The Oracle February 2023

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Lifestyle

To share or not to share: Grade discussions stem from varied motivations, require balancing consequences

Irene

Grades: a staple in high school life and a cause for comparison, curiosity and—most widely—conversation.

According to a survey sent out to Gunn students by The Oracle from Jan. 27 to Feb. 3 with 225 self-selected responses, 97.4% of students discuss grades with their peers, and 18.7% do so daily. Whether in class or online, with close friends or classmates, the circumstances underpinning students’ grade discussions reveal ranging consequences and attitudes on the nature of grades.

Contextualizing grade discussions

According to senior Justin Hou, students discuss grades beyond those given for major assessments. “Sometimes it happens for assignments, especially group projects,” he said.

While some disclose specific scores, others give a more qualitative indication on how they did. In Hou’s friend group, these kinds of terms are more common than official, numeric scores. “There’s a sense of respect and community in that we support each other, and if you don’t want to share that information, there’s no urgency to do so,” he said.

Reluctance to share grades can cause students to be vague about their scores. Junior Lauren Kane prefers to keep her scores to herself but will share them with peers if asked. “I try not to get too involved in the conversation, and I don’t go too in depth when describing my grades,”

she said. She avoids discussing grades with close friends, explaining that it has increasingly become a source of uncomfortable conversations and stress among them.

On the other hand, freshman Eman Ebrat’s closeness with her friend group encourages her to discuss grades in more detail. “I feel like I can be more personal with them,” she said.

In tricky situations when a peer has a lower grade, students navigate them with supportive words and attitudes. For instance, Ebrat adopts an empathetic stance, telling the classmate that their effort and hard work is enough. Similarly, Kane redirects the conversation to the peer’s strengths rather than focusing on the score. “Usually I’ll counteract with something else I did badly in and they did better in,” she said.

Though conversations about grades typically start with one or two people, they can snowball as other students join in. “Usually when I talk about grades, other people start talking about it first, so then I’ll join in the conversation,” junior Analiesse Schoenen said.

Sometimes, simple curiosity can prompt students to ask about each other’s grades, but often, more complicated intentions motivate these conversations. Comparison is one factor for students to ascertain whether they did better than or as well as others. Desire for validation of their hard work can drive students to ask their peers about scores. “At Gunn, especially among certain groups of people, there’s a lot of comparison for

people to validate themselves,” Schoenen said. “People like hearing when other people did badly on something, and they also like knowing that they did better than other people.”

Students may also discuss grades to seek a sense of security built on knowing how they stand in relation to the class. Especially for harder tests, knowing that the whole class performed poorly can dispel anxiety over lower grades by providing a frame of reference. “I feel more comforted knowing that I’m not a failure, and that it was just a hard test,” Kane said.

“There’s a sense of respect and community in that we support each other, and if you don’t want to share that information, there’s no urgency to do so.”

In the face of unsatisfactory grades, students can discuss them to commiserate with each other and acknowledge common challenges, such as difficult questions, unfair grading or ineffective teaching methods. “Usually if I’m talking about grades, I’m complaining about it,” Schoenen said.

Of course, students have reservations when it comes to sharing grades, including not wanting to contribute to a toxic culture of competition. “I typically try not to

Grades—p.2

Tsen Features Editor

Senior Justin Hou

“Ugh, I failed my math test. I got a 92.” —anonymous sophomore

“My friend told me that a 1500 on the SAT is bad.” —anonymous junior

“Don’t take this class. It’s too hard, and everyone gets B’s.”

—anonymous sophomore

Chinyoung Shao

Source: Survey sent out to Gunn students by The Oracle from Jan. 27 to Feb. 3 with 90 long-answer responses.

Grade culture sparks conversations around consequences

Grades—p.1

discuss grades, just because I don’t want to feed that kind of environment,” senior Wyatt Pedersen said.

Kane recognizes that conversations about grades always involve risk, given how straight-cut grade comparisons are. “At least one person is going to leave the conversation hurt,” she said.

Weighing consequences

Dangers to discussing grades, including lowered self-esteem, worsened health and a stressful school environment, exist alongside less visible benefits.

Conversations about grades can cause students to equate their worth with their grade, creating perspectives that—regardless of score—are harmful, according to Kane. “If I do better than someone, then I get too overconfident and a little bit cocky,” she said. “But if I do worse than someone, I get really unmotivated. I feel really, really hopeless. I feel a lot of pressure.”

Low grades, which can ultimately be insignificant in the long term, wield outsized impact when compared to others’ grades. “Sometimes I’ll get caught up in one or two grades and then feel bad about myself for doing bad on a small portion of a big class,” Schoenen said.

To catch up with other people’s grades, students may prioritize academic achievement over their mental and physical wellbeing, a repercussion reflected in Pedersen’s experience. “Learning about others’ grades makes it standardized or glorified to work past your limit and to go far into the night doing homework, as if that’s normal, when it obviously should not be,” he said.

Over time, these pressures can solidify into more serious problems. “It’s a hidden injury,” a junior responded to the survey. “After time it develops into eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression. But you never know what’s inside you that’s deteriorating.”

Grade discussions create a culture of stress for some, especially for those without the appropriate mental

support helping them put the importance of grades into perspective. “If you don’t have a supportive community or feel more self-conscious about your abilities, it definitely can be harmful in creating a stress culture in which you feel like you’re only more worthy if you work harder,” Hou said. Consequences aside, students’ asking each other about their grades can reveal unhealthy friendship boundaries. According to chemistry teacher Casey O’Connell, students may feel forced to share their grades in order to avoid the awkwardness of refusing to answer. He asks students to consider whether enthusiastic consent to these conversations was given. “Is your consent just presumed as the default?” he said. “Are your boundaries being violated? Would you prefer that people didn’t ask you about your grade?”

“If grades are just there as a helpful measurement and indicator of how prepared you were, then the conversation turns to behaviors that can be helped and changed.”

Meanwhile, grade comparisons can be constructive in helping students gauge whether their effort levels are high enough, according to Hou. Talking about grades helped him realize he could do better in tests, such as with a chemistry test he had earlier in the year. “I felt like I prepared for it, but it was at the last minute, and I didn’t do as well as a result,” he said. “So for the next test, I improved my study habits by spacing my study sessions and studying more consistently.”

Discussing grades also simplifies employing the help of peers who grasp the content more clearly or have better study strategies. Sharing grades has helped Ebrat find students who can explain how to answer questions she missed, as she did when she once got a low score on a

biology test. “We worked together a little during lunch and before school,” she said. “On the next test, that allowed me to understand the material better since I had a close friend helping me.”

Regardless of whether teachers prohibit grade discussions, math teacher Gopi Tantod believes that students will inevitably continue to discuss their grades. “Everyone discusses grades—it’s not something you’re going to be able to stop,” she said.

In that light, distinguishing between productive and harmful conversations about grades becomes more important. The line is drawn, according to O’Connell, depending on how grades and the surrounding conversations are used. “If grades are just there as a helpful measurement and indicator of how prepared you were, then the conversation turns to behaviors that can be helped and changed,” he said.

Yet when percentages eclipse learning, when grades define a student’s worth, these conversations quickly turn dangerous. “Grades become a value on somebody, and instead of empowering, they become judgmental,” O’Connell said. “A grade as a label on somebody is a judgment. A grade as a descriptor of how you did can be a good measurement of what needs to change, or it can be a measurement of how far you’ve come.”

43.2% of students view other people’s grades as a source of stress

Source: Self-selected survey sent out to Gunn students by The Oracle from Jan. 27 to Feb. 3 with 222 responses.

Lunar New Year state holiday bears limited impact, creates discourse

Amann Mahajan Forum Editor

On Sept. 29, 2022, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 2596 into law, recognizing Lunar New Year as an official state holiday. Although students and teachers in Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) have not been affected by the bill, its passage—and its juxtaposition with several mass shootings on Lunar New Year—has sparked discussion around representation in Gunn’s Asian American community.

Celebrated in Asian countries such as China, Korea and Vietnam, Lunar New Year marks the beginning of the lunar calendar and comprises a plethora of traditions and staple foods that vary across cultures. Still, the emphasis of the holiday—reunion with family and friends—remains constant. According to a press release from Newsom, the classification of Lunar New Year as a state holiday serves to honor Asian American contributions and to encourage all Californians to participate in the holiday.

The bill’s passage has been primarily symbolic, given that it is not an official state holiday at the city, county and district levels. According to the district, if PAUSD does choose to recognize it as a school holiday, alterations would only be made beginning in the 2024-2025 school year. Moreover, teachers have a required number of work days as per the Collective Bargaining Units, and removing a day for Lunar New Year would entail adding another day elsewhere in the school calendar. This in turn would require negotiations between staff and teacher unions. Yet the proposal of such a policy is popular among students—

in a self-selected survey sent out to Gunn students by The Oracle from Jan. 27 to Feb. 3 with 215 self-selected responses, 82.3% of students felt that students and staff should get a day off for Lunar New Year.

According to math teacher Danning Siu, the fact that the bill does not change policy at the district level reduces its impact on students and teachers. “People who paid attention to that news were only people who were affected by it, so if the school doesn’t do anything about it, and the district doesn’t do anything about it, then it’s meaningless,” she said. “As students and teachers, we only remember the holidays that we actually get days off for.”

“I’m

Still, others—including education specialist Timothy Young—find some merit in its designation as a state holiday, noting that it fosters a sense of inclusion. “When I was growing up, you had your holidays, but they’re like, ‘These are American holidays, and then these are the other holidays,’” he said. “Having Lunar New Year here in the States is an interesting feeling.”

Similarly, Chinese teacher Yanan Vrudny believes that the passage of the bill represents a symbolic step forward for Asian Americans celebrating the holiday. “I’m happy

that all the people who have this festival in their culture finally get recognized by our community, society and government,” she said.

