Senior Issue 2023

The Senior Issue

We are ‘23 Moments in time

2022-2023 Senior Staff

Katie Shih

Raphael Semeria

Arjun Shah

Carly Liao

Madison Yue

Hila Livneh

Kenneth Soh

Michael Zhang

John Li

Lita Sone

Paul Garofalo

Ruhani Suresh

Yoochan An

Gracie Easton Adviser

Kristy Blackburn (KGB)

Letter from the editor

Dear Class of 2023, We’ve finally made it! This is officially the end of our high school journey, and it’s crazy to think about how far we’ve come. The memories we’ve made and the growth we’ve experienced throughout these years have truly shaped us into the people we are today. We have braved a pandemic, construction and one too many instances of freak California weather. All of these things have instilled in us patience, adaptability and persistence.

But not everything during our time here has been a challenge to overcome. In this issue, I hope we’ve captured some of the best snapshots of our time in high school. I hope that reading through

this magazine will leave you with a sense of pride for your fellow classmates, joy from our collective favorite experiences and laughter at our Gunn confessions.

Lastly, I hope this issue inspires in you a sense of confidence for the future. We’ve worked so hard to get here and accomplished so much. You’ve earned this, and despite the obstacles or detours that may have popped up along the way, we made it in the end—and that’s what matters.

Here’s to making new memories, Katie Shih, EIC ‘22-’23

Meet The Staff

The Oracle Senior Staff 2022-2023

Will frantically edit pages in and out of class without breaking a sweat

3.5

3.5

3

Katie Shih Editor-IN-Chief

Raphael Semeria Managing editor

Arjun Shah Managing editor

years

years

years

renowned as Gunn’s #1 Photoshop salesman

Started a rap career under the stage name $hahdawg

Runs over a minimum of 3 mailboxes on the way to school

2.5 years

might be on the equity committee or dance team

1.5 years

Plays at least 18 games of Tetris every Oracle period

brings up the one day he was early every time he’s late to Oracle

Carly Liao Forum editor

Madison Yue Features editor

Kenneth Soh Sports editor

2 years

Hila CenterFoldlivneh editor

3 years

#1 proud american citizen

1.5 years

Won’t respond to emails because he’s too busy watching anime during class

unparalleled anime nerd (she’s ready to fight John over this)

Only takes his headphones off to shower

Michael Zhang

Lifestyle editor

John Li

Business editor

Lita Sone Reporter

1.5 years

1 year

Paul Garofalo Reporter

3 years

can be found making edits to graphics during calculus

1.5 years

constantly mistaken for a sophomore

Always Rants about math class during yearbook

will scribble on a page and gaslight you into believing she actually wrote something in English

Ruhani suresh graphics artist gracie easton

2 years

Yoochan an freelance photographer

2 years

freelance photographer

Kristy Blackburn

19 years

advisor

Carly Liao

on coming of age

This is not an advice column. To those anxiously perusing these pages hoping for a few pearls of wisdom from an all-knowing Oracle senior, you won’t find them here. (Might I recommend the personal column written by the eminent Michael Zhang instead?)

Frankly, I am entirely unqualified to give advice to anyone else, which is why I’ll opt to do what I do best: talk about myself.

I’ve always held a great love for coming-of-age

an advice column. As I find myself in the middle of my own coming-of-age story, I’ve found that the reality of growing older cannot be reduced to a few inspirational sound bites. Growing up, for me, looks like celebrating my driver’s license, working at a job I disliked and crying at Night Rally during homecoming week. It also largely consists of scrolling through Instagram in my room when I have nothing better to do—or when I do and simply don’t feel like doing it. Growing up does not end in a flurry of graduation caps, an impulsive dive into the pool or a wild ride down the highway. Growing up takes a long time—I’ve heard rumors that it sometimes lasts an entire lifetime.

I’m sure if someone chose to make a film out of my life, it would be a terrible coming-of-age movie. There is no overall life lesson—or there are too many, and I have chosen to ignore all of them as I stumble along and make the same mistakes over and over again. I’ve gotten lucky when I didn’t deserve it and hurt other people who deserved better. The plot would be all tangled and messy and ultimately unsatisfying.

Nonetheless, I regret absolutely none of it. I am not here to live out a fantasy of growing up, to take trite life lessons to heart and run into problems that neatly resolve themselves. I am happy to simply live my own life—embrace it, run headlong into it or however it is I end up living it. I’m aware it makes me a horrible advice giver, but I’m a much more real, joyful person for it.

If we were to take a line from any one piece of media as honest gospel for the maturing adolescent, it would be this: “I’m only seventeen; I don’t know anything.” I doubt I ever will, but I’ll have a marvelous time trying to learn.

Lita Sone

on defying labels

I chose to play a video game because I thought that the main character was hot. While this fact is completely true, I do not regret it. Let me introduce you to the game Persona 5, about a high school student, known as Joker, forming a vigilante group to expose the crimes of corrupt adults. While I initially picked the game up because I found the main character to be attractive, that is only one of the reasons I continued playing. Persona 5 hit me deeper than most media could, not because I could relate to fighting the injustice in our society or performing heroics, but because I related to the struggles experienced by one of the side characters.

When I was first introduced to Ann Takamaki, I hated her. I thought she was superficial: Even though her character is meant to represent going against female sexualization, the way she is portrayed does anything but that. What I failed to realize, however, was that this portrayal was intentional and shined light onto one of the core points of Persona 5: to understand others past the persona we put up and see characters for who they truly are. Ann’s classmates see her as a promiscuous character, but as they interact more with Ann, they learn that she is actually a caring empath with strong willpower. And, just like her classmates, I misunderstood that very key trait about her.

As a fellow high school student, let me let you in on a little secret—you are not safe from rumors and gossip. That’s not to say you should lock yourself up in your room and not talk to anyone. Sometimes it’s not bad to be talked about. After all, it just comes with socializing and sharing stories: You are a part of someone’s story, and it just so happens that how they portray you will vary. It does mean, however, that sometimes people will make wrong assumptions about you. This can happen even within friend groups, and it only takes one story to snowball into a huge misunderstanding. In my case, though I initially thought I had nothing in common with a random side character in a video game, I found there was more to her I could relate to. Similarly to Ann, because of the way people interpreted my actions, I started to become ostracized from my friends. For example, I was judged for finding comfort in my male friends more than my female friends. Talking to my male

friends about this problem only made it worse. At one point I would make fun of myself more than my friends did, just so it made their jabs at me seem less painful. It became a part of my persona, and a personality trait I thought didn’t suit me in the slightest. Looking back, I wish that I had some sort of self-actualization moment, when I did a full 180-degree turn and took off the mask.

Raphael Semeria

on making room for growth

In August 2019, an insecure, extremely reserved and overall disorganized version of myself stepped for the first time onto Gunn’s campus as a high schooler. Now, four years later, an entirely different person will be stepping away it.

As a freshman, overwhelmed by everything high school-related, I wanted to have the time of my life and enjoy everything offered by the new environment. How I would achieve that, I believed, was by being like everyone else. All I wanted to do was fit the

home, away from stressors, allowed for time devoted to reflection and growth. I spent time focusing only on myself and reflecting on what I wanted to accomplish. I tried new hobbies, experimented with fashion and tuned into my creative side. Despite all these changes, it would still be untrue to say that all of my insecurities magically disappeared. However, by being more confident, more genuine and more myself, I was able to build stronger relationships and support structures that I didn’t have to question. In the end, coming to terms with who I am allowed me to truly embrace myself and come closer to accomplishing the goals I set for my freshman self. I became more confident, outgoing and spent less time being someone I wasn’t.

After a year and a half at home, I returned to campus my junior year as a much different person. Confidence and comfort built over the pandemic allowed me to spend time enjoying life and the memories I would make during high school. I pushed myself out of my comfort zone, got involved in the community and built stronger relationships with those around me. Dressing up for homecoming and attending all of its events junior year marked the first time I was truly excited to display school spirit and be proud of my role in the community. Cheering on the sidelines and wearing the most outlandish outfits possible, I was able to experience all of the highlights of high school.

Despite still getting nervous when talking in a public setting or to people I’m not the closest with, looking back, I can see the momentous growth and development I have experienced. I don’t know what the future holds but I hope to continue living on my own terms and growing in my own way long after my time at Gunn.

Something I hope everyone walking into high school should know, including my freshman self, is that changing one’s self to be like those around them will never be the solution. Once individuals embrace their individuality without regrets and can be confident while doing so, life becomes more genuine and memorable.

Arjun Shah

on changing perspectives

Near the end of my junior year, I was captured by a new motivation: to radically change myself for the better. I am not quite sure what spurred this new desire. Ever since I was young, I have felt like I was supposed to be more than what I was, but I had never actually looked myself in the mirror and constructed a plan of action on how I could embark on this transformation. That spring, for whatever reason, I did.

One night, I set my alarm for 4 a.m., vowing to myself that the days of waking up 20 minutes before school were over—that now things would be different.

For the rest of the spring semester, I adhered to this routine, believing that if I worked hard enough all of my self-doubt and anxiety about who I was supposed to be would go away. I wrote extra articles, worked on InDesign pages early in the morning and studied for exams, all in the hope that one day I would look in the mirror and be proud of the person staring back at me. Yet that moment never arrived. Instead, the spring slipped away and summer began, and I abandoned my routine and discipline. In place of it, I began to spend long hours playing pick-up basketball at the YMCA, desperately trying to distract myself from the reality of who I was. Yet I could only avoid it for so long. Biking back from the gym, I felt empty inside. I had striven to become someone better, yet all of my hard work had brought me no satisfaction. Even as the sun embraced me and I looked up at the blossoming summer foliage, I felt completely alone.

In the fall of senior year, I got really into the idea of detachment. Toward the end of summer, I re-read Siddhartha and came to the conclusion that the root cause of all my afflictions was my attachment to the material world. So, I did my best not to care about external things like grades and awards. But ultimately, I failed. These things still mattered to me, even if I outwardly denied they did. I didn’t want to admit then that my new philosophy was just another way for me to avoid the fact that I didn’t like the person that I was.

In the second semester, I abandoned my philosophizing. I started a legendary (albeit short-lived) rap career, and overall I became a lot more extroverted. For the first time in my life, I began to fully invest my attention in the present. I no longer strove to achieve

constructed goals, but rather to feel joy in each day. And yet, even with this new mindset, I still wasn’t satisfied. Though I spoke more, I also said countless things that I shouldn’t have. Though I invested more in my personal relationships, I also felt heartbreak. I lost friends because of my own foolishness, and ultimately, I was feeling more lost than ever before. People often tell me that I have changed a lot, and I suppose in a superficial way they are right. With each

on going beyond great Michael Zhang

I’ve got a confession to make: I’m in love. No, not the let’s-go-to-prom-together type of love. I’m in love with people—the Gunn peers who changed the course of my life, teachers who inspired me and friends who’ll last, if not forever, at least for the next three months. I’m in love with the people who I’ve danced side by side with during Airbands and those that I’ve only ever conversed with in Zoom breakout room chats.

For a very, very long time, I saw myself as an exception to this love. I hated the shape of my body, was ashamed of how utterly boring I was and couldn’t bring myself to imagine that anyone would believe in me if I couldn’t even believe in myself. Luckily, the pandemic swung around and I was suddenly cured of all my misgivings— for about a week.

With only the Michael in my mirror to keep me company, I spiraled out of control. Days at a time spent in my room and weeks without leaving the house defined my shelter-in-place self. I stayed up all night just to see my window’s sliver of sky melt from black to navy blue, wondering if when the morning crows cawed, they cawed just for me. Essentially, I was out of my mind. But what kept me going, day after day, were the little things. I’ll always remember the Schoology message that I got

from my freshman French teacher, Monsieur Losier, after failing to demonstrate any participation in French class for the entire first month of lockdown (désolé, monsieur). He was “a little concerned” about how I was doing and wanted to check in. After I apologized profusely for failing to meet deadlines and causing him concern, Mr. Losier quickly responded that he wasn’t asking if my work was going well. He was asking if I was doing well.

It may seem like an inconsequential occurrence, but I remember reading this message and being intensely conflicted. I felt supremely unmotivated to continue with anything in life, but Mr. Losier and those like him reminded me that I was more than my weakness. Supported by a network of teachers and peers who understood me for who I was, I crawled and limped my way to the conclusion of distanced learning.

In the rat race that we always find ourselves in, it’s so easy to focus on success the way that others define it for you. But sometimes success can be stepping outside of the house for the first time this month. It can be deciding that you’ll eat something today. Seek out those magical people who will support you through both success and struggle.

Love certainly isn’t an easy thing to offer every person you meet. But if there’s one action I urge you take to improve your day-to-day, it’s to shy away from hate whenever possible. Love isn’t easy. Hating absolutely is. Don’t give in to the temptation to complain or to put down others when you could be uplifting them instead.

You may be surprised to learn that I do not actually think of myself as perfect, preachy as I admittedly sound. I complain about my classes and get annoyed when people are rude to me, just like everybody else. Still, in spite of myself, I’ve learned to grasp for positivity when it’s needed the most. For the longest time I strove to be a great person, one with a dazzling array of achievements that would bring me respect and recognition. Now, though, I strive to go beyond being great—and you should, too.

Don’t just be great. Be good.

on embracing community Madison Yue

As a freshman, I felt overwhelmed by the number of booths at the club fair: STEM clubs, performing art clubs, culture clubs and more. That day, I probably signed up for more than 20 clubs.

Throughout my time at Gunn, I have been a part of a variety of diverse communities. In freshman year, I was one of many timid students navigating a new environment. As a sophomore, I joined a worldwide group of teenagers acclimating to online school. It wasn’t until junior and senior year when I learned the importance of communities.

While leading Airbands my junior and senior year, I saw the class come together to create a dance that we were all proud of: We really were all in this together. With a megaphone in my hand, telling people to straighten their arms, it was a joy to see our dance routine come to fruition week by week. We had many laughs that grew during each practice.

The theme of we’re all in this together continued in theatre’s production of “High School Musical.” After 8 hours of rehearsal on the weekends, I can proudly call myself an honorary theatre kid. The “Oo I feel so good like” circle and traditions before every show fully immersed me into the theatre community: I soon nailed the shake off, and the pounding on the floor to the jumping up and down.

Another important community to me, the Student Equity Committee, taught me to think about things through an equitable lens. Leading the committee and participating in all-day equity trainings, with speaker Dr. Lori A. Watson, created a comfortable environment for me to tackle tough questions: When was the first time you realized your race mattered? How much does race affect your daily life? These were difficult questions that I hadn’t thought about and questions that I’m still discovering answers to. In these equity trainings, I realized that not everyone felt the community aspect of Gunn like I did. Yet, I saw these trainings evolve into conversations with others in taking baby steps to making Gunn a more inclusive campus. What I really like about these trainings is that even though it is one person talking about their experience, it is a shared experience that people can relate to. Even for experiences that I couldn’t relate to, I was able to empathize with people

to the point where I learned to look at my classmates with a greater sense of awareness. These experiences forged stronger connections with other students and the different communities at Gunn. In The Oracle, I got the opportunity to explore these different perspectives and ensure they were represented in our writing. I was able to learn about one student’s obsession with Star Trek, how one student honors their indigenous culture through traditional dances and the importance of people’s names and pronunciation.

Through hearing the stories of people in the Student Equity Committee and interviewing people in The Oracle, I began thinking more about my role in my environment and how I could contribute to making change. Class of 2023, although we will all travel our own separate paths, I hope you’ll know that we will always be a part of the Gunn community. The road ahead of you may be intimidating, but I challenge you to join other groups that you may not otherwise think about. After all, when you are a part of something larger, you will gain a multitude of perspectives on life and of the world around you.

Senior Features

Obed Han: Flying

Four years ago, Obed Han learned to fly through the Young Eagles program, which gives free flights to teenagers under the Experimental Aircraft Association. Now a licensed pilot under the Federal Aviation Administration himself, Han can often be found practicing his abilities at the San Carlos Airport. While flying, Han appreciates the perspective that being in the air grants him. “My favorite thing (about flying) is being able to leave stress, work and school behind and just relax and look at the scenery,” he said.

Still, flying is not without its hurdles. “The most challenging part is learning the rules and regulations,” Han said. “Physically flying is not much different than (driving) a car, but the hard part is learning the rules and theory, (such as) how the system works and how weather impacts flying.”

Han’s favorite aviation topic to learn about is the weather. “It’s really interesting how the weather around you works,” he said. “It’s cool when I go (flying) on vacation

and I can know what’s happening around me.”

For those who are interested in learning how to fly, Han recommends reaching out to others in the aviation community. “You can always get people to help you out,” he said. “That’s how I got a tour of the United maintenance facility for free, and that’s how I got scholarships. Other people help out a lot.”

In the future, Han plans to major in aerospace engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. “My goal is to work on big aircraft and do autopilot design for Boeing, and I (also) want to keep flying as a hobby that I do on the side,” he said.

—Written by Carly Liao

Roshelle Bunuan: Animation

Roshelle Bunan was first introduced to animation while watching movies at home. It was these movies, that first inspired her to pursue animation. “My parents would always have these Disney movies for me to watch when (they) were at work,” she said. “That was my first exposure to (animation). I just saw

Despite loving animation from a young age, Bunan did not consider a career in animation until she met a professional animator at a summer program in middle school. “I met this Pixar animator at this summer camp that I went to, and she talked about the science and technology behind doing 3D animation, and that’s what really got me hooked on it,” she said. “Since then, I’ve been learning how 3D modeling works and how 3D animation works in general.”

Bunan made her first animation project in sophomore year for the Gunn Robotics

Team, where she currently serves as the Animations Lead. “Robotics has these animation competitions for people to compete for, and the theme was quarantine,” she said. “We tried to have fun with it. (Our animation) was a Western showdown where we had a little cowboy fighting against a virus in a western showdown, which was kind of silly.”

Next year, Bunan plans on studying animation at San Jose State University, where she hopes to gain the skills necessary to work in the animation industry. “(San Jose State) has really great connections to studios like Pixar and DreamWorks,” she said.“I hope to get internships over at whatever studio offers one to me, and I hope to one day be a director or an animator at Pixar Studios, because that’s where I met that animator. I want to be able to go there and just say thank you to her for being my biggest inspiration.”

—Written by Arjun Shah

Alec Petritis: Hacking

As a high-school hacker, Alec Petridis has made his mark on the local software development scene by approaching each challenge with an out-of-the-box angle.

Petridis attributes his hacking beginnings to his middle school experience in finding useful loopholes and workarounds. “I worked out a way to get lots of Google Home Minis for free,” he said. “My great plan was to sell them, (but the) problem was that no one wanted a Google Home Mini.”

In his freshman year of high school, Petridis found a place to apply his unique skillset in cybersecurity “capture the flag” competitions. When attending Carnegie Mellon University’s picoCTF competition, Petridis quickly discovered that he both enjoyed and found success in his collaborative hacking endeavors. “I’ve met a lot of great people on my team and I just have a lot of fun,” he said.

The current cybersecurity field doesn’t quite align with hackers’ binary presentation in media as either heroic internet vigilantes or disruptive evildoers. “There’s the whole white hat, black hat thing,” Petridis said. “It’s a bit much because nowadays, it’s a very gray area.”

Petridis’s work as a hacker has included competing in the CTF finals of DEF CON, one of the oldest and largest

Aditi Jain: Make-X

Located at Cubberley community center, Make-X is an all-access makerspace available to the community with tools such as laser cutters and a woodshop. As a mentor at Make-X, senior Aditi Jain holds many important responsibilities along with running the center with fellow teenage mentors.

Jain first became involved with the organization at the beginning of freshman year. “I joined the Rocket Club right after taking my photo at freshman orientation,” she said. “Their first meeting was at Make-X. I had never been there before, so the first day I came and saw the whole space and that’s how I originally got involved.”

Jain’s main role in the organization is helping the

hacking conventions in the world. Currently, Petridis works as a security researcher at OtterSec, a blockchain security company, alongside one of his previous CTF teammates, but he sees himself potentially pursuing other career options in the future. “I’m going to continue working at the company I work at now to pay for university,” he said. “I probably would want to go into some sort of engineering job and keep hacking as a side hobby.”

community start and complete their projects. “People come in with ideas and concepts and we help them flush it out,” she said. “We teach them how to use the tools, how to create their ideas, and we’re kind of just there step-by-step for them.”

Along with six other mentors, Jain keeps the space clean and organized as best they can. “Every winter break we do a deep clean where we literally take everything out,” she said. “We sweep, vacuum, recalibrate all the tools, so that’s a pretty big mentor job.”

After COVID-19, Jain has been working hard on boosting Make-X’s online presence and outreach. “I’ve been working a lot on our social media, especially after COVID-19 things slowed down, so I’ve been updating the Instagram and other platforms,” she said.

Through Make-X, Jain was able to explore her future interests. “I found out that in the future I definitely want to work with people,” she said. “I love to work with my hands and hope to do that in the future as well.” Jain will be continuing her education at Carnegie Mellon University studying electrical and computer engineering.

—Written by Hila Livneh

Aaron Cheung: Sea Cadets

As a freshman, Aaron Cheung had plans to join the military after he graduated high school. While his plans have since changed, his pursuit towards his initial goal caused him to join the United States Naval Sea Cadets Corps, a Navy sponsored youth developmental program. During his time as a Sea Cadet, Cheung has learned many different life skills that aren’t traditionally taught in the classroom, such as the use of firearms or knives. “You learn to be safe with a lot of things that would be unsafe or otherwise,” he said. But further than the material skills, being a Sea Cadet has taught Cheung how to be a better leader and role model. “The biggest thing I’ve gotten out of this (experience) is not being a leader but being a mentor to leaders,” he said. “I’ve talked with people who are learning to become better petty officers (officers

Gray triplets

For seniors Emmett, Lydia and Maddie Gray, being triplets not only means having a birthday in common with one another, it also means always having a familiar face nearby and having a strong bond. “It’s never really been any different for us,” Emmett said. “I don’t think there are really any downsides.”

For the Grays, there’s always someone they know not far away. “When I’m confused about something or want someone to do something with me so I’m not alone, I have like two people right here to do it with” Maddie said. Lydia echoed Maddie. “It’s just kind of like having built-in friends,” she said. Being in high school together has helped the triplets bond as they have grown older. For one, the siblings have often found themselves in the same classes or hanging out with the same groups of people. Furthermore, being in the

of the highest rank)…Part of our job is to remind them that once you become a leader, your center point should not be the insignia on your blouse, but rather the people that you’re dealing with”

The Sea Cadets program is only available to those up to 18 years of age, but Sea Cadets looking to stay in the program can continue to volunteer after they graduate. “I’m looking to volunteer as a midshipman,” he said. “A midshipman is like an officer in training. It’s also the word they use for college students who are going to graduate to become Navy officers. I’m looking to do that in Pittsburgh.”

—Written by Lita Sone

same classes made room for opportunities to lend each other a helping hand. “Junior year, Maddie and I had five or six classes together,” Emmett said. “We had the same assignments, and we were in the same classes, so whenever I needed help, I didn’t have to contact a friend. I could just go upstairs and knock on her door.”

Already, Lydia has graduated early from Gunn and is currently attending Foothill College. “Since I graduated early, having my own classes and going to my own school has been kind of weird, but I mean, it’s fun,” Lydia said. Maddie and Emmett also plan to attend Foothill full-time for two years before transferring to another school.

Despite attending the same school for the next couple of years, life after Gunn will prove a drastic change for the triplets. “Going off to college is an exciting experience, but it’s definitely going to be just different not to have them around,” Maddie said.

—Written by Raphael Semeria

Midori Saito: Dance

Midori Saito has been dancing for more than 12 years, specializing in ballet. However, even though it’s been a huge part of her life, she hasn’t always enjoyed dancing. At first, Saito only went to ballet because her mom put her into a dance class as a child. “When I was younger, I hated (ballet),” she said. “My mom put me in it because when she was younger she originally wanted to do ballet, but there (were) no ballet schools near her.” Her love for the sport didn’t come until much later. “It was in seventh grade that I really had a spark, and it was because I watched a dancer called Marianela Nunez,” Saito said. “I was just so amazed by how she (stayed) so in character (when she played) two very polar opposite characters. I was like, “Oh my God, how’d she do that?” Everything about the way she danced just made me want to do that too.”

Saito feels a freedom to convey her feelings to the audience while dancing. “I enjoy (ballet) because I feel like it’s a way for me to express myself,” she said. “I find that I’m not very good at describing myself in words, and that it’s much easier for me to do it non-verbally.”

However, Saito’s dance journey hasn’t always been easy. “I don’t have the ideal ballerina physique, and that’s been an obstacle within myself,” she said. “When

I was younger, I was much more confident myself, but once I got to high school, I started to lose a lot of that confidence.” Despite these challenges, Saito has been working on pushing past her self-doubts, even choreographing her own piece titled “Experience.” “(‘Experience’) was about my confidence,” she said. “The piece started with me having this confidence, but then I started to lose it. I was really scared about it and wanted to throw everything away, but then in the end I was able to regain it. There was kind of a story to it. That was definitely a really special piece to me because it definitely still resonates with me, and it was a piece that really represented me at the time.”

For the future, Saito’s goal is to go professional, but also gain a college education. “I want to do one or two years of just ballet, and then after that, I want to do online school and major in physiology kinesiology or psychology,” she said. “But ultimately, I want to go professional for as long as possible.”

—Written by Katie Shih

Lucia Perez Rubalcaba: Theater

Ever since the age of 3, Lucia Perez has been involved in theater and has since then been engaged with the profession. Next year, she will be continuing to pursue her lifelong passion at New York University at the Tisch School of Arts.

One of the things she admires the most about theater is the consistency throughout her life. “When I was 8 my family moved from Spain to California, which was a time of a lot of change,” she said. “The thing that was consistent was that I kept doing theater. It kept me really grounded throughout those big changes so that’s why I stuck with it.”

Throughout Perez’s career, she’s been a part of multiple productions and was able to engage with her community.

“In elementary and middle school I was mainly a part of

school shows,” she said. “At the end of middle school I began to branch out and did some shows at the Palo Alto Children’s Theater. They have something called the Playhouse Troop, where I was able to do community service by putting on little shows for little kids.”

During the summer of her junior year, Perez had the opportunity to go to a NYU theater program. “I did an NYU Tisch program and got college credits for their program,” she said. “I fell in love with the theater experience you can have at college and NYU is one of the best places in the world to do that. I always knew I wanted to do theater in college and that really solidified it for me. I got the chance to meet so many new people, and even work with a real film director to help him write a screenplay.”

—Written by Hila Livneh

Talise Baker-matsuoka: Horseback riding

Talise Baker-Matsuoka’s childhood dream came true in middle school when she got the opportunity to ride her favorite animal: a horse. “Horses have always been my favorite animal,” she said. “Horseback riding is very thrilling like riding a roller coaster, but you also get exercise.”

Since then, Baker-Matsuoka has competed in show jumping in which the rider and the horse attempt to complete a course of jumps as fast as they can. “The adrenaline is my favorite thing about riding,” she said. “You’re basically running as fast as you can with giant obstacles.” She has competed in year-round national and international competitions in Pennsylvania, Nevada and Canada. Her proudest accomplishment is winning the California Professional Horsemen’s Association medal final. “I won it with a horse I had for years named Emyr,” she said. “He passed away last September, so it means

helps me with a school/life balance and keeps me sane and motivated,” she said.

—Written by Madison Yue

Charlie Ennis: LGBTQ+ Activism

Gender Sexualities Alliance Club president Charlie Ennis, who is transgender and nonbinary, first got involved in the world of LGBTQ+ activism during their time on the Gender Sexualities Alliance Club as an eighth grader. Over time, they have extended their involvement in the community, now helping oversee all GSA clubs in the district and participating on the California Department of Education’s safe school bathrooms ad hoc committee.

At first, their involvement at Gunn remained minimal. An increased level of involvement and presence in the community lead to even greater opportunities. “I came to Gunn and I actually wasn’t that involved in stuff” they said. “Spring of my sophomore year, I was invited to join the State Council and (I) got involved in that. And then was elected GSA president

At Gunn, Ennis can be largely credited for the recent addition of a genderneutral locker room in the Bow Gym as well as a variety of other LGBTQ+-related initiatives. Work on the GSA Club as well as the state committee helped with Ennis’ push for this addition to Gunn’s

campus. “I’m most proud of the locker room because I had been working on that since I was in eighth grade, so that’s been almost a five year project for me,” they said. “Also, I got to help design it.”

On the state committee, Ennis also helped write the SB 760 bill that would require all public and charter schools in California to have gender-neutral bathrooms by 2025. Their involvement in the bill marked one of the first times a student in the U.S. wrote a bill that was authored by a senator. So far, the bill is going through the Finance Committee and is on the way towards the senate. “There are (about) six steps left before it (would) get passed,” Ennis said. “We do have a lot of support, but that’s going to be continuing work.”

Next year, Ennis hopes to take a gap year before studying music theory. In the future, they hope to pursue a career in teaching. “I’m hoping to be a teacher,” they said. “So hopefully, through whatever school I end up in, I can continue doing the same kind of work of improving school environments for LGBTQ+ students, whether that’s locker rooms or whatever other issues that may arise in the next five or 10 years.”

—Written by Raphael Semeria

Milan Rohatgi: Violin

Milan Rohatgi faced a pivotal crossroads as he navigated the path to his future. With the violin as his compass, Rohatgi set out on an alternate pathway, merging his passion for music with a flourishing love for computer science. His journey led him to mesmerizing performances at Carnegie Hall and victories in prestigious violin competitions in the Bay Area.

Rohatgi’s journey with the violin began at the age of 5, becoming his all-consuming extracurricular passion throughout his formative years. Immersed in music festivals during his summers, his love for the violin blossomed, prompting him to question whether a career as a violinist beckoned. “After eighth grade, I spent every summer at music festivals where my love for violin grew and I started considering whether I could see myself pursuing a career as a violinist,” Rohatgi said.

As college application season

loomed, Rohatgi faced a crucial decision—choosing between an academic path or pursuing his musical dreams. He cast his net wide, applying to both academic colleges and music conservatories. The conservatory application process entailed rigorous pre-screening recordings and live auditions, where Rohatgi traveled across the country to perform for esteemed faculty members.

In the midst of these auditions, his aspirations crystallized. He made the decision to stay in the Bay Area, pursuing a major in computer science. However, Rohatgi’s passion for the violin remained steadfast, as he plans to join Stanford’s orchestra while continuing private lessons.

Reflecting on his unique journey, Rohatgi shared his thoughts. “The decision to pursue academics over a full-time musical career wasn’t easy, but I had to consider the reality of the music industry,” he said. “Nonetheless, the violin will forever be a part of me, and I’m excited to continue playing and exploring the intersection of music and technology.”

Sara Sierra-Garcia: Arts

For as long as she can remember, Sara Sierra-Garcia has loved the arts and expressing herself through artistic endeavors. Over the last four years, she has been able to explore its various paths and applications in her future. “I’ve always liked doing art,” she said. “As a kid, projects in school were always art based and I always liked that. What I like most about art is that you could just literally make anything, and it’s art. It’s just really easy to express yourself or a specific idea that you want to show. It’s really relaxing when you’re making something. You kind of just forget about everything else.”

As a child, she first experimented through 2D art forms, such as painting and drawing, before moving on to 3D mediums. Over time, she also became more engaged in the art community: volunteering at the Palo Alto Art Center as an apprentice and participating in the California State Summer School for the Arts. “In high school, I decided to take ceramics because I’d never tried it before,” she said. “Now, I think I prefer ceramic a lot more than painting or drawing. Doing ceramics and going to CSSSA, showed me that there are’s a lot of things that you can do.”

This year, Sierra-Garcia has explored her passion for the arts in the AP 3D Studio Art course where students are given

free-range on their creative endeavors and investigate an area of interest throughout the year. “I really wanted to focus more on sculpting human-like features and human anatomy,” she said. “I also really wanted to make things that I could use daily. So that kind of made the idea of combining the two and making functional objects like cups and plates, but mixed in with body parts.”

Sierra-Garcia plans to study art history at Boston University in the fall, while keeping studio art as a hobby or minor. “Studying art history just sounds so interesting,” she said. “I’ve always loved history classes and combining that with art is the best combination for me. My dream is to work in a museum, and I think it’s so fun to work with things that are so old and so full of history.”

— Written by Paul Garofalo

—Written by Raphael Semeria

Yoochan An, a coveted photographer for many Bay Area news publications, has been pursuing his ardor for photography for the past decade, capturing unique and creative moments in a way that finds beauty in even the simplest of things. His passion for photography led him to explore other fields, and he eventually discovered an intriguing connection between his love for photography and his interest in marine biology. “My dream job is to do photography and scuba dive in the ocean,” An said. “That’s where I’m headed right now.”

An’s journey in high school has played a significant role in shaping his career path. He moved to the United States from Korea (where he faced stringent limitations in pursuing his photography passion). “The atmosphere of a Korean school is just study, study study.” An said. “There are really no extracurricular things happening.” However, in the United States, he was encouraged to pursue extracurricular activities, and he found photography to be

YooChan an: Photography Megan Murakami: Film

a perfect fit. An believes that finding a connection between photography and another field is an excellent way to pursue photography. He advises aspiring photographers to relate their passion to something else. “Photography is so specific. Not to discourage anyone, but it’s definitely not one of those high paying jobs unless you’re really into it,” he said. “I think a good way to pursue photography is to relate to something else. In my case, it was marine biology and photography.”

In college, An plans to continue developing his skills by joining the sports photography club, where he will have the opportunity to work with other photographers and capture photos for their Instagram posts.

—Written by Paul Garofalo

Megan Murakami’s film journey began the summer before seventh grade when she watched “Supergirl” on Netflix. “That was the show that made me realize that film and TV shows can really have an impact on people,” she said. “That show was the first one that really inspired me to think, ‘I could do this too, and I can make a difference’ which is what made me realize that this was something I wanted to be a part of in the future.”

Murakami’s middle school video production class was what first introduced her to the inner workings of filmmaking. “That class is how I learned that you need to write a storyboard,” she said. “You need to plan stuff out. You can write a script, and you can edit using a software called Premiere Pro. That’s what made me realize that (filmmaking) is pretty cool and that I can piece these clips together and create a story.”

When working on her own films, Murakami works toward shedding light on certain issues

such as body image and mental health. “I really like to focus on positive body image and mental health,” she said. “They’re often negatively portrayed in movies—people are perceived as crazy or there’s an overweight girl who’s sad. I want to definitely bring awareness and make things that can help make a difference in the world.”

Next year, Murakami plans to attend the University of Southern California, where she will continue to foster her love for film. She is especially excited to be surrounded by a community that appreciates film as much as she does. “I’ve met a bunch of people already,” Murakami said. “Everybody is pretty committed to working together, collaborating and creating films and stories—which is not something I’m really used to, so that’s really cool. Everyone is very focused on working together and producing something together, and I think that’s just so valuable.”

—Written by Katie Shih

EVAN GOLD

Rowing: UC Berkeley

”When a boat is all-in and everyone is pulling together, it feels like you’re swishing a basketball, but it can last for minutes.”

emerson ames track and field: Occidental College

“The community on track is really what gets me going to practice every day. My favorite memory is going to the state track meet last year, where I got to spend time with my teammates and coaches.”

“There is nothing else in the world that can create a sense of connection and bond that soccer does. Being on a team and playing with your teammates each and everyday is something so special, and I can’t wait to do it for

Pooja bucklin

water polo: Macalester College

“My favorite aspect of water polo is how quick the game goes and how creative you get to be while you play. You are always moving and creating something within each play which I really love.”

anlian krishnamurthy

golf: Macalester College

“My favorite memory as a Gunn golfer was beating Paly for the first time in 10 years during my sophomore season. I had recently broke into the starting lineup, and tied for the low score that day as we took the win.”

“Baseball is a game that always keeps you on your toes, and will humble you the second you get overconfident. This is the reason

football and basketball. I also love the competitiveness and the pressure that is put on you when you are up to bat.”

Maya Oralevich: Israel

Instead of pursuing the traditional 4-year college pathway, Maya Oralevich has her eyes set on a gap year overseas. Over the course of her gap year, Oralevich will be participating in Bar Ilan XP, a gap year program located in Israel, to pursue her interests in medicine. During this time, she will get to experience more hands-on work in the medical field as opposed to classroom-based projects. “I’m planning on majoring in pre-med and I thought (the program) was cool because I get to see medicine from a different perspective, without going straight into school and not really knowing what I like and why I want to do it,” Oralevich said. “You volunteer a few times with your hospital, intern and help kids.”

Oralevich hadn’t always planned on taking a gap year. “At first I was like, ‘I’m supposed to go to college. What if I come back and don’t feel studious or lose all my study skills?’” she said. “But this program tried to recruit me. They said, ‘You’ll make friends. You’ve got to break off. You’ve got to explore things. You’re not losing education—you’re actually gaining it because you get to see (things) from a different perspective.’ So I was like, ‘Oh, let’s try it.’”

In terms of the future, she has had to be careful about which college to commit to, as not all schools are lenient

on deferment. “Something that I regret not doing is checking if schools allow you to defer because some of the schools that I really liked and got into don’t allow it,” Oralevich said. “After you commit to a school, you submit a deferment application and then they let you know by a certain date if they confirmed it. For certain schools, it’s riskier, but for others, it’s 100% okay.”

In the end, Oralevich is excited to take a much-needed break from formal education while still pursuing her interests. “I’m just looking forward to having a break from school,” she said. “It’s going to be motivating for me to see how much medicine is used all around the world and then go into college.

—Written by Katie Shih

Sky Prensky: japan

Following graduation, rather than going straight into a college, Sky Prensky plans to travel the world, visiting Greece, Italy, Canada, and Mexico, with a main focus in Japan.

Unlike most high schoolers, Prensky chose to not apply to any colleges this year and instead is focusing on gaining new perspectives through work experience and traveling during his gap year. “I decided to take a gap year because I didn’t really want to rush myself into the whole big college process,” he said. “I’m going to take this year off doing a bunch of traveling, as well as getting work

experience, and then hopefully I’ll be off to college.” While Prensky has generally received support, due to how unconventional taking a gap year is, he has heard some criticisms. However, Prensky takes the comments as feedback for himself. “I always want to learn more about why they think it’s a bad idea, and what I should be watching out for,” he said. “I always want to take it as a learning experience, so I always listen to them.”

Prensky’s main destination is Japan due to the fact that he is half-Japanese but he also feels as though traveling provides a new perspective, and Japan has a different culture from the U.S. “When you grow up in the U.S., you’re instilled with the mindset that the U.S. is the best place ever,” he said. “But there are a lot of other places that are also making big advancements in the world that you might not know of, (and) I think Japan is one of those places that is really getting up there.”

—Written by Lita Sone

Julian Santos: Italy

Julian Santos is taking an unconventional approach to college by joining Northeastern University’s international N.U.In program. Instead of spending his first semester of college at their Boston campus, Santos will spend his first semester at a sister school in Rome, Italy.

The N.U.In program fosters a strong sense of community for its students. “With the N.U.In program, I will be with at least 200 other Northeastern students on my campus,” he said. “(That aspect will) make it easier to make it feel like home.”

Santos sees this opportunity as a chance to explore his interests before committing to a major. “My goal is to adapt to this brand new culture and learn enough about myself (so) that I can focus on what I really want to study when I return to the United States,” Santos said.

Being far away from family and friends will be a challenge, but Santos is determined to stay connected. “I think the way to overcome it is just, kind of powering through it and keeping in touch through the phone,” Santos said.

While in Italy, Santos aims to immerse himself in the local culture, pursue his love for cooking and Italian culture. He

Ziyana Nasser: Canada

Ziyana Nasser is moving up in the world on her postsecondary path—literally. The Canadian-American dual citizen is headed north to study at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. American-born, Nasser inherited Canadian citizenship from her parents and has a unique history with the city she’ll be studying in. “I’ve never lived in Canada myself, but I visit once or twice a year because I have a lot of family there, so I’m pretty familiar,” she said.

Despite committing to UBC, Nasser did not go into the college application process seeking out a foreign experience. “I applied to more U.S. schools and two schools from Canada,” she said. “My parents definitely thought

further hopes to play soccer and explore the city. “I think it’s mainly to explore and just take advantage of it,” Santos said. “Because when I get into later years in college, I want to focus on building my career.”

As Santos embarks on this unconventional college journey, his enthusiasm shines through, inspiring others to consider similar opportunities. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance, and I’m starting my first four months living away from my parents in Europe,” Santos said. “Although it may seem daunting, it’s an opportunity to embrace the unconventional and experience personal growth.”

—Written

by John Li

it was a good option, and I agree with them.”

Nasser’s parents are both Vancouverites who met each other while attending UBC. Most Canadian public universities, including UBC, do not offer legacy admissions, but her parents’ experience still factored into Nasser’s decision to apply. “My mom said she first saw my dad in the library,” she said. “Such a romance.”

Beyond her family’s relationship with the school, Nasser appreciates the variety of perspectives and resources that she’ll be able to find at UBC. “It’s a very diverse school— there are a lot of people from different places,” she said. “There are also a lot of resources that come with going to a big research university.”

Post-secondary students often turn to their neighbor in the north for reasons ranging from proximity to family to a more suitable education pathway. “I don’t know if anyone else has committed from Gunn, but I know that it’s definitely becoming a bigger option to look to Canada for school because it’s so competitive here,” Nasser said.

—Written by Michael Zhang

Raphael Li: Air force

Like most seniors, Raphael Li will be attending a four-year university next year, but his choice is slightly more unique than most others. Li has decided to attend the United States Air Force Academy for the next four years after being recruited for their D1 fencing program.

As one might expect, the process for applying to the Air Force Academy isn’t as straightforward as a normal university. “I got recruited and then I had to get a congressional nomination from Anna Eshoo because she’s the representative of my district,” Li said. “After that, I had to get interviewed by a lot of military people and get interviewed by the Academy. And then after that, I just submitted my application with my academics and essays.”

The differences from other universities don’t just end with the application process. “The Air Force is one of the most diverse universities because only two people from each congressional district can attend at a time,” Li said. “Even before everything, we have to go through basic training, which is six weeks of military training. Also, for the first year, we have to have buzz cuts and wear uniforms. The

Air Force is also free but after the four years of school, we have to serve in the military for five years.”

However, like most other seniors, Li has a lot to look forward to for the next four years. “The thing I’m looking forward to most at the Air Force Academy is obviously fencing against college competition but other than that, I’m looking forward to hearing speeches from very impressive people from all around the world that come to the Air Force. Last year, Elon Musk came to the Air Force to give a lecture, which I think is pretty cool.”

—Written by Kenneth Soh

Allison lee: gap year

Allison Lee, who plays on a top 50th ranked women’s doubles duo team for badminton in the world, has been balancing a professional badminton career with school for most of her life now. With the end of high school in sight, Lee has decided to take a gap year in Korea in order to focus purely on training badminton. “My long term goals have always been to reach top 10 in the world and to qualify for and medal at the Olympics,” Lee said. “Taking a gap year gives me time to work towards achieving my goals, especially the Olympics goal, since the Olympic race for badminton is from May 2023 to May 2024. Although my partner and I are trying to qualify for the 2024 Summer Olympics, it’s equally important for me to gain experi- ence and develop into a stronger player. Going to col- lege and simultaneously training and competing would have been a massive struggle.”

Taking a gap year in Korea affords Lee opportunities

she otherwise wouldn’t have in America. “I’m going to spend a lot of my gap year in Korea for some intense training and sparring that’s harder to get in the U.S.,” she said. “Our coach, who was formerly number one in the world for men’s doubles, is based in Korea, so it’s easier for me and my partner to get training there rather than in the U.S.”

After the gap year, Lee still has plans to pursue an education. “I’ll be taking some online courses during my gap year to stay sharp for when I start college,” Lee said. “I’m committed to Santa Clara University at their Leavey School of Business after my gap year. I’m really excited to go there because it lets me stay close to home, which allows me to continue practicing at my club. Also, I’ll be close to a lot of my family and friends.”

Lee is excited to continue pursuing her interest in the sport and plans to do so long after her gap year. “I would like to play competitively until I’m satisfied with my accomplishments, which will maybe be my late 20s or early 30s. But I’ll be playing for fun for the rest of my life; it’s just the best sport in the world to me. I really just want to do what I love the most and that’s playing badminton, and it’ll always be a part of my life.”

—Written by Kenneth Soh

Looking Back

memorable staff quotes

“Don’t quote me.”

—Mr. Hernandez

is“Myfavoriteweather from when I was at Harvard.”

—Ms. Blackburn

“Newborns are selfish little beasts.” —Ms. Ichikawa

“Start a rave.”

—Mr. Brassey

“For torture, I’ll write it in integral form.”

—Mr. Lincoln

Will miss most

“You don’t need no Desmos! You’re a strong woman.”independent —Mr. Deggeller

“I had to play this old, drunk man, and I had to kiss her.”

—Mr. Liberatore, recalling a high school theater memory during the La Honda choir retreat

“Now I am 40 and I don’t have to go to war.”

“It’s great! Have more sex! How many of your teachers have told you to have more sex? That’s right, Econ.”

—Mr. Lincoln

“What do we call an egg that’s just an egg? An egg.”

—Mr. Lyons

—Mrs. O-P

“I told them I don’ttobelieveyouneedevidence convict someone. Thethat.defenseattorneydidn’tlike Evidenceisoverrated. If a student got 3 Fs and an A on the final, what happened? They cheated. theyDoIhaveevidence?No,but out—Mr.did.”Lyonsonhowhegot ofjuryduty.

“The antidote to anxiety is action”

—Mr. Hernandez

“half smile emoji.”

—Mr. Brassey

“Shawty”

— Mr. Dunlap

“I don’t have

for the questions you —Ms.asked.”Howard

“It’s like StephCurry, he’s a terrible rapperbutmanbasketball.”canheplay —Unknown English substitute

“We don’t want to just burn it; we want to annihilate it.” —Ms. Zizmor

“Fair enough, haters.”

— Mr. Hernandez

“I’ll turn on the romantic music then you and your partner can start making babies.”

— Ms. Powell

“I’m a teacher, so I’m right and I am testing —you.”Ms. Howard

“Thelaw!IAM thelaw!”

—Mr.Lincoln

Homecoming and prom. :(

Being able to see all of my amazing friends every day.

My teachers, the friends I made who are underclassmen, the really accepting campus.

The close proximity to Alta Mesa cemetery. The constantly expanding construction, and the termites in Ms. Linsdell’s class.

The weird smell that it gives off right when you step foot on campus.

The friendship and memories we have.

Free snacks in Wellness Center.

</3

The staff at Gunn is the most chaotically fun group of people and I am really glad I got to learn from them.

Lunch at the senior quad.

Library puzzles.

Going out to lunch off campus with my friends.

Hugging the homies.

All of it.

Hanging out with my friends every lunch.

If you tell someone you’re struggling, they know exactly what it’s like and they got you.

Seeing all the groups obsessed with different things and with their own little quirks.

Hearing random underclassmen talk about a teacher or class that I took and feeling that kinship in the pain of that subject and also the relief of not taking it anymore.

The bonding experience and deep sense of community felt after yet another fire alarm as we gather on the field.

Friends, teachers, and most of all, the Spangenberg bathrooms.

The people. I know so many lovely people here that I will miss terribly.

The B.O.

“This isn’t a competition;thisisa dictatorship.”

—Ms. Zizmor

thoughtscoherent

“You look so done”

—Mr.Brassey

Biggest regrets

Not advocating for myself.

Not doing all of the school planned events in freshman year.

Not taking enough pictures to document moments during school.

Being so busy with school, sports and extracurriculars that I didn’t enjoy the small moments.

Letting fear hold me back from trying new things.

Not doing more community events because they were actually really fun and everyone can get into it.

Not reaching out to others sooner. Everyone is human but sometimes it’s easy to forget that.

Student confessions

Not getting a driver’s license (earlier).

Missing the staff-student musical. Wish I saw Mr. Hernandez dancing in a kilt.

Not being able to swim in the Spangenberg Pool!

Taking 7 classes in second semester senior year.

Not doing airbands all 4 years.

THings we tried this year

Driving to school, going to the gym on a semi-regular basis, having PREPS.

Going on outdoor walks. I joined Choir and did my first two school overnight trips.

Waking up early in the morning.

Surfing.

Hosting a German exchange student, swing dancing, matcha ice cream in Japan.

Redefining my definition of success.

Floats and airbands!

Decided to give going to dances another go.

Actually taking notes in math for the first time and it is actually really helpful... who knew you could take notes for numbers.

AP Physics!! It ended up being my favorite science class I’ve ever taken.

Joining the labor force.

Cooking (it didn’t go so well).

Reading the books assigned in English.

Discus and Shotput... and surprisingly, I qualified for SCVALS in shot put.

Being ok with procrastinating.

Talking to more people and being more outgoing. Sushi. I’m disappointed it took me so long, it’s great.

Being more spontaneous. Going to a concert!

Decided to give going to dances another go.

Being social.

Explored doing art using different mediums.

Not studying for my math final.

Getting boba during class. Going to a concert!

“I’m

“Ipark illegallynearly everyday.”

“Iforgottobrushmy teeth for like a week infreshmanyear.”

“I never gave Mr. Hahn my notecard so I was never called to solve the problems on the whiteboard.”

“Ididn’ttotallyread ‘Crime and Punishment.’ Sorry, Jerome and Mr. Hernandez.”“Iamsoincredibly relieved to be leaving Gunn.”

“I once snuckintoabuilding oneoncampuswithfriends weekend and ended up hiding out there late into thenightaftergetting locked inside.”

“I sent a COVID-19 death count to the admin which got Ms. Stratton to call me.”

still mad senior floats didn’t win.”

“Japanese 2 is actually the hardest class.”

“I was the kid who tried to talk in break- out rooms.”

advice: future freshmen

Don’t just take AP classes just for college applications.

Don’t put too much strain on yourself for the first year, just relax and explore your campus.

Advocate for yourself!

Find a balance between school and social life.

Don’t be afraid of asking for all the help you need from teachers and peers.

Have a good time, meet new people, be yourself, and you’re gonna do great. :D

Do not walk on the freshman quad during winter. You will fall and slip and go to class covered in mud.

Don’t be scared to fail, take risks, have fun, do what you want.

Dress up for Homecoming, based on their effort this year, you’ll probably beat the sophomores.

Focus on what you wanna do.

Don’t succumb to peer pressure.

Branch out and try new things, it’s not too late to start something new.

Be confident but don’t take Bio H. :)

Don’t worry about finding your place in school, you’ll be fine.

Don’t compare yourself to others.

advice: future seniors

You’ll have a lot of people telling you what you should do or should already have done, but it’s better to just trust your instincts and your timing for things, you’ll be okay!

Start your college apps early! Ask your teachers for feedback on your essays! And most of all take the time to chill. :)

Prioritize mental health!

Enjoy it. The year flies by so fast.

Don’t set your expectations too high for second semester. It’s not all rainbows and sunshine.

Don’t wait until senior year starts to start writing your college essays. Be authentic in your essays and go through a lot of drafts.

If you’re taking on college applications, you may find them tough—but, please, find a way to stay on top of the grind! Find a way to love doing it, whether it be enjoying the introspection, artistic writing or checking boxes off a spreadsheet of TODOs.

Take all the chances and opportunities that you can get! Savor your time here!

Senioritis will hit you, no matter how dedicated a student you are or are not.

It’s cliché but don’t overly stress about colleges—you will end up where you are meant to!

Remember it’s the college’s privilege to have you. If they don’t accept you, it’s their loss.

The Class of ‘23 would like to thank...

Mr. Bautista, for being “super kind and supportive.”

Mr. Bisbee, for “using vivid stories to teach history.”

Ms. Blackburn, for “not caring that I was late to every single class,” and for “making The Oracle a place to grow alongside friends.”

Mr. Brassey, for “making APES my favorite science class,” “always teasing my table of seniors,” “being nice and fun” and for being “super understanding with due dates.”

Ms. Bueno, for “changing my classes and trying her best to help with administrative stuff.”

Ms. Catalano, for “teaching me consequences for laziness,” and for “making me fall in love with science.”

Ms. Choi, because “my mornings were way smoother with her around.”

Mr. Corpuz, for “being a really fun teacher to have,” “super friendly,” and “always believing in me and supporting me.”

Mr. Deggeller, for “asking us about life outside math,” and for “being the GOAT.”

Ms. Dion, for “making me enjoy math for once.”

Mr. Dunlap, for being “so supportive,” “flexible,” “easy to talk to,” “an amazing teacher in general” as well as “making English more enjoyable.”

a real one with your students.”

Ms. Fitzhugh, for “making my feelings valid.”

Mr. Friedland, for “genuinely believing in his students,” and for being “the most dedicated teacher I’ve ever had.”

Mr. Gill, for “always being crazy on the courts,” and for “making anyone feel welcome and relates to any and all students.”

Ms. Gleeson, for “being so nice and such a wonderful teacher to have.”

Mrs. Granlund, whose “unwavering presence in my life has shaped me into who I am today.”

Mr. Hall, for “being one of the best teachers I’ve had, and really helping me improve my Japanese skills.”

Mrs. Hall, “for pushing your students to do and be better.”

Mr. Hernandez, for “his truly iconic (nature),” “his passionate speeches about movies,” “his countless sports analogies that I never understood,” and for being “so awesome.”

Ms. Ichikawa, for “how much she cares about students and what we are learning.”

Ms. Ja, for “teaching your students to write outside of the mold (and embrace kpop).”

Mr. Johnson, for “making APUSH fun,” and for being “the GOAT.”

of the few teachers I’ve had that really made me feel like no questions are stupid questions.”

Dr. Kompella, for “having office hours before and after school multiple times a week when we were struggling in physics.”

Ms. Lee, for “having a heart of gold, loving her subject, being incredibly funny and lecturing in a memorable way.”

Ms. Lo, for “making Gunn Theatre extra cool.”

Ms. Lorey, for “staying with me after class for half an hour to talk (when) I was feeling really bad one day. It got me through a difficult time, and I really appreciated it.”

Mr. Lyons, for “pronouncing my name right ALL THE TIME,” and for “always being so real.”

Ms. Norberg, for “not only been such a great physics teacher, but also just (being) so supportive and amazing overall,” for being “the sweetest person ever,” and for being “an amazing teacher.”

Mrs. Ou-Ponticelli, for “giving music a deeper meaning.”

Ms. Owen, for “always being there to talk to.”

Mr. Paley, for “being legendary,” “always spitting facts,” and “supporting our learning throughout the years.”

Mr. Redfield, for having the “best stories in class.”

marine bio class was the most fun I’ve ever had in a science class at Gunn.”

Ms. Stratton, for “personally handling the parking violations.”

Ms. Weymouth, for “being the coolest person ever.”

Mrs. Wells, for being “the best teacher ever,” and “the sweetest teacher ever.”

Ms. Zizmor, for “helping me discover an interest in chemistry.”

Mrs. Wells, Dr. Kompella, Mr. Friedland and Mr. Kinyanjui, for being “the most caring and passionate teachers you could ask for, and teaching beyond just what you need to know to pass tests.”

Mr. Deggeller and Ms. Lee, for “making me excited to go to class just to hear them teach.”

Mr. Summers and Mr. McGinn, for “making music one of my best experiences from Gunn, and making so many great memories!.”

Ms. Ja, Mr. Dunlap and Mr. Paley, for “all of their awesome support.”

The entire English department, for “being so much fun,” being “the sweetest people ever” and “having my whole heart.”

The entire instrumental music department, for “making my 4 years in the program the highlight of my high school experience.”

Source: Survey sent out to Gunn seniors with 139 responses

UBC (1)

University of Victoria (1)

Where we’ll be...

University of Puget Sound (1)

University of Washington (8)

Oregon State (1)

University of Oregon (3)

University of Portland (1)

Williamette (1)

University of Utah (1)

University of Arizona (1)

Rice (1)

UT Austin (3)

University of Hawaii, Manoa (1)

Gustavus Adolphus (1) Macalester (1) University of Minnesota (1)

Cornell (4)

Hamilton University (1)

Hofstra University (1)

NYU (5)

Syracuse (1)

RIT (1)

Boston University (1)

Bowdoin College (1)

Brandeis (1)

Dartmouth (1)

Northeastern (5)

MIT (1)

Tufts (1)

University of Vermont (1)

Wellesley (1)

Brown (1)

University of New Haven (1)

Grinnell (1)

Northwestern (1)

UChicago (1)

UIUC (2)

WashU (2)

Purdue (3)

Yale (2)

CMU (6)

UPenn (1)

Case Western Reserve (1) Oberlin College (1)

American University (2)

Georgetown (1)

John Hopkins (1)

Appalachian State (1) Vanderbilt (1)

Georgia Tech (2)

139 seniors responded

UC Davis (1)

UC Berkeley (3)

De Anza (1)

Foothill (5)

San Jose State (1)

Santa Clara (2) Stanford (1)

UC Santa Cruz (1)

UC Merced (1)

Cal Poly SLO (4)

UC Santa Barbara (4)

CSU Long Beach (1)

Scripps (1) USC (5)

UC Riverside (2)

UC Irvine (1)

Congrats, class of 2023!

we did it!

Palo Alto Unified School District

Henry M. Gunn High School

780 Arastradero Road

Palo Alto, CA 94306