical peers? Do you believe that you could create the kind of series that remains a classic for generations, if only you had the chance?

Never fear. El Estoque presents six (almost) foolproof tips to create a hit TV show.

1

Be original.

Actually, don’t be original. Just tack an original angle onto an age old premise; for example, rip off every aspect of a classic sitcom about a group of friends who live in New York, but add in a clever flashback based storytelling method to spice it up a little. Most shows on television are quite similar to one another, the only difference being that they approach their subjects differently.

Examples: “Charlie’s Angels” and “Prime Suspect” are both remakes, while “Person of Interest” borrows heavily from the film “Minority Report”. “How to be a Gentleman” marks yet another entry in the category of Friends Who Live Together.

2

In some way, shape, or form, involve doctors in your show. Or lawyers. Or detectives.

Or, better yet, all of them. It doesn’t matter if the doctor is stranded on a deserted island, thousands of miles away from the nearest hospital (Dharma Initiative stations excluded)—as long as there is a doctor, you will be fine. “House,” “Law and Order” and the army of CSI spin offs all serve to prove that shows about “exciting” professions always prevail.

Examples: “Hart of Dixie,” “Person of Interest,” “A Gifted Man,” “Prime Suspect,” “Grimm.”

3

Looks are everything.

It is no coincidence that most actors and actresses are physically attractive. People love to ogle beautiful characters, and all producers should be prepared to exploit this essential human weakness. If it becomes absolutely necessary for you to integrate a homely character because, say, the name of your show is “Ugly Betty,” just hire a beautiful actress and make her wear glasses. Problem solved.

Examples: Every program on air. Everyone knows that Spongebob’s sex appeal is what sells the show.

SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

4

Get a brand name producer to invest in your series.

Preferably Steven Spielberg or J.J. Abrams (creator of “Lost” and “Fringe”). This is not a hard and fast rule, but it generates more interest to have a big name attached to your project.

Examples: The two must hotly anticipated new shows for the fall are “Terra Nova” and “Person of Interest,” created by Spielberg and Abrams respectively.

5

Never, ever, ever allow your show to air on a Friday.

Prime time—8 p.m. to 11 p.m.—is great, but not on a Friday. This time frame is commonly referred to as the “The Friday Night Death Slot” because people are too busy having a life to watch television. Your best bet is Monday through Thursday night. Also, it’s helpful if your program gets picked up by one of the four major networks: ABC, CBS, NBC or Fox. CW is your fallback option.

Examples: “Grimm” and “A Gifted Man” are both scheduled to run on Friday nights—perhaps a sign that their networks expect them to fail?

6

The X Factor There are shows that followed every one of our tips but never caught on, and there are others that completely disregarded this checklist and achieved greatness. There is no concrete recipe for success—if you can find a way to incite strong emotions from your viewers, then go for it.

And just know that if it doesn’t work out, you can always make a reality show instead.

by Amrutha Dorai and Yimeng Han a.dorai@elestoque.org | y.han@elestoque.org

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art // theater // food // music // movies // profile

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Colleagues and companions

High school romance is not just for students, but for teachers as well

by Howard Lee

S

ometimes, school feels like E!Entertainment. For all intents and purposes, teachers are the celebrities on campus. Their behavior is subjected to a running commentary by students during brunch, lunch and sometimes even after school. Topics range from what the teachers wore that day to what they did over vacation.

One of the most fascinating aspects about teachers, other than how they grade, is their lives outside school. Students are around teachers so often that they cannot help but wonder about their lives. Among the questions are how they get along, what do they do together, and most interestingly, if they are involved romantically.

There are currently five couples among the faculty. They work together, both in school and outside.

Teachers Brian and Pam Chow, a longtime couple on campus, both acknowledge the benefits of working together. Although they teach different subjects, both teachers know they can rely on each other for help. “[It’s like] built-in collaboration,” Art and Photography teacher Brian Chow said.

“When I need help with lessons ... it allows for better understanding.”

“There are also little things,” Pam Chow, a science teacher, said. “Sometimes, Mr. Chow forgets his lunch and leaves, and I grab it. [Other things include] similar work schedules, similar hours, and vacation days.

It’s easier to coordinate personal schedules.”

For new social studies teacher Eric Otto, having his wife, English teacher Vanessa Otto, at his workplace sets an new dynamic.

Although he will take time adjusting, Eric

WORKING AND PLAYING TOGETHER Teachers Brian and Pam Chow first met at a new teacher orientation in August 2001. They started dating five years later and married in 2008. Off campus, they enjoy traveling, attending Sharks games, snowboarding and just hanging out.

Kevin Tsukii | El Estoque

Otto is glad for the company.

“It’s actually kinda fun,” Vanessa Otto said. “In the mornings it’s usually like , ‘okay time to go to work,’ and we’re used to saying ‘bye’ and going to our respective schools. But now we’re going to the same school. It’s very convenient [carpooling]. ” “I had a student the other day that didn’t get the memo,” Eric Otto said. “They came up to me and [asked], ‘Are you, uh, married or related to that, uh, Mrs. Otto?’”

Student reactions range from shock to “I knew it!” when they discover teacher relationships. For example, a former student from when Brian Chow was still unmarried

visited and was surprised when he found out Brian and Pam were now married.

Other students already knew, or had a sneaking suspicion about their teachers.

Students in Vanessa Otto’s class mostly guessed that the two Ottos on the campus were somehow connected. Mr. Otto even makes a point of mentioning he uses a green sheet similar to his wife’s.

Whether students know or not, marriages among faculty will remain a fact of life at this school. h.lee@elestoque.org

What’s in your kitchen?

by Danielle Kay

I

n most American cultures, you can find a frozen chicken or some frozen peas in the family’s freezer. In senior Charlotte Yuan’s refrigerator, you can find succulent chicken feet. Not drumsticks, feet. They are less then 50 cents a pound at Asian food markets and apparently taste delicious deep-fried. Kudos if you are ever brave enough to try it.

Asian fried chicken: While a picture like this could be fit for a horror cannibal movie, souls brave enough to try this delicacy describe its texture from chewy to melt-in-your-mouth deliciousness depending on how it is prepared. d.kay@elestoque.org

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SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

39

ENTERTAINMENT

Elvin Wong | El Estoque

EN GARDE: Junior Jeffrey Chen fences in competitions around the world. So far he has competed at France, Germany, and Budapest.

Kevin Tsukii | El Estoque

ALL-ROUNDER: Sophomore Mihir Athavale is a bowler and batter on

the US National cricket team. He has traveled within the US and Canada.

Going the distance and farther Students travel abroad in order to compete and perform at the next level

by Soumya Kurnool and Nona Penner

T

raveling requires a suitcase full of stuff—weatherappropriate clothes, toiletries, cameras and laptops, et cetera. How about a cricket bat, a violin or fencing gear?

Sophomore Mihir Athavale and juniors Stephen Kim and Jeffrey Chen are a few students among many who travel for their extracurricular activities. As California shrinks into the distance, these students go on their way to compete and perform.

Adjusting to jetlag Junior Jeffrey Chen found his interest in fencing away from home.

The summer before his sixth grade year, Chen visited China to pick up a sport. While there, he tried out taekwondo, but upon his return to the states, Chen decided to investigate fencing at the Silicon

40

Valley Fencing Academy in Los Gatos, where he trains today under international fencer and Ukranian International Champion, Aleksei Murugin. “[Fencing] is not just raw power. You have to think, outsmart [your opponents],” Chen said.

During his very first international competition last year right before first semester finals, Chen had an experience that stood out to him. After a long flight, Chen landed in Aix en Provence, France.

He, much like any other traveler, was not immune to jet lag.

“I got two hours of sleep the night before competition, so I didn’t make the cut. It [is] my most memorable trip because I was extremely dissatisfied,” Chen said.

Chen often travels to his competitions alone or with his coach, and upon arriving at his destination, gets minimal rest before the competition, with the first rounds typically taking place the next day.

Now, fencing on as little as three hours of sleep, while still wearing

art // theater // food // music // movies // profile // culture // technology // gaming // fashion // He started off as a water boy at the California Cricket Academy at the age of eight, working his way up to captain some CCA teams, and finally to play on the pitch, the cricket playing grounds, with the 14 members of the US cricket team (only 11 get to play in games).

Not to forget that those 14 were chosen from 112 regional players and that four of the members—freshmen Rutvij Bhise and Anirudh Srinivas and junior Dave Parikh—also attend this school.

“It’s amazing how competitive cricket is,” Athavale said. “And I’m a competitive person, so I like playing the sport and I enjoy winning the sport... [and] the team victory. It’s 11 times the amount of joy.”

Excitement at victory is indeed multiplied 11 times. Sometimes teammates rush towards the player who got a wicket, and other times they form a dog pile.

“At the end of the day, cricket is a team sport, and you win as a team and lose as a team,” Athavale said.

So far, Athavale has been to Hartford, Conn. and Winnipeg, Canada. He is enamored with the Winnipeg pitches, which have grass cut to one-fourth of an inch, a cricketer’s dream come true.

“The best feeling was when we left [Winnipeg]...We rose up...right when we were about to hit the clouds, we could see all the pitches on the ground...we could see one strip, two strip, three strip. It was a good farewell.”

Experience makes perfect Junior Stephen Kim, a violinist, misses around 75 days of school a year. He goes on trips around four to five times a year for around two to three weeks at a time. Seventy-five days hold a lot of work to make up, but Kim thinks it is worth it.

“Music is such a big part of my life, that basically I guess the only thing I’ll be doing besides music is homework,” Kim said.

His passion to pursue music is evident in the numbers, too. He’s been playing from the tender age of three and a half and practices around 38 hours a week.

His zeal comes in part from the people who inspire him: from the versatile violinists he watches to the teachers with whom he Elvin Wong | El Estoque interacts with all year round.

ENCORE, ENCORE: Junior Stephen Kim has played the violin since he “They teach me things that are priceless,” said Kim. “Valuable was three and a half. He has played around the US and Europe. information.”

So far, his travels have increased his repertoire and given him many experiences. His personal favorites were in Italy, where he played a great deal of chamber music, many piano trios and string for him, comes easier. quartets in performances and music camps.

He still competes almost monthly within the United States, most “It was really great to get to work with some other people and recently at Reno for semi-nationals for the week of July 4 where he make some great music,” Kim said. placed 8th in the cadets under 17 division. He will also be competing The one trip that changed him the most, however, was the group at France, Germany and Budapest this year, and is looking to take experience he has each year at the international Aspen Music Festival part in a competition in Moscow, Russia, as well. in Colorado, where top notch players from around the globe come to play. This year, he won the Concerto competition at the All in this together festival.

Prankmasters will be shocked. “There’s not really a “Every summer, I think I come out [of the music Sophomore Mihir Athavale and the specific [place], where it’s festival] as a different person, a different musician...I members of the US National cricket like you have to go there. come out with new experiences, more performing team have used shampoo, toothpaste Every place just has its experience, and new relations with people, and more and aftershave on an innocent sleeper own experiences.” ideas.” simultaneously. Of course, that person junior Stephen Kim Each place he goes to, whether it is New York, was a team member.

Colorado, Finland, Poland, Czech Republic, Germany, or Travel manifests itself as a team Italy, brings him more experience and exposure to new ideas and experience for sophomore Mihir Athavale, a leg swing bowler for the styles.

US National cricket team, who missed the first week of school for a “There are so many places that are important to music,” Kim tournament. He was in Winnipeg, Canada facing off the Canadian said. “There’s not really a specific [place], where it’s like you have to and Bermudan cricket teams. With 14 guys travelling together, you go there. Every place just has its own experiences.” are bound to have some trouble. And then there is always ding-dongs.kurnool@elestoque.org n.penner@elestoque.org ditching in the hotel.

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art // theater // food // music // movies // profile

Life behind the scenes

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A career in the entertainment industry proves to be an invaluable experience for freshman Miki Rai

Guide dog helps Spanish teacher Joyce Fortune

By Sara Yang

By Danielle Kay

out to be a memorable one.

“After a few days of the ouring San Francisco in shoot, I got like really sick. I woke French designer duds, up at like 3 a.m. in the morning laughing with friends and started throwing up,” Rai Kevin Tsukii | El Estoque along the way—while this may said. “My parents [told me to] STRIKING ENTERTAINER seem like a scene from a typical stay home and rest, but I didn’t Freshman Miki Rai has day in the good life, a closer look want to disappoint the crew … I reveals what something not so sucked it up and went.” engaged in jobs on and off, normal about the picture. Take a usually on weekends, over As Rai acclimated to her hint from the cameras following work, she kept rolling with the the past four years. the smiling teenagers. This is not punches. As Garcia explained, a pleasure trip, but another day bumps are inherent in the “You learn that if people on the job. want you, they want you. And entertainment industry.

Fresh man if they don’t want you, they’re According Visit elestoque.org for Miki Rai just not going to use you,” Rai to Garcia, more information and has been said. “I’m not one of those super c l i e n t s to see a related video of already have working in the sensitive people who thinks freshman Miki Rai. enter t ainment about all that.” a vision in i n d u s t r y For the most part, Rai mind when since 2007. At the age of 10, conducting auditions. Their maintains her casually optimistic she signed with Models Inc. goal is to find the best fit for perspective. But even she is Talent Agency in San Francisco. each project. This aspect of the susceptible to disappointment.

Accomplishments on her resume audition process can be helpful.

When she traveled to San range from photo shoots and Being Asian-American and Francisco three times for television commercials to musical fluent in Chinese has certainly auditions and callbacks for a performances at Disney World.

Google Chrome commercial, it helped Rai land jobs, given the Yet her leap to join the limited number of models who was crushing to ultimately get business was not calculated, fit such criteria. the phone call saying, “You were or even expected. It all began released.”

On the other hand, this when her mom signed her up method of selection inevitably Throughout it all, she draws for a radio show speaking leads to rejection. According support from her parents. Her class. At the time, the class was to Garcia, succeeding in the father Yasuyuki Rai believes that just another extracurricular business takes more than her experiences serves as steps endeavor for Rai—until it led to an outgoing personality and to maturity. an audition for a talent company.

“We don’t know if “Before I walked in the she’ll be an actor, singer, room [to audition], I could feel Before I walked in the room anything else related my heart pounding like it was [to audition], I could feel my to the entertainment going to fall out,” Rai said. “I Yasuyuki heart pounding like it was industry,” [thought], ‘Why do I even have said. “But we do know going to fall out. to do this? I’m not even going freshman Miki Rai that whatever she does to get picked ... there’s so many ... all this time she’s people.’” put in is going to help But Rai did get picked, and attractive image; high selfher actually become a successful Models Inc. founder Sherrie esteem is key. In Garcia’s person in any career that she Garcia set her up with her first observation, wants to choose.”

Rai has job, a television commercial, continuously displayed such shortly after. This first job turned professionalism. s.yang@elestoque.org

T

42

‘Watch’ dog

F

or Spanish teacher Joyce Fortune, the deterioration of her eyesight could almost be an episode of “House.” In her case, what she could see did not actually match what doctors said she should be able to see.

“For a lot of years it was just this big mystery, what was going on, why doesn‘t she see what she’s supposed to see, and it was getting worse,” said Fortune.

Eventually, her sight deteriorated to a point that she began using her pet Labrador, Gwen, as a guide dog. Fortune and her husband had had Gwen for seven years before training her as a service dog about a year ago.

Fortune has memorized the layout of her classroom: desks only four deep, the microwave in the back left, far right corner and special lights on the ceiling.

Along with her classroom, Fortune knows her neighborhood and the layout of the school so well that she does not need Gwen to show her around. Gwen only comes around when Fortuna is going somewhere new or unfamiliar.

Being in the classroom with a vision impairment poses some problems. Fluorescents give her a headache, so special lighting was specially installed by the district after a teacher walked in on Fortune grading papers in the dark.

“If you ever want to see me go ballistic, then switch chairs... because I depend on them being where they need to be,” Fortune said. d.kay@elestoque.org EL ESTOQUE

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Watermelon seeds of truth be. However let’s face it. We were stupid.

We just accepted ever y t h ing as it was and never questioned a u t h o r i t y.

When we were small, we listened to our parents and from this they concurred that Forest Liao | El Estoque Photo Illustration our obedience he was cute. Now Beginning we’re thinking for ourselves and Ah, to be young again. are learning to break away from What am I saying? I’m 16 and them. The constant guilt trips not even done with a quarter won’t work on me though. I’m of my life. Instead I should say: onto them. I’ve learned. I’m “Ah, to be younger again.” almost an adult.

Yes, I know that we all secretly Watermelon Seeds wish our teachers would give us Those are the worst kinds of nap-time just ‘cause, but alas it seeds. If you swallow them whole never happens. We go through you will grow a watermelon in our lives constantly whining of your stomach and no one wants what was and what will never a watermelon in their stomach.

T

Luckily, I made sure to never swallow those seeds. Good thing I listened to my mom.

I mean, if I hadn’t I would be wa lk ing around with a watermelon in my stomach. I never understood this lie. After childhood I swallowed my fair share of watermelon seeds. But once as a kid I swallowed a seed and cried uncontrollably, thinking I was going to die from a watermelon inflicted death. It would have been easier if she hadn’t said anything about the watermelon seeds in the first place. As high-schoolers we’ve come to acknowledge these lies, but as we further progress into our lives we’re going to need to spot many more watermelonseed type lies.

Are we there yet?

On an early summer morning

I remember being woken up at 4 a.m. by my Dad for our road

Kid Fibs trip to Disneyland. I remember it being only an hour or so away from Cupertino. Whenever we went further than San Francisco—which is 10 to 15 minutes away, by the way—it was always “an hour or so.” That was the reply I got to my “are we there yet?” Being younger it was easier for my perspective of time to be manipulated by my parents, they took advantage of that. I feel not much has changed concerning time. But instead, the tables have turned.

Mom: When will you be done with your homework?

Me: In an hour or so. p.ravikiran@elestoque.org

Opening up the book No Country for Old Women

S

ince who knows when, I have been called a grandma by friends and parents alike, and with good reason, too. I’m flat out old-fashioned: I loathe TV, do not listen to music (except classical), never go to rallies (or dances, for that matter), and do not have a Facebook account.

Correction: I did not have a Facebook.

I had my reasons for steering clear of Facebook. I don’t take photos. I don’t like looking at

them, either. I don’t approve of stalking. It’s distracting.

And that shade of blue is so not my color.

That’s why Tuesday, August 30th went down in history—as the day that I got a Facebook.

But I was wary. I heard stories of people who got flooded with friend requests the instant they started on Facebook. I promptly filtered all Facebook emails to the trash. I, who cannot tolerate the Inbox (1) on Gmail, could not have meaningless notifications

polluting my inbox.

I braced myself, ready for Facebook to unleash its wrath.

That wrath was about twenty-four hours slow and came as a single friend request k from a complete Boo stranger. It was time ace F e Th to take action.

I added a friend Forest Liao, Pooja Ravikiran, Christophe Haubursin | El Estoque Photo Illustration who had pestered me to join Facebook.

Whereas I had calmly added them friend-ing you are a thouher, she must have experienced sand times more likely than the a “surge of dopamine” because odds of them friend-ing you in she made a post telling the world real life. It really depends on that I had a Facebook. And what you define a friend as. guess what? 28 friend requests Maybe it’s because I truly followed, along with a zillion no- am a grandma—because to me tifications.

Facebook is, as Shakespeare Facebook seemed to me like aptly puts it, “much ado about Stalker Central, where you can nothing.” friend anyone and the odds of s.kurnool@elestoque.org

43

TECH

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

food

WEB Nowadays, there are so many new types of technology on the market that it seems like they’re just biting off each other constantly. Expecially with products like touchscreen tablets, touch screen phones, and e-books, its hard to tell which one actually came first, and which products are the guilty biters.

Apple’s iPad first debuted in April 2010, with new generations following soon after. to stay ahead of the competition.

The Nook’s debut in November 2009 was able to nibble at the competition, but the advertising campaign couldn’t touch that of the Kindle.

HTC’s O2 XDA was the first 3.5 inch color touchscreen phone and debuted in 2002.

The iPhone then jumped in and stole HTC’s thunder with the iPhone in January 2007.

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*

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Samsung jumped on the bandwangon with the Galaxy Tab in September 2010.

And in 2011. Blackberry bit into the big-screen-craze with their PlayBook. While the web-browsing features surpassed that of the iPad’s, the tiny 7 inch screen ocould not compare with the shiny 10.1 iPad screen complete with a full-to-the-brim App Store.

The Kindle came into existance in 2007 and ate the competition.

Blackberry attempted to Storm the competition, but there was barely a drizzle.

Sony came out with their first e-Reader in 2006.

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art // theater // food // music // movies // profile

These Darn Kids

I

’ve never quite understood the appeal of Wayne. To me, he has always sounded like Daffy Duck with a bad attitude. But everything I’ve heard about Wayne has been positive. So with the release of “Tha Carter IV,” Wayne’s latest album, I decided to give him a shot.

I still don’t get it.

One my favorite elements of rap are the characters. Rappers are very big on putting their own personalities into their music.

Wayne is very good at this, but the problem is: I don’t like Lil’ Wayne.

Anyone who knows me knows that I am not bothered by people being politically incorrect. But Lil’ Wayne, from the very beginning, establishes himself as vulgar and condescending.

I know that with much rap comes the objectifying of women, but Wayne almost makes it hateful. I know that other artists

A&E

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Lil’ to no vocal talent are just as guilty as Wayne, but there is a big difference. Ludacris, for example, has lyrics that are just as explicit, but unlike Wayne, he comes across as a likeable guy. There is a sense of fun and exaggeration behind his words. The same goes for Eminem’s early work, which contains arguably far more offensive lyrics, but maintains a cartoonish, satirical tone. That is not to say that there is no place for serious, crude, and offensive songwriting—try Tyler, the Creator, an up and coming artist whom many believe to be the future of the rap industry. Tyler’s lyrics are shocking and violent, but he maintains the persona of a dark, tormented figure.

Wayne sounds more like a frat boy spitting dumb fantasies into a microphone.

Oh yeah, I also think his music sounds terrible. That’s probably worth mentioning.

Every background beat of Wayne’s sounds like you are hearing it from outside of a car whose bass is way to high up. Each song is less distinguishable than the last, with a monotonous background that does no favors to Wayne’s already grating voice.

But if there is one thing I respect about

Wayne, it is that his music isn’t an act. As ugly as I find his music, it does seem authentic From the interviews I have listened to and read, Wayne is a very well-spoken man, and is obviously intelligent. He just happens to highlight the worst of himself in his music.

So there are the lyrics, the persona, and the music that I have an issue with, but what really frustrated me the most about this entire experience was the fact that my favorite element, the storytelling and poetry, seems to be forgotten in a lot of popular hip hop. Some of my favorite artists maintain this, such as Ghostface Killah (of Wu-tang Clan fame) and MF Doom. They can either weave engaging tales or simply amuse with clever observations and musings.

After giving Wayne a try I somehow came out disappointed despite low expectations.

I thought that he just was not for me, but I came away wondering how he appealed to so many different people.

Oh well, it was either this or dubstep. I think I made the right choice. m.shawki@elestoque.org

SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

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The many of MVHS

Just a couple important things you might not have known

ODD CONTRAPTION: This machine is meant to pitch balls for baseball practice. But with its narrow, crane-like head, it could do well for cultivating a ping pong team.

by Lisa Zhang

B

uried somewhere between the soccer goals and strange football pitching device, therein lies a small torn box filled with golden glittering stars, and the championship trophies of the field hockey team from all the way back in 1995.

The storage boxes standing behind the B-building could be the eighth wonder of the modern world.

Abet their tilted floors and musty smell, the looming tanks offer the randomest collection of athletic items in all of MVHS.

There are even air holes at the top, where slices of sunlight pore through, and discarded desks and chairs scatter the floor. Nearby is a box of old PE portfolios, all sentenced to a prolonged, tortuous death in the darkened tank. Not a pretty sight.

A strange football pitching device sits alone on the ground between the large shelves with wheels. It’s bright yellow wheels are a stark contrast to its peeling blue paint, and spins rather well considering the amount of dust settled upon it’s handle.

Another odd invention is hidden in the

Yaamini Venkataraman | El Estoque

next storage box over, with a plastic, cranelike head dangerously aimed at the poor intruder who dares step past its shelf. It’s supposed to shoot plastic balls for baseball practice, but looks like it would do just as well for cultivating MVHS’s next ping pong team.

Maybe one day, the Annual Conquistador Award—those two helmets in the office— will be relocated to the eighth wonder of the MVHS world. l.zhang@elestoque.org

Object most likely to chop your finger

by Nellie Brosnan

P Kevin Tsukii | El Estoque

SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

ut your guard up and you won’t get hurt,” Woodshop teacher Ted Shinta said to his students when dealing with the table saw. Although a guard is suspended above the saw to prevent fingers from being chopped off, it’s still a dangerous tool.

“You’re basically pushing your

hands towards the blade of the saw,” Shinta said. “What you have to worry about the kickback.”

The kickback occurs when the blade catches the wood and throws it back at the operator, possibly injuring, or even killing the operator.

But no fingers have been chopped off yet. n.brosnan@elestoque.org

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and field renovations to 2. Track begin in late September Spirit game 3. Bull Football vs. Prospect

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Welcome Back Rally in two minutes Police search for Subway robbers on Sept. 13 On That Day: Remembering 9/11

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