The change in holiday status came on the heels of a surge in violence committed against Asians during the pandemic—violence that has yet to cease, as is evident from the spate of shootings in California on and around Lunar New Year. On Jan. 21, 11 people were killed following holiday festivities at Monterey Park. On Jan. 23, seven lost their lives at Half Moon Bay. In both shootings, the victims were primarily Asian. Both perpetrators were Asian as well.

In the face of such violence on a holiday meant to be filled with joy, some students at Gunn have grappled with the gap between their expectations and reality. Such was the case with junior John Lee, who moved to Gunn from Seoul, South Korea, halfway through last semester. “I felt really bad because I felt like the United States was changing a bit,” he said. “There are still lots of crimes and harassment based on race.”

According to Lee, the best way to combat these hate crimes is through education. “It could be better if we gathered around all together to share more culture about Asia,” he said.

Vrudny believes that with this approach, Gunn can spread its culture of celebrating diversity. “Some people don’t get exposed to different cultures and they don’t think the way that we think at Gunn,” she said. “I hope to build this positive energy and pass it on to more people so that they are more loving and caring and supportive to each other.”

At a glance: a history of Asian American Experiences in California

Chemistry teacher Casey O’Connell

happy that all the people who have this festival in their culture finally get recognized by our community, society and government.”

Chinese teacher Yanan Vrudny

The Chinese Exclusion Act signed by President Chester A. Arthur prohibits the immigration of Chinese laborers.

Dalip Singh Saund of California is the first Asian American and Pacific Islander American to serve in Congress.

During the pandemic, hate crimes committed against Asian Americans increase by 177% in California.

Sept.

Lunar New Year becomes an official state holiday.

Photos courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

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Ellie Yuan

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Upcoming Black History Month Events:

• Third week of February: Black history trivia in room K-1 during lunch

• Fourth week of February: Black Culture Club event at the quad during lunch

• Feb. 27: Short film festival in the Little Theater during lunch

Campus organizations host Black History Month events, promote African American achievements

The Student Executive Council (SEC) and Student Equity Committee are hosting a variety of Black History Month events to teach students and staff more about Black history and culture.

Black History Month celebrates the accomplishments and struggles of African Americans throughout United States (U.S.) history. According to the Library of Congress, it began as Black History Week in 1926 and was created by African American historian Dr. Carter G. Woodson. He chose for it to land in February to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass,

On Feb. 8, SEC hosted a speaker panel featuring Assistant Superintendent of Equity and Student Affairs Yolanda Conaway and Black Culture Club co-Presidents juniors Angelina Rosh and Lise Desveaux, who is also a Centerfold Editor for The Oracle. The panel was moderated by co-Diversity Commissioner junior Chania Rene-Corail. Future events this month will include trivia games with prizes, an event hosted in collaboration with Black Culture Club and a film festival presenting award-winning films of Black stories.

Rene-Corail is helping to organize this month’s events. “The Black community at Gunn isn’t celebrated all that much,” she said.

“I know that in previous years, there weren’t many Black students on SEC or at least in positions to lead diversity events. I wanted to organize something really nice because I haven’t seen it in the past.”

History Month is also celebrating culture and identity. We want to show different aspects like pop culture and different cultural practices such as stepping, a dance routine that the Black community takes part in.”

“We want to showcase Black culture in its most authentic form.” Black Culture Club co-President junior Angelina Rosh

Throughout the month, the Student Equity Committee has been posting weekly infographics on their Instagram page, featuring prominent Black Americans that have impacted society.

two figures who played significant roles in African American equality. On Feb. 10, 1976, President Gerald R. Ford officially recognized February as Black History Month in a speech.

“We can seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history,” he said.

Rene-Corail hopes that people will not only learn about African American history, but also everything that Black culture has to offer today. “I think that when people hear the words ‘Black history,’ they think of slavery and the civil rights movement,” she said. “In my experience, our culture is so much more than just that. Those aspects of Black history should be highlighted, but I also wanted to highlight the nice parts of it, like the amazing artists we have.”

Rosh views the events as a way to celebrate Black voices. “We want to showcase Black culture in its most authentic form,” she said.

“Many people don’t acknowledge that Black

The Oracle strongly encourages and publishes signed Letters to the Editor and Comments. Comments are generally shorter responses, while Letters are longer pieces of writing.

Student Equity Committee co-leader senior Madison Yue, who is also a Features Editor for The Oracle, hopes the posts can be a way for students to learn more about Black history. “If people want to get started learning about Black History Month, I would encourage them to look at our Student Equity Instagram,” she said. “It’s a great starting point for educating yourself on prominent Black figures who have contributed to U.S. history.”

Ultimately, Rosh hopes that this month’s events will bring more representation to the Black community. “Gunn has a student body willing to celebrate all cultures,” she said. “It’s important that we don’t leave out this community.”

Letters and Comments may be edited to meet space requirements, and the writer is solely responsible for the accuracy of the content.

Please include your name, grade and contact information should you choose to write one.

“I want to see more issues regarding school board decisions and how they impact us.”

—Yoonseo Lee, 10

“I really enjoyed how this issue focused on minorities and educating readers on perspectives and issues they may not experience.”

—Violet Tivol, 10

Read Forum Editor Amann Mahajan’s online story about the evolution of Gunn’s humanities curricula at gunnoracle.com!

Have feedback on this issue? Fill out the feedback form at tinyurl.com/OracleFeb2023

“I liked how the issue alternated from long to short stories because it gives you a break from reading something long to read some fun, short excerpts.”

Letters to the Editor, Comments and ideas for coverage may be sent to oraclegunn@gmail.com. These letters do not need to be from current students. —Dec.

—Aaron Novick, 12

“I wanted to organize something really nice because I haven’t seen it in the past.”

Co-Diversity Commissioner junior Chania Rene-Corail

Vivien Chen Reporter

Co-Diversity Commissioner Chania Rene-Corail moderates a panel featuring Assistant Superintendent of Equity and Student Affairs Yolanda Conaway and Black Culture Club co-Presidents Angelina Rosh and Lise Desveaux, who is also a Centerfold Editor for The Oracle

Chinyoung Shao

“The issue provided unconventional perspectives on common experiences, which made it very fun to read.”

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“I liked the formatting for page 7. It was unique and easy to read.”

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“I would love to see an article debriefing the Grammys and shedding light on its racist history.”

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Forum should students strive to be academically well rounded?

Jeffrey Kang Reporter

Developing passions is an integral part of the high school experience. However, many students are divided on whether or not to dive deep into one passion or branch out and explore other possibilities. While some might think that pursuing one academic passion will best prepare students for college, being well rounded grants students versatility and more options for post-secondary plans.

It is important to realize that finding a lifelong passion in high school is unlikely. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), about 30% of college students end up switching their major at least once within three years of enrollment. With this in mind, it is best for high school students to broaden their horizons as much as possible in order to keep their options open. Students shouldn’t focus all of their energy on one subject. Rather, they should explore a variety of activities so that their passion will eventually follow them.

Additionally, focusing on one passion could lead to burnout, as a burning devotion can be extinguished by pursuing it too much. One might feel differently about a subject they were once fascinated by after putting in hours upon hours of energy to foster that sense of passion. This is much less likely to happen with a well rounded profile, where time and effort are not focused on any one area but instead shared among different options.

A benefit of maintaining a balanced profile is that students can develop diverse skill sets. When students delve into more subjects, they learn a wider range of skills that can

be applied in many different contexts. For example, creativity honed through artistic expression can be applied to finding solutions to problems in engineering. Apple co-founder Steve Jobs credited his inclusion of the fonts feature when working on the first Macintosh computer to a calligraphy class he had attended years ago simply because he was interested in the subject.

Additionally, people gain soft skills by working with different kinds of people in various fields. If a student pursues only one passion, there will be soft skills that they will not be able to fully develop. For instance, focusing purely on a computer sciencerelated passion can leave a student lacking in writing ability in the long run. Learning soft skills is more important now than ever. According to a 2021 study published by Bellarmine University professor Haleh Karimi and Sullivan University administrator Anthony Piña in the “Journal of Research in Stem Education,” hirers are struggling to find college graduates that possess enough of both soft and hard skills.

Some may argue that striving for a well rounded repertoire will lead students to become jacks of all trades and masters of none, without standing out in any particular field. However, this line of reasoning is flawed because it assumes that being well rounded means spreading oneself too thin. In reality, it is well within the realm of possibility to cover a wide range of fields and still be proficient at each one. In fact, being well rounded allows for the cross-applications of skills learned in specific fields, improving one’s capability in every area. For example, writing skills from English can be applied when conducting research in science and math.

Regardless of what burning passions a student might have, seeking versatility will allow for the cross-application of skills and could pave the way for newer passions that burn just as bright, if not brighter.

are all viable options for diving into specific academic interests. For example, someone with a passion for literature can join a creative writing or book club to expand and share their knowledge with others.

High school is the time for students to explore their interests and, in essence, discover who they are. Being well rounded may offer more versatility, but focusing on one passion allows for an equally diverse skill set while also fostering greater understanding of a topic and deeper academic engagement. Having passions can set students up for success in their futures. The main focus of high school is preparing students for college and the “real world” through gaining valuable skills. Aside from experiences and skill sets learned, a majority of students attend college post-graduation. In an academically competitive community such as Gunn, strong grades and high standardized test scores are commonplace. A clear academic passion helps students stand out to college admissions committees. Taking a specific course load that is enjoyable but also academically challenging can demonstrate one’s strength and passion within a certain subject. According to U.S. News, taking academically rigorous classes signals to colleges a student’s intellectual curiosity, a passion for their field of study and a strong work ethic. For example, a student passionate about science can take AP Biology, AP Environmental Science and AP Chemistry to display their strong interest in the subject as well as demonstrate their ambition and hard work. Besides honing academic knowledge, students are also able to master other skills— such as time management or organization— that can benefit them in the future.

Part of the joy of following a passion is finding people who share the same interest. In high school, joining clubs or internships

Focusing on one passion also allows students to hone in on their strengths, in turn making them more successful in their endeavors. That isn’t to say that students should ignore other aspects of their studies. Rather, they should try embracing their strengths while also maintaining a reasonable balance between the other subjects. In a survey conducted by BestColleges, a college editorial and resources website, 40% of students chose their field of study because of their passion and 34% chose it because they had a dream job in mind. This result demonstrates how focusing on one academic passion in high school can also benefit students when choosing college majors and create a stepping stone toward a “dream job” after graduation.

Critics may argue that being well rounded offers people a more diverse skill set and provides more options in the future. However, a singular passion still offers plenty of skills, opportunities and fields to go into. For instance, if a student has a passion for math, they can pursue careers in finance, banking or education. Each academic subject is unique, and there are valuable lessons to take away from all subjects. Additionally, many of the strengths developed in a particular field are interchangeable with others—skills learned from a singular academic passion can be applied in another field. For instance, logic abilities developed from a STEM passion can be reflected in the argumentative or analytical aspect of an English class.

Students should use their strengths to their advantage by selecting courses that align with what they are passionate about. Diving into one passion can enhance an academic experience and lead to personal growth and happiness.

Photo illustration by Irene Hong and Chinyoung Shao

Photo illustration by Irene Hong and Chinyoung Shao

69.3% of students believe that they benefit more from being well rounded in their academic pursuits.

30.7% of students believe that they benefit more from focusing on one specific academic subject.

Source: Self-selected survey sent out to Gunn students by The Oracle from Jan. 27 to Feb. 3 with 212 responses.

Source: Self-selected survey sent out to Gunn students by The Oracle from Jan. 27 to Feb. 3 with 212 responses.

Ellie Yuan Sports Editor

Social media interactions between teenagers reduce authenticity, genuine connection in modern romance

Zoe Leontis Reporter

In classic ’90s romantic comedies, typical “meetcutes” include encountering someone in a cafe, dropping books in a hallway in front of the love interest or literally running into them on the street. Today, establishing first contact with a potential partner can be as simple as swiping right on a dating app, adding someone on Snapchat or sliding into someone’s direct messages on Instagram. Contemporary “meet-cutes” revolve around finding someone physically attractive without necessarily knowing who’s behind the profile. These vastly different scenarios highlight how online interactions have taken the authentic joy and meaning away from dating and romance.

individuals must keep in mind when pursuing romantic relationships is that no one is perfect: When one genuinely likes someone for who they are, they should be able to look past these small and unimportant characteristics. Online interactions have only taught individuals to end relationships at the drop of a hat and to let small mistakes ruin their initial attraction to someone.

Another trend that originated from TikTok is finding different “red flags” in people. Although being aware of actual red flags in a relationship is important, TikTok has taught teenagers to specifically look for reasons why someone isn’t good enough. Red flags and “icks” are different in the way that “icks” are when someone does something that a partner could find repulsive, while red flags are deterrents to starting a relationship in the first place. Many of the trending red flags are actually just normal and harmless characteristics. For example, judging someone based on their astrology sign, taking too long to text back or not having a driver’s license are all considered red flags according to TikTok. Teenagers cannot genuinely get to know someone and like them romantically if they are constantly scanning the other person for all of their flaws. Social media causes people to have unrealistic expectations for relationships, and having this way of thinking will never lead to an authentic relationship.

Instagram have made romance and genuine relationships seem obsolete because people would prefer to “have fun” than to be in a serious relationship. Without an official title, someone can still communicate with another person they find attractive through Snapchat or Instagram and it wouldn’t be considered cheating. The whole purpose of a relationship is to open up to someone and be able to connect with them on a personal level. In a “situationship,” there are no real strings attached and no emotional connection to that person. It is difficult for people to trust someone they are not actually dating, and it takes away all the real components of a relationship. The more common these become, the less genuine romantic relationships will be.

Some would argue that using video chat or FaceTime as a way to date online can actually be authentic. For people who go to different schools or can’t spend as much time together, video chat can be a good alternative to talking in person with one’s partner. They allow people to talk to others even when they aren’t with them, which brings couples closer together. If people have busy schedules, just calling or FaceTiming their significant other can help to make the relationship more genuine.

Different apps such as TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram offer individuals a wider range of potential love interests, allowing teenagers to become picky and easily lose interest in someone they have feelings for. Teenagers tend to resort to online interactions because it seems easier in the moment to add someone on Snapchat or talk to them through Instagram than it would be to physically approach them in person. However, this method of communication takes away the authentic component of a relationship. There will always be a barrier when talking to someone online. One cannot know what their partner’s voice sounds like, how they laugh or any of their other mannerisms that make them unique. It’s hard to truly know and have feelings for someone when there are so few interactions with them in person.

Not only does online communication take away from having genuine in-person interactions, but rising online trends have also added to the inauthenticity. TikTok, for example, has caused teens to lose interest or change their minds when talking to someone simply because they got “the ick.” The newly popular phrase “getting the ick” comes from seeing a potential partner do something that makes one instantly disgusted by them. Usually, “the ick” is something completely harmless, such as swimming with goggles on, dropping something and chasing after it or double texting someone when they don’t respond for a while. All of these are prime examples of reasons people come up with as a way to no longer be romantically interested in someone. Something

One of the most commonly used apps for communication amongst teenagers is Snapchat. The app can be problematic for a multitude of reasons. Although Snapchat seems like a simple way to interact with someone because communication is through direct photos of someone’s face, it still fails to give an accurate depiction of what that person is like behind the screen. Talking through Snapchat builds a relationship based purely on physical attraction, and the main focus isn’t someone’s personality. Getting to know someone based on their attractiveness won’t lead to an authentic relationship because there is no interest in who they are as a person. With the addition of Snapchat and other similar apps, dating is less of a priority. It’s become more common for people to find someone attractive but not want to date them, since most communication is done through photos rather than genuine conversation. What’s popular now is being in a “talking stage” that potentially leads to a relationship, which is essentially an excuse to be physically attracted to someone but have no further interest or connection with them.

While FaceTime may be a viable option for alreadyformed couples to stay together, it doesn’t provide a substitute for starting relationships in person. Seeing someone through a screen still doesn’t accurately represent who they are. FaceTime doesn’t show physical gestures or mannerisms, which are important components when it comes to building a connection with someone. In-person interactions will always be the most genuine way to start a relationship. By listening to and following trends on commonly used apps, people will never be able to find truly authentic relationships until they meet their partner in person.

Building a real, healthy relationship takes courage. Although it can be nerve-wracking, the best option would be to approach one’s romantic interest in person to form a genuine connection with them rather than defaulting to an online approach. Talk to them, get to know their interests and learn what they are like beyond their Instagram profile. These are the ways to build a genuine

Graphics by Irene Hong and Elise Hu

There will always be a barrier when talking to someone online. One cannot know what their partner’s voice sounds like, how they laugh or any of their other mannerisms that make them unique.

What’s popular now is being in a “talking stage” that potentially leads to a relationship, which is essentially an excuse to be physically attracted to someone but have no further interest or connection with them.

Building a real, healthy relationship takes courage. Although it can be nerve-wracking, the best option would be to approach one’s romantic interest in person to form a genuine connection with them rather than defaulting to an online approach.

Should racial slurs, LANGUAGE Be censored in academic literature?

Fiona Xiong Reporter

There has long been a debate over whether or not there is a place for offensive language in academia. While some argue that racial slurs should be left uncensored in academic settings, doing so perpetuates harmful attitudes toward race, causes students to misunderstand the significance of the language and distresses students in historically marginalized groups.

Passages that use racial slurs serve to perpetuate racist ideas and stereotypes formed over the United States’ long history of racial oppression, including the N-word, a symbol of violence and subjugation that African Americans have endured for decades. Using the N-word, even in academic settings, spreads the false idea deeply rooted in U.S. history that Black individuals are inferior to their white counterparts.

One point of nuance, though, is the usage of offensive language by authors from marginalized groups. Instead of using racial slurs to downgrade other groups, these authors generally use the language to provide insight into their experiences as historically misrepresented individuals. Authors from marginalized groups can use this language because of their contextual awareness and lived experience.

Reading texts with racial slurs can have a significant impact on students, who could come to use these terms without understanding their repercussions. When students witness their teachers and peers reading the words aloud or seeing the language in texts without further explanation, students can easily come away with the impression that the offensive language is insignificant. For example, in “To Kill a Mockingbird,”

17.0%

of student respondents often encounter racially insensitive language and stereotypes in textbooks, novels or primary sources at Gunn.

racial slurs constantly appear throughout the text. The casual use of offensive language in such books can lead to jokes surrounding the N-word at Gunn. Teachers should thus refrain from saying racial slurs when they appear in academic texts and offer explanations about these words and terms when they do appear. If teachers expose students to harmful language but do not explain its impact, students may not understand how to approach such texts. Censoring offensive language indicates the magnitude of such slurs and prevents students from becoming desensitized to them.

Reading uncensored racial slurs can also make students from historically marginalized groups feel uncomfortable. This language can bring up traumatic experiences and lower self-esteem. By leaving racial slurs uncensored, instructors are being inconsiderate of students from historically underrepresented groups. Some may argue that if offensive content is erased, the roots of systemic oppression, which are necessary to understand modern racism, will remain overlooked. However, censoring offensive content does not erase the idea of its existence and will not hinder an understanding of systemic racism. People can still understand the history of oppression by learning the context of such offensive language. Students should be educated about its historical significance through healthy, insightful discussions in an academic setting. Such conversations provide individuals with an understanding of why offensive language and racial slurs have been used and why they are censored. Without understanding the sensitive nature of racial slurs, individuals can persist in inflicting harm.

In academic settings, racial slurs should be replaced with a note indicating the previous harmful language. This way, students will continue to be aware of the existence and impact of racial slurs. Students will inevitably encounter such language in classrooms and the outside world. However, with guidance, they will be able to confront it responsibly.

John Li Business Manager

While generally frowned upon when used as demeaning speech, racial slurs and stereotypes have long been a present and contentious issue in academic literature. Some believe that censorship of such offensive language is imperative in fostering a more equitable and accepting learning atmosphere. However, the suppression of racial slurs in educational settings leads to unexpected adverse effects such as exacerbating racism, obstructing free thinking and intensifying the ambiguity surrounding the subject.

Censorship, often wielded as a weapon to manipulate reality and influence public opinion, is a dangerous practice that distorts truth. Rather than confronting the underlying issues of systemic racism and prejudice that pervade our society, censorship merely provides a superficial fix, hiding problems instead of facing them head-on. Within an academic setting, it’s crucial to foster an environment where open discourse and exploration of sensitive topics can occur, even if they challenge the status quo. This kind of discussion is vital to students’ intellectual growth, and censorship threatens this freedom, stifling critical thinking and analysis.

For example, when students are studying a historical event and are censored from reading certain words or expressions, they may be limited from grasping the full complexities of the event and the motivations behind it. This can result in a one-dimensional, incomplete understanding of race. This lack of understanding can perpetuate negative stereotypes, and negatively impact students’ ability to critically analyze and engage with the material. This can lead

86.2%

In 2020, the Burbank School

several “classics” from its reading list, including the novels “To Kill a Mockingbird” and “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” due to racist language and depictions.

to students accepting oversimplified or biased interpretations of events and perpetuating harmful stereotypes in their own lives and communities.

Counterintuitively, censorship of racial slurs can, in fact, exacerbate the very prejudiced sentiments the policy is trying to eradicate. By removing these words from literature read in class, students won’t have a chance to grasp the historical and social context in which they were employed. For instance, if students read a text delving into the civil rights movement but are not allowed to examine the usage of racial slurs during that era, they will remain uninformed of the full extent of discrimination and bigotry African Americans endured. This fosters an atmosphere of ignorance and misinterpretation, which could impede advancement in combating racism and prejudice.

While certain terms have been employed as instruments of bigotry and white supremacy, it’s vital to remember that language, like society, undergoes constant evolution. To accurately judge the intention of an author who employs such words, individuals must contemplate the historical background in which it was used and the aim behind its usage. Take, for instance, the scenario where a historical cartoonist employs racial satire to mock the biased views of a certain political group, aiming to expose and dismantle the racist connotations that the term embodies. If the censorship of such language prevails in educational institutions, learners may be deprived of the chance to participate in thought-provoking discussions and analyses of these sensitive topics.

It is important that we engage in open discourse, delve into the subject and examine these issues in detail. This discourse is the only way to comprehend and tackle the current problems society faces. By exposing students to these provocative words and allowing them to reflect on their usage, they can become better informed and more active members of society.

In 2021, six Dr. Seuss books ceased publication due to racist and insensitive imagery. These include “To Think What I Saw on Mulberry Street” and “If I Ran the Zoo.”

Jenny Lee

Source: Self-selected survey sent out to Gunn students by The Oracle from Jan. 27 to Feb. 3 with 209 responses.

Source: Self-selected survey sent out to Gunn students by The Oracle from Jan. 27 to Feb. 3 with 212 responses.

of student respondents feel it is important to learn the historical context behind stereotypes and racially insensitive language when encountering them in an academic setting.

district removed

By removing these words from literature read in class, students won’t have a chance to grasp the historical and social context in which they were employed.

However, censoring offensive content does not erase the idea of its existence and will not hinder an understanding of systemic racism.

Holocaust Remembrance Day: Palo Alto community recognizes tragedy of genocide History of the Holocaust

The Holocaust was a systematic extermination of 6 million Jews and other minority groups by the Nazi regime during World War II. The persecution started in 1933 when Adolf Hitler came to power in Germany. The genocide was committed through a network of concentration camps, death camps and ghettos. Jews—as well as other groups such as LGBTQ+ people, Romani people, people with disabilities and political opponents—were rounded up and sent to camps where they were subjected to forced labor, starvation, disease and mass murder. The Holocaust reached its peak between 1942 and 1944, when the Nazis implemented the “Final Solution,” a plan to exterminate all Jews in Europe. It ended in 1945 with the defeat of the Nazis and the liberation of the remaining concentration camp prisoners by Allied Forces. As designated by the United Nations, Holocaust Remembrance Day is commemorated yearly on Jan. 27, the anniversary of the liberation of AuschwitzBirkenau (the largest concentration camp). This day honors the 6 million Jews who perished in the Holocaust and millions of other victims of Nazism. It serves as a reminder of the dangers of hate and intolerance in the world.

Local remembrance opportunities

Holocaust Remembrance Day serves as a day for people to remember the victims of the Holocaust and to educate themselves about its history. In Palo Alto, the Oshman Family Jewish Community Center (OFJCC) hosts community events to observe the day, which feature stories told by descendants of Holocaust survivors.

OFJCC Director of Jewish Content Tova Birnbaum notes that for many Jewish people, remnants of the Holocaust still exist today. “A lot of Jews feel that the Holocaust is present on a daily basis, either with the survivors around us or the collective memory that the Jews have around this tragedy,” Birnbaum said.

In addition to remembering the hardships and persecution the Jewish community has experienced, Holocaust Remembrance Day celebrates the perseverance of the Jewish people. “Many of them fought not only to stay alive, but to stay human and preserve their dignity,” Birnbaum said. “We celebrate the resilience of the Jewish people in general, the ability to rebuild and to heal, to remember, to say never again and to help other persecuted groups fight their persecution.”

Those who are not familiar with the day can observe it by educating themselves about the Holocaust and visiting Holocaust memorials or museums. “Learning and being educated about anything should be followed by action,” Birnbaum said. “Honor the victims. Learn from history and from the horrors that happened to other human beings. Take action and make sure that this never repeats itself and that other people can live freely and with dignity.”

Students share family stories of Holocaust survivors

The Holocaust is one of the most tragic and horrific events in modern history, and the impact of the brutal genocide still has lasting and profound effects on survivors and their families. Jan. 27, the anniversary of the liberation of the concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau, is known as Holocaust Remembrance Day, a day to remember and honor the memory of the 6 million Jews who suffered and lost their lives during the Holocaust.

Senior Allie Tachner, who is Jewish, remembers celebrating the day annually at her childhood Jewish day school. “We had a whole ceremony throughout the day where we would put up candles and talk about what it was like during the Holocaust,” she said. “Someone would usually present and talk about their family’s story.”

Tachner, like many other Jewish students at Gunn, has relatives who were greatly affected by the Holocaust. Tachner’s great-grandmother was sponsored by a cousin living in the United States (U.S.) and was able to emigrate from Poland to America in 1938. “She felt a lot of unrest, and her family was worried for her,” Tachner said. “She was the first person from her family to get sponsored to go to the United States. Once she got there she had to establish herself in order to sponsor other people to come to the United States.”

Tachner’s great-grandmother was able to sponsor her brother and bring him to the U.S. However, others in their family were not as fortunate. “Only a few of them made it to the States, and all the rest died along with her parents and most of their cousins,” Tachner said.

Other relatives in Tachner’s family lived through the war in Poland and came to the U.S. when the Holocaust was over. “My grandmother remembers spending summers when she was a little girl in the early 1950s with her cousins who had survived the war in Europe, and they would still be screaming

from nightmares at night,” she said.

To Tachner, it’s important that people don’t forget the stories of Holocaust survivors and to continue to fight injustice in the current world. “I would say that it’s important to educate yourself, and do your best to make sure it doesn’t happen again,” she said. “For the genocides that are happening in the world, act against them in whatever way is possible.”

Senior Fae Crane also grew up hearing the stories of her family members who survived the Holocaust. Crane’s relatives, including her great-grandmother, lived in Romania in the 1940s. They were rounded up by the police and lined up for execution. However, on that day, Crane’s great-grandmother was spared. “Right before she was about to get shot in the head, the commander stopped it and let all of them go,” she said. “For whatever reason, she doesn’t know.”

A cousin of Crane’s great-grandmother was sent on the death train to Auschwitz from Romania. However, because of the cold temperatures, he was able to break the train window and jump out. “He broke both of his legs,” she said. “In the end he was found by someone from a farm and was healed. So far, they’ve both lived and had happy lives after they went to Israel.”

For Crane, Holocaust Remembrance Day is an important time to listen to the stories of survivors. “It’s important to try and understand what it means to be Jewish rather than making assumptions based on things said online,” she said. “It’s important to understand what they’ve done instead of just believing what you see on the Internet. Instead, get to know who they are, what their past is and what they’ve truly experienced.”

—Written by Annabel Honigstein

—Written by Bryan Xiao

—Written by Katie LaWer

Aeron Man Courtesy of Allie Tachner

Top: Tachner’s relatives, Chana Chaya and Moshe Norell, pose for a photo.

Bottom: Crane’s relatives stand together in the second row on the left in Israel in 1963.

Courtesy of Fae Crane Star of David graphic by Ruhani Suresh

behind-the-scenes staff members help gunn run smoothly

Palo Alto Unified School District ( PAUSD) Student Nutrition Supervisor and Gunn Kitchen Lead Melanie Gomez has worked in PAUSD kitchens since 2012. She began working in the Gunn kitchen in 2012 before switching to the Palo Alto High School department in 2017 and then returning to Gunn in 2021. Along with serving as the Gunn lead, Gomez has also worked in the nutrition departments for other middle and elementary schools in the district.

Gomez works eight-hour shifts, often from 4 a.m. to 1 p.m. The rest of the team usually works between five and six hours. “My job consists of putting away grocery orders, ordering groceries and produce, bringing products back and forth between V-18 and P-116, planning menus, preparing and serving food and doing daily paperwork,” she said.

Coordinating menus is one of Gomez’s most vital duties as Kitchen Lead. Her position requires coordinating with district officials and staff from other schools. “All the leads at different sites meet with our main boss and talk about what is working or not working with the menus,” she said. “Then we talk about what we like and don’t like.”

At Gunn, Gomez and her team of five serve between

From 6 a.m. to late in the evening, an essential team of custodians works tirelessly to keep the campus clean and running. The team splits up into night shifts and day shifts. Head Custodian Luciano Hernandez’s workday starts at 3 p.m. “The first order of the day is making sure that if anybody called in sick, I have a replacement,” he said. “Then, after I’ve made sure the rest of the team is here, I submit work orders.” If something on campus is broken that custodians cannot fix, like windows or soap dispensers, Hernandez submits work orders to PAUSD employees to get those items repaired. After that, he and his team clean the buildings. “Usually that takes us all the way until it’s time to go home at 11 p.m.,” he said.

Hernandez has been working at Gunn for 23 years and finds his long tenure unsurprising. “Honestly, it’s rewarding,” he said. “For the most part, kids appreciate what we do. To me, it’s just the people I’ve met along the way: fellow custodians, teachers, students. That’s my favorite part.”

Hernandez’s least favorite part of his job shouldn’t be a surprise. All students know that going to a bathroom can be a hit-or-miss affair. One might happen upon some graffiti, toilet paper strewn about or even the absence of a soap dispenser.

1100 and 1200 meals per day. After working in the industry for several years, she has grown accustomed to the high number of students needing to be served, but still finds it overwhelming at times. Gomez believes that the switch to free lunches is a reason behind the higher meal count. “Gunn has the highest meal count of all 17 schools in our district,” she said.

Due to construction, supplies for the kitchen staff have been temporarily moved to V-18, and staff have to use carts to move products across campus.“It’s especially busy with the construction on our old building and going back and forth between rooms,” she said. “It’s a little time-consuming, but we manage to do it every day.”

After several years in the nutrition department, Gomez still finds that interacting with students is her favorite part of the job. “It makes me happy to see students I knew in elementary school now in middle and high school,” she said. “They basically grew up before my eyes. It’s amazing to me.”

—Written by Isha Sinha

Hernandez and his team work to maintain order within facilities. “There was a time where almost every single day there was graffiti in the bathrooms and broken soap dispensers,” he said.

These types of situations still happen frequently, but there have been worse times, such as after COVID-19 restrictions were lifted. “At one point, I just asked them to bring me 30 cases of dispensers so I could change them,” he said. “I used to change about seven or eight daily.”

According to Hernandez, the entire student population shouldn’t be held accountable for messes. “Ninety-nine percent of students do a good job at keeping the school clean,” he said. “It’s just that 1% that doesn’t try. At the end of the day, we clean for you guys.”

The team looks after both building cleanliness as well as student health. “We care,” Hernandez said. “Most of us are here because we’re making a difference, and that’s why we’re here every day. We’re here to not just clean but to help and protect.”

—Written by Dylan Sperandio

Every morning, long before most students arrive, Computer Support Specialist Chris Munoz is already at school, knocking off the first few requests to fix technology across campus. “I usually come in at around 7:30 a.m.,” he said. “The first hour, I make sure to get everything done from the last day that I didn’t get to. Usually I’ll start off with tickets that are for teachers, and then throughout the day I’m just helping students or staff that come in.”

While the title “computer support specialist” suggests a rather narrow responsibility, Munoz deals with more than just computers. “We also help students and staff with any other technological needs like the printers and the Apple TVs,” he said. “We do setups, too. If there’s an event that needs speakers or microphones, we’ll do that, and we’ll make sure that all the tech is set up for that event.”

Ever since his childhood, Munoz has been interested in technology and had always considered going into the field. “I grew up playing video games, learning about computers, building computers and doing stuff like that,” he said. “I grew up with technology, which is why I’m so passionate about it.”

After spending five months earning an Information

Up the P-building steps, straight into the College and Career Center and to the left is where students can find registrar Ofelia Smith and her understandably paper-laden desk. Like most school registrars, Smith acts as a recordkeeper, managing and updating official documents such as the ever-important student transcripts. Though the specifics of her role vary at different points of the year, Smith works to ensure that every student ends up with a transcript that encompasses both their high school journey and meets state and district guidelines. “There’s a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes to prepare for things that are time-consuming and that you don’t think about as far as specific tasks,” she said.

The past weeks and months have been particularly hectic for Smith, who has needed to work with teachers, counselors and administrators in order to finalize transcripts for colleges. “It’s really busy and there’s a lot of communication in order to make sure that everything is streamlined, clean and on the transcript,” she said. “We work together to make sure that transcripts are 100% accurate, because that’s the final report for the students.”

Despite this year being her first as Gunn’s registrar, Smith is an experienced educator and previously handled registrations

Technology certification, Munoz began working at Gunn. “I feel like the certification really taught me more than I really needed when it came to the position,” he said. “It’s awesome, because at the end of the day, it’s much better to be prepared than sorry.”

The problem-solving aspect of the job is what Munoz enjoys the most and is why he finds his work so fulfilling. Once, he dealt with an issue with some of the L-5 computers, which were all struggling to run a certain application. “Those computers are really old and they have some issues where you really have to dig deep to find out what the problem is,” he said. “But pretty much after looking into it for a week or two, I finally found a way to get the application running. That was definitely a really cool moment, because it was stressing me out for a bit. It was really rewarding when I finally found a way to fix it.”

—Written by Nicholas Weng

at the school district office. Originally coming from a political science background, Smith ended up pursuing education after a longstanding interest in the field and a passion for service.

“It’s really nice to be able to see firsthand how what you’re doing is affecting everything that the students are doing,” she said.

Smith finds the most satisfaction in her work from the tangible impact she has on the Gunn community. “There’s a lot of frustrating moments, because you’re trying to do something and there are deadlines and different things that come into play,” she said. “But once you’re able to complete that task, you’re able to look back and say, ‘Okay, I made a difference.’”

Between staff, students, parents and all the groups in the greater Gunn community, Smith recognizes the unified effort toward student success and empowerment. “We’re all trying to work together and we all have the same goal, but sometimes misinterpretations or miscommunications happen,” she said. “You have to work through those, and that’s where it gets rewarding.”

—Written by Michael Zhang

Luciano Hernandez

Melanie Gomez

Chris Munoz

Ofelia Smith

Dylan Sperandio

Isha Sinha

Nicholas Weng

Michael Zhang

Head Custodian Luciano Hernandez unloads restroom supplies from a pallet.

Gunn Kitchen Lead Melanie Gomez sets up products with members of the kitchen staff.

Computer Support Specialist Chris Munoz answers emails at his desk in the tech office.

Graphics by Ruhani Suresh

Gunn Kitchen Lead

Custodian

Computer Support Specialist Registrar

What’s in a name: Mispronunciation of names compromises underlying meaning, traditions

As a young kid, Wellness Outreach Worker Rosie (roh-z) Castillo scanned the Disneyland keychains to find her name. But even the happiest place on earth didn’t have a keychain for her.

This small yet simple incident is a shared experience among many. A name is much more than a word. It not only is a way to be addressed, but it also appears on legal documents for important milestones such as driver’s licenses and diplomas. A name carries identity, culture and meaning. For some, their name may hold significant value because of the loved ones they were named after or who chose it. Even for people who may not believe that their name is unique, a name acknowledges all identities: who you are as a person, what your background is and what your family values. A name can also cause cultures to clash, as some people are faced with trying to assimilate in America while maintaining their identity through their name.

Castillo’s parents named her Rossana (roh-sa-na), a combination of her grandmother’s and mother’s name. She began experiencing problems with her name in middle school where there weren’t many children who could pronounce her name correctly. Since Castillo’s name is uniquely spelled with two s’s and one n, many people had a hard time pronouncing it. “I remember thinking, ‘I just wish I had a white name,’” she said. “It didn’t sound pretty to me anymore, which is really sad. I ended up not liking it anymore.”

As a result of this mispronunciation, Castillo adopted a nickname. “I ended up telling people that I was going by Rosie,” she said. “Honestly, that was a lot easier for everybody to pronounce.” Since then, Castillo has always introduced herself as Rosie to others. Her family members are the only people who call her Rossana.

Castillo further explored the importance of her name when she traveled to Mexico in high school and connected with her culture. “Seeing where our ancestry was and seeing all the different, beautiful names there allowed me to grow more pride in my own name,” she said. During this trip, she also visited her grandmother’s grave and discovered more about the person she was named after. “Knowing the kind of woman that she was and finding out more about her through my dad and family, came with a lot of pride,” she said. “I remember thinking, ‘Why can’t I be less ashamed?’” After that

31.8%

trip, Rossana became a special name to her. “It feels more right for people to call me Rosie and to keep my name sacred,” she said. “I don’t want people to call me by my first name because that’s something that’s really personal to me now.”

Sophomore Yayoi (ya-yo-ee) Tomaszewski was named after Hinamatsuri, a Japanese tradition in which families name their daughters Yayoi during the month of March. “My name comes with a lot of history and tradition, and that’s really special to me,” she said. “When someone says it’s just a name, brushes it off or mispronounces it, it’s as if all the history of my name goes away and doesn’t matter.” In middle school, Tomaszewski started going by Yoyo since it was easier for people to pronounce. “When they kept calling me Yoyo, I didn’t feel as special,” she said. So, in high school, Tomaszewski introduced herself as Yayoi and even put the phonetics on her Instagram account to prevent mispronunciation. “I’m glad I put the phonetics in my bio, because in case someone felt awkward asking how to pronounce my name, they could always look at my bio,” she said.

“When someone says it’s just a name, brushes it off or mispronounces it, it’s as if all the history of my name goes away and doesn’t matter.”

Indian American junior Sahar (suh-haa-rr) Rao describes his name as one of a kind. Rao has learned to embrace the name “Sahar,” a Persian feminine name. He sees a parallel between his name and limited-edition objects. “I’m one amongst a few, not one amongst many,” he said. Rao also relates his unique name to the film “Toy Story.” “There’s a scene in ‘Toy Story’ where they zoom out from this one Buzz Lightyear, and you just find out there’s an entire store full of Buzz Lightyears,” he said. “Having been named Sahar, I feel that in one way, I’m not a mass-produced Buzz Lightyear.”

Senior Badal (b-ah-d-uh-l) Tamang isn’t bothered when people mispronounce his name. “I don’t mind if people don’t say it correctly because I know it’s a

12.6%

of students do not correct others when their name is mispronounced of students correct others when their name is mispronounced

difficult word to say,” he said. People often made bottle or bottle-flipping jokes when he was younger, but he went along with them. “It never bothered me,” he said. “At the end of the day, it’s just friends joking around, so I understood that.” Despite mispronunciation and jokes, Tamang has never thought of changing his name. “My parents gave it to me, and I don’t want to change that,” he said.

Freshman Sevin (‘sě-vǐn) Kwon encounters a different problem than people’s mispronouncing his name: people’s misspelling it. “A couple of times I’ve tried identifying myself as Steven or Stevie just to prevent people from misspelling my name,” he said. Kwon has thought about changing his name in the past, but ultimately became content with it, as a lot of funny moments have stemmed from it. “Most people already know me as Sevin: the kid with the number as his name,” he said. “I’m Sevin. I’ve always known myself as Sevin, and I’m probably always going to be known as Sevin.”

After junior Heeseo (HEE-suh) Jeong experienced teachers’ often mispronouncing her name, she decided to take initiative to spread awareness about name pronunciation. “Through my years as a student, I’ve had a wide range of teachers with a wide range of abilities in name pronunciation,” she said. “After seeing several teachers working hard to improve their skills in pronouncing people’s names correctly, I wanted to share the skills and insights that I’ve gained from just having a name that is considered hard to pronounce.” Jeong started by giving a presentation to some Gunn teachers and eventually created a video that was sent to the entire Palo Alto Unified School District. Now, she is looking to expand this project to Santa Clara County to suggest solutions for name pronunciation in the classroom.

Tomaszewski believes that everyone should search for the meaning of their name or find out why their parents chose it. “When you know the meaning of your name, you feel proud of it and it makes you feel special,” Tomaszewski said. “Everyone deserves to feel special in some sort of way.”

—Written by Madison Yue

Madison Yue

Ruhani Suresh

Source: Self-selected survey sent out to Gunn students by The Oracle from Jan. 27 to Feb. 3 with 223 responses.

From top left, clockwise: Senior Badal Tamang, Wellness Outreach Worker Rosie Castillo, freshman Sevin Kwon, sophomore Yayoi Tomaszewski, junior Heeseo Jeong and junior Sahar Rao hold up handwritten signs with their names and their pronunciations.

—Sophomore Yayoi Tomaszewski

Gunn community shares Valentine's

Valentine's Day throughout history

Valentine’s Day has been celebrated for centuries on Feb. 14. Typically, people exchange chocolates, flowers and love with their significant other. While several traditions have come and gone over time, the origins of the day remain unclear. Multiple folktales explaining the origin of the mysterious holiday do exist, however, none are definite.

One of the most common folktales claims that Saint Valentine was a priest in third century Rome. At the time, Emperor Claudious II believed that many of the soldiers with wives and families were more susceptible in battle so he prohibited his soldiers from getting married. Saint Valentine saw how many soldiers were unhappy and decided to marry them off in secret. Furious, Claudius II executed Saint Valentine on Feb. 14, but the Roman soldiers appreciated Valentine’s help so much that they continued to celebrate his fight for love through the holiday we know as Valentine’s Day.

Today, the holiday is celebrated by many around the world. Despite its world-wide recognition, Valentine’s Day is celebrated differently depending on the location.

At Gunn, the Student Executive Council (SEC) coordinates Love Week. Love Week is a week-long event with Valentine’s Day themed games and events. SEC holds recurring events such as Match-o-Matics and Love Ceremony photo booths annually, but they also come up with new events to add. Special Events Commissioner junior Ruth Jaquette is in charge of planning Love Week this year and believes that it’s a good way for students to meet more people in a platonic way, rather than solely romantically. “What’s really cool about Love Week at Gunn is that you can meet new people and do things with people who you are already close with,” she said.“Currently we’re thinking of doing an event sort of similar to how in Paris, they have locks on the bridges. We’re thinking of having these paper locks across the second story of the P-building.”

—Written by Lita Sone

To: Gunn, With love, South America

In Brazil, Valentine’s Day is better known as “Dia dos Namorados,” meaning “Sweetheart’s Day” in Portuguese. Since the date of Feb. 14 clashes too closely with Carnaval, one of the biggest events held in Brazil celebrating the beginning of the Catholic Lent, the official date for Valentine’s Day was changed to be June 12. The reasoning behind this was that June 12 fell right before another day of love: Saint Anthony’s Day.

The origin of “Dia dos Namorados” dates back to 1948. Publicist João Doria was inspired by the Mother’s Day celebration in Brazil to dedicate a special day for lovers and improve sales for a clothing store. Today, there are many ways of celebrating ‘Dia dos Namorados,’ such as exchanging love-themed gifts or attending musical concerts. Some have romantic dinners with their partner and others organize heartfelt surprises.

Similar to celebrations in the United States (U.S.), Valentine’s Day in Chile, also known as “Dia de San Valentin” is celebrated on Feb. 14. Even though Valentine’s Day is not as widely celebrated in Chile compared to the U.S., the celebration is special as it is usually warm and sunny due to the country’s location in the Southern Hemisphere. According to Spanish teacher Teresa Nino-Oliva, the summer weather during Valentine’s Day in Chile allows people to engage in outdoor activities with their lovers. The summer weather also gives people in Chile more leisure time because there is no school during this time period. “Since it’s during summer vacation, there are lots of celebrations because the people do not have anything to do,” Nino-Oliva said.

Although Valentine’s Day is universally a time to spend time with one’s sweetheart, “Dia de San Valentin” is more open to celebrating with friends and family as well. “It’s called the day of ‘amor’ or ‘love’ and ‘friendship,’” Nino-Oliva said. “It’s not just romantic love but also the love for other people that you aren’t necessarily involved with romantically.”

According to sophomore Mia Besprosvanhow, “Dia de San Valentin” is not an event exclusive to adults and teenagers. At schools, candies are passed out to everyone, and many younger kids exchange small toys while older kids enjoy gifting roses and chocolates.

—Written by Yueun Hong

To: Gunn With love, Africa

In Africa—and especially Kenya—Valentine’s after its American and European counterpart, thus very similar. According to social studies teacher Kenya, the country was not truly exposed to the social media came around. “The exposure came said. “With the availability of internet connection, international influences, and so people began adopting Kinyanjui’s first exposure to Valentine’s Day came just gaining traction. “The holiday never used to was attending college, only a handful of people were According to Kinyanjui, the practice of Valentine’s since his time in college. However, Kinyanjui pointed to in the U.S., especially due to socioeconomic limitations. have some economic means because the holiday renders said. “So that narrows down the people who can Kinyanjui also says the financial market for Valentine’s manufacturing of Valentine-specific products, a limiting Kenya. “You won’t find a whole lot of materials just more than not, somebody will buy flowers but it’s Even with differences in scope of the holiday, other parts of Africa remains nearly identical to ultimately that there are both positive and negative by this increasingly popular holiday.

Day experiences around the world

To: Gunn With Love, Asia

In East Asian countries such as Korea, Japan and China, Valentine’s Day is traditionally for women to give male partners or crushes presents. Men reciprocate on Mar. 14, also called White Day. This tradition originated in Japan in 1978, and has spread throughout Asia to Korea, China, Taiwan and Vietnam. Gifts are exchanged between lovers, friends and colleagues. In the past, White Day presents were typically white—white chocolates, candy, marshmallows or accessories—but today, gifts can vary in color.

According to junior John Lee, Valentine’s Day is one of multiple love celebrations in Korea. “Korea has a lot of celebration days, for example the celebration of 100 days in a relationship,” he said. Nonetheless, public community places such as cafés, movie theaters and amusement parks provide special events for couples on Valentine’s Day. “They give more discounts to couples,” Lee said. “For example, at the movies, they give extra popcorn.”

In Southeast Asia, Singapore celebrates Valentine’s Day similarly to the U.S. However, the day is not recognized as an official holiday. Sophomore Joshua Shin said that Valentine’s Day is not just for couples, but also for friends to exchange presents. Public events are also hosted, such as music carnivals and fashion shows for the entire week of Valentine’s Day. Confessions are often made with flowers, and different shades are used to convey different messages. For example, red roses represent love and respect while pale pink roses symbolize grace and joy.

School events similar to the SEC Valentine’s Day grams were organized in Lee’s Korean school. “We sold candy and made a name tag for people to send it to someone anonymously, or to send it with their name on it,” Lee said. Likewise, students at Shin’s Singaporean school participated in similar activities. “You can buy candy and then gift it to someone in person,” Shin said.

—Written by Michelle Koo

Day is a relatively new holiday, closely modeled thus rendering celebrations around the continent Arthur Kinyanjui, who was born and raised in holiday and its practices until the internet and from people getting on the internet,” Kinyanjui connection, Kenyans began consuming more and more adopting those practices, Valentine’s Day included.” came as a college student in Kenya, back when it was be a thing anywhere else,” he said. “Even when I were paying attention to it.”

Valentine’s Day in Kenya has become much more popular pointed out that the holiday is still small compared limitations. “It is celebrated mainly by people who renders itself to some kind of spending,” Kinyanjui participate.”

Valentine’s Day is not large enough to warrant the limiting factor for the popularity of the holiday in just dedicated for Valentine’s Day,” he said. “Maybe not with specific branding.”

the celebration of Valentine’s Day in Kenya and what is observed in the U.S. Kinyanjui believes opportunities presented to Kenyans and Africans

—Written by Dan Honigstein

To: Gunn With love, Europe

Being home to some of the most romantic countries in the world, it’s no wonder that the celebration of love on Valentine’s Day has spread throughout Europe. While some European celebrations closely emulate the holiday’s culture in the U.S., others have also taken on their own unique interpretations of the holiday.

In France, for instance, “La Saint Valentin” is celebrated exclusively by lovers and usually adults. They will often exchange small gifts and share a romantic dinner or weekend getaway. After all, France includes Paris, the renowned “City of Love,” making it a common destination for tourists near Valentine’s Day. French teacher Laura Lizundia believes this is due to both France’s landscape and language. “Everywhere you go is quite beautiful in its own way,” she said. “Also, people associate the language—how it sounds—as being quite pretty, and I don’t deny that. It is a beautiful language.”

While Valentine’s Day was popularized in France and England around the Middle Ages, “Valentinstag” didn’t reach Germany until after World War II, when American soldiers stationed there brought their traditions. According to junior Ella Brueser, who moved from Germany this semester, the holiday in Germany is similar to France in that it is not as huge of a celebration as in America and consists of majoritively adult participation. “At school, we can buy flowers and give them to the people we like, but in general, we don’t really celebrate it,” she said. “We don’t have a Valentine’s Day dance, and in the supermarket, we don’t have a Valentine’s Day section.”

Not all European countries confine Valentine’s to only lovers. Feb. 14 marks Friend’s Day in Finland and Estonia, a celebration of platonic love. Popularized among schoolchildren in the 1980s and spread to adults in the 1990s, this tradition is relatively new, though it gained much popularity in recent years. While couples still enjoy this day together, it’s common to see friends of all ages celebrating as well with shared meals, sporting event attendance, sauna sessions, gift-exchanges and card-giving. In Estonia, singles are invited to ride a special “love bus” to find a potential match.

—Written by Kaitlyn Chen

Graphics by Irene Hong, Aarushi Kumar and Sarah Xie

Beyond the nuclear family: nontraditional family

Junior Zoe Kamphuis

Living with divorced parents

Junior Zoe Kamphuis was 8 years old when her parents called her in for a family meeting that would completely change her life. She remembers being filled with excitement, hoping to be surprised with a family trip to Disneyland. Although she knew that was unlikely, she never anticipated what the reality of the talk would be: Her parents were getting divorced. Kamphuis only remembers a fleeting moment of sadness, which quickly disappeared. “Because I was so young, I felt a bit down,” she said. “But my parents also gave me ice cream when they told me, so I wasn’t that sad.”

Since Kamphuis was young when her parents got divorced, she doesn’t recall struggling with adapting to the separation. The household change wasn’t particularly jarring for Kamphuis because having parents who lived separately was not a foreign concept. “Living in separate households wasn’t something that I felt was super different or uncommon because many of my close friends had parents that also didn’t live together,” she said. However, as Kamphuis got older, her perspective began to shift slightly. Despite being okay with her parents’ divorce, she has sometimes envied people with married parents. “Having married parents seems very nice and put together with their picket-fence lifestyles,” Kamphuis said. “I know that my life would probably look a lot different if my parents were still together, but at the same time, I don’t feel the need to change any aspect of my current life.”

Kamphuis’ parents had an amicable divorce and agreed that they would be happier apart. As a result, she didn’t have to deal with any custody quarrels. Her parents now share custody of her and her younger brother. Although it can be troublesome to have to carry belongings between houses, she doesn’t view it as too much of a challenge. “It’s not really that different from a nuclear family besides the physical aspect because my

parents still get along,” Kamphuis said. “My parents are still friends, so it’s not really life-changing.”

Despite minor inconveniences, Kamphuis believes that having two households has its benefits. She appreciates celebrating holidays twice with her parents’ different styles. The separation also allows her to cultivate a deep connection with both of her parents. “I’m definitely closer to my mom than I would have been if my parents didn’t get divorced,” she said. “I was always kind of a daddy’s girl, and I probably still would have been if they never got divorced.”

Kamphuis is grateful that she has her younger brother with her. “He’s a very different person, but we’re still there for each other,” she said. “In general, we like being at the same house together. We get to hang out and even though we don’t get along super well, we still like to make sure that we’re in the same place.”

Although media portrayal of divorce is often negative, Kamphuis believes that sometimes it’s better than a harsher reality of living in a household filled with hostility. “When people think of divorce, it’s very negative,” she said. “I think sometimes it can be a very positive thing because it’s worse to be in a household where your parents should have gotten divorced, but didn’t. Overall, both my households are very peaceful and I don’t think it would have been that way if my parents didn’t get divorced.”

Now that she’s older, Kamphuis understands that the divorce was needed. “I don’t think that they were meant to be together, so I’m not resentful towards it,” she said. “Both my parents are very different people, so I respect their decision.”

—Written by Diya Bose-Malakar

Freshman Abby Truesdale

Living with same-gender parents

At a young age, freshman Abby Truesdale felt constantly bombarded by questions such as “where’s your mom?” and “everyone has a mom, I feel so bad.” At the time, she was confused as to what aspect of her life differed from her peers’. Because of these comments, for the first time, Truesdale began to realize the unique dynamics of her family.

Truesdale’s dads, Derek Truesdale and Mike Gisondi, decided on a surrogate conception in which the biological parents are undisclosed. They have always been honest with her about Truesdale’s origins. These open conversations about heritage and the LGBTQ+ community are integral to her family. In fact, she believes that these discussions should occur no matter what type of family one is born into. “It’s always best to educate your children,” she said. “Building that trust with your parents is very important for your growth, development and relationship with them.”

Truesdale’s perspective on these daily questions about her family has drastically shifted over the years. When she was younger, she would feel aggravated by them, but now, she welcomes these questions as a learning opportunity.

“I love to educate people about my life,” Truesdale said. “When people think ‘gay family,’ they usually assume that the child is adopted, and I like to break away from that stereotype.”

Throughout her childhood, parents, specifically moms, have always offered her dads unsolicited parenting advice. “They don’t understand what having two dads is like,” Truesdale said. “They tell them how to do specific things, because they feel the need to be involved in my life.”

However, just because Truesdale doesn’t have a mom in her family doesn’t mean that she has no female influences or lacks maternal affection. She has a very close relationship with her grandmother, who became a mother figure in her life. The female teachers Truesdale grew up with were also important role models to her. “I’ve always been surrounded by women,” Truesdale said. “I don’t think living without a mother has really negatively impacted me.”

Discrimination has always followed Truesdale and her family—and it was most often experienced at school. But in recent years, she has noticed a significant push towards promoting inclusivity and diversity. She realized that teachers were using more inclusive language when they addressed parents, and noticed an enhanced sense of awareness across every aspect on campus. “I think Gunn has done a great job discussing all these different minorities in our school,” Truesdale said. “Teachers and staff are all very accepting of my family.”

Outside of school, her family would often be subjected to stares or intrusive questioning at church. But Truesdale and her parents just ignored the prejudice and focused on their faith.

Truesdale’s parents, especially Derek Truesdale, who was born in the South, grew up around homophobic rhetoric. But once they were married, it became so much easier to reject the hate and oppression because they were facing it together. This strength and love within Truedale’s family is still their best defense against negativity. “As a household, we protect each other,” Truesdale said. “And that’s why it’s all gotten so much easier.”

—Written by Kaylee Cheng

Photos courtesy of Abby Truesdale

Photos courtesy of Zoe Kamphuis

Top: Junior Zoe Kamphuis celebrates her 16th birthday with her mom, dad and younger brother.

Bottom: Kamphuis visits Seattle with her mom and brother.

Top: Freshman Abby Truesdale, 4, stands with both her dads after having dinner with her uncles in Chicago.

Bottom: In July 2022, Truesdale and her dads visit a restaurant in Florence, Italy.

structures provide benefits, influence identities

Senior Violeta Sedillo

Being an adopted child

Senior Violeta Sedillo has always known she was adopted, as her mom has always been open to sharing and discussing that part of Sedillo’s identity. “My mom told me from a very early age, and this has just always been a part of me,” she said.

When Sedillo’s mom decided to adopt as a single parent, she researched and explored different routes in the adoption process, all of which led to dead ends. Eventually, one of the programs told her about a newborn. “They showed her a picture of a little girl in Guatemala,” Sedillo said. “When she learned about me, she started flying over for a lot of visits around when I was 4 months old. She visited a lot while she was getting background checks, and then when I was around 8 months old, she finally brought me home.”

Though raised by a single mother, Sedillo has always been surrounded by a lot of family. “My mom had a huge ‘welcome home’ party when she brought me home with all my extended family,” she said. “Everybody was there to greet me and meet me, and it was really sweet.”

The support from her extended family, who has always lived close by, continued throughout her childhood. “Since my mom is a single parent, having to take care of a kid and also go work was a lot,” she said. “She relied on a lot of aunts and grandmas to help out with me when I was younger. My grandma lived close to us, and that was really helpful for my mom when she needed time to go to work or run errands.”

Sedillo also gathers with her extended family for many holiday traditions. They often celebrate multiple cultures through a blend of American and Mexican dishes on the Fourth of July. “Every Fourth of July, we would go over to my aunt’s, where we’d have huge parties with all our relatives and have a huge feast,” she said. “The Fourth of July was an amazing and fun time for us because all the cousins would run around while

the adults were laughing and having a good time.”

When she was younger, Sedillo struggled with understanding her identity, having questions about who she was and where she was from due to not knowing anything about her biological parents. Over time, she became more conscious of the difference between her family and her friends’ conventional ones. “It was more of an internal struggle with understanding that I’m not limited to just one side of my culture and accepting that there are definitely more sides and one doesn’t have to be more important than the other,” she said. “As I grow up, it’s been more like ‘yeah, I’m adopted—this is a cool part of me now.’”

Sedillo’s comfort in her identity has grown since she was younger. “I’ve definitely become more secure in who I am,” she said. “Now I know that even though I don’t know my biological family, I still am a part of a family and community that have helped make me who I am.”

Despite the unknowns about her biological parents, Sedillo’s mom has always encouraged open conversations about the challenges she faced with reconciling her adoption and identity. “These conversations helped me tackle questions I had about myself, like ‘Why was I given away?’ or ‘Is there anything wrong with me?’” she said. Even if her mother didn’t have concrete answers, she listened to Sedillo’s concerns. “She would talk through with me what emotions I have and how to be comfortable with those questions, along with comforting me and making sure that I know that my family is here and is very loving and accepting,” she said.

—Written by Safina Syed

Freshman Natalie Chan

Living in a blended family with stepparents

After living with divorced parents for her entire life, freshman Natalie Chan remembers meeting her stepmom for the first time when she was 8 years old. Sitting in a Japanese restaurant with her dad, across from a stranger, she thought to herself, “Who is this lady?”. However, after a few conversations over their shared interest in pets, Chan opened up and welcomed her stepmom into the family.

At her dad’s house, Chan lives in a blended family with her biological father, her stepmom and her stepsister. Chan remembers the challenges of adapting to a larger household when her stepmom and stepsister first entered her life. Not only was the new parental figure being introduced to her a stranger, she also had a very different personality from Chan’s biological mom. While she has become comfortable with her stepmom, her relationship with her biological mom is still closer. “I think that’s just a product of her coming into my life later,” Chan said. “She doesn’t know me as well because she didn’t raise me.”

When her stepmom joined the family, Chan also became an older sister. Transitioning from being an only child to having a stepsister was a challenge, but it taught her about responsibility, maturity and adaptation. “I had learned to live independently my whole life, and then all of a sudden, I had someone else to take care of,” Chan said.

Though her relationship has grown closer with her stepfamily, Chan wishes that they could spend more time together. Due to her busy schedule in high school as well as only spending half of her time at her dad’s house, Chan is unable to foster the same relationship with her stepmom and stepsister that she has with her biological mom and dad. “There’s a lot of times when I’m too busy with schoolwork or homework, or our schedules just don’t line up, so we can’t

spend enough time building the trust and the relationship,” Chan said.

Chan has learned to adapt and change the way she acts in her mom’s and dad’s houses to fit the different environments. Compared to living in a single-parent household, where she has to be more independent and figure problems out herself, she feels less pressured and more comfortable living with her stepmom and dad. “At my dad’s house, I feel like I have a group of people that I can lean back on,” she said. “I feel like I can make more mistakes, and sometimes I’m more comfortable because I don’t have to ask for help myself.”

The portrayals of blended families in the media that Chan sees often show a negative relationship between the stepparents and child or present the stepfamily as evil. Chan believes these stereotypes are inaccurate. “My stepmom is one of the nicest people I know because she’s one of the most patient,” she said.

Having a stepmom and stepsister are an interesting and important part of Chan’s life that has shaped her identity. Despite the challenges that have come from living in a blended family, Chan has adapted to her new household and doesn’t wish to be a part of a traditional family. “Sometimes things can get frustrating or challenging, but it’s not like I’m jealous of people who have their two biological parents together, because I’ve never experienced that,” she said.

—Written by Ya-An Xue

Photos courtesy of Natalie Chan

Photos courtesy of Violeta Sedillo

Graphics by Irene Hong

Top: Senior Violeta Sedillo gets ready for prom in 2022 with her mom.

Bottom: Sedillo and her extended family attend her cousin’s wedding.

Top: Freshman Natalie Chan travels with her dad, stepmom and stepsister to Hawaii.

Bottom: In a restaurant, Chan meets her younger stepsister for the first time.

Sports Sports captains reflect on winter season

Girls’ Soccer

Senior Jack Fallows

Boys’ soccer captain senior Jack Fallows hopes the team will make the Central Coast Section (CCS) tournament and improve their overall play, record and interpersonal relationships. “We want to continue to create that environment and community within the team,” Fallows said.

Throughout the season, Fallows saw the impact player mindsets have on team performance. “In games that we play our best in, we win,” he said. “In the games that we don’t play as well, it gets tough when we start losing games and dropping points.”

Girls’ Basketball

Senior Whitley Smith

Girls’ soccer captain senior Whitley Smith described how the team has grown together despite struggles earlier on in the season. “The girls on the team are really great,” Smith said. “We’ve done a good job at getting rid of the cliques from the beginning of the season.” Smith also reflected on some potential places for improvement. “It’s definitely been a struggle because we’re in a pretty high league for a young team,” she said. “We want to get better at moving the ball around in the back. So far, it’s definitely been pretty chaotic since we don’t have a lot of communication going on, so communication is my

Fallows also hopes that the team will continue to work hard and hold high standards. “The team is pretty good at showing up when they’re supposed to” he said. “I just remind them about the little things and try to get them a little fired up before a game.”

—Written by Anne

Dong

biggest thing we need to improve. Intensity is also a big thing for me, because we’re good at getting ahead and then dropping our intensity, which is not something you want to be good at.”

—Written by Kenneth Soh

Current record: 3-11-2

Next home game: Today at 7 p.m. vs Mountain View High School

Current record: 8-6-4

Next home game: Today at 7 p.m. vs Mountain View High School

Senior Carmel Tong

With many new players on the girls’ basketball team this year, co-captain senior Carmel Tong explained the importance of building chemistry among the old and new members. “We have a lot of underclassmen on the team, so a lot of players haven’t played together,” she said. “It’s really important for us to learn how to work together as a team, get better and be able to help each other on the court.”

During the season, Tong has seen improvement in the team. “We just had a really strong game against a team where we were making our shots and running our

Boys’ Soccer

plays and working well as a team,” she said. After dealing with many early-season injuries, Tong was eager to see key players return. “It’s exciting to be able to play with the whole team again,” she said.

—Written by Anne Dong

Current record: 12-11

Senior Colin Lee

Boys’ basketball captain senior Colin Lee reflected on the strides the team has made since the beginning of the season as well as some areas needing improvement. “We’ve improved our defense a lot, so opposing teams have to really work to get their points, and it really wears out the other team so that when they play defense, they’re tired and that makes it easier for us to score,” he said. “There’s still a lot of little things that we could work on that really will elevate our game and allow us to beat really good teams like rebounding and shooting free throws.”

Lee also explained the importance of being close as a team. “I love being able to build a better connection with

my teammates during practice and after practice,” Lee said. “It’s a great group of guys, and we really enjoy each other’s presence, which benefits our team chemistry.”

—Written by Kenneth Soh

Current record: 14-7

Next home game: Today at 7 p.m. vs Cupertino High School

Senior Beanie Jose

Wrestling captain senior Beanie Jose explained her two goals for the team this season. “Because we’re such a young and new team, the goals I set for this year were for everyone to work hard,” she said. “It’s important that everyone puts in work because when you don’t and you go to wrestle for real, the lack of practice shows. Another goal is to be league champs and we’re already on our way as we’ve been undefeated in league matches.” Throughout the season, Jose has seen development in players’ skills and techniques. “The team has improved

so much,” she said. “The people who are working out and working hard have gotten way better. The room is full of tough people and people who have a high work ethic, and it’s because we have a great coaching staff that pushes us to do our best.”

—Written by Kenneth

Soh

Boys’ Basketball Wrestling

Current record: 7-0 in dual meets

Next tournament: Today (12 p.m. for boys, 4 p.m. for girls)

Courtesy of Whitley Smith Senior Whitley Smith dribbles in between defenders.

Courtesy of Jack Fallows

Senior Jack Fallows delivers a long ball upfield to a teammate.

Courtesy of Carmel Tong Senior Carmel Tong drives left past the defender.

Courtesy of Colin Lee

Senior Colin Lee dribbles the ball while surveying the defense.

Courtesy of Beanie Jose Senior Beanie Jose pins down an opponent.

Staffer Debunks health, Workout Myths

With every New Year comes its notorious resolutions. In the United States, the three most common resolutions are all centered around health and fitness: exercise more, eat healthier and lose weight. As a $30.74 billion industry, the health and fitness sector grows 3% to 4% every year. However, not every product or service marketed around health, fitness or weight loss works. Here are four health and fitness myths to watch out for that are simply not true.

MYTh #1: Weight loss and diets

The number one New Year’s resolution is to lose weight, which goes hand in hand with diet culture. In most cases, extreme diets and excessive weight loss do not equate to a “healthier” or “more fit” lifestyle. According to medical center Cleveland Clinic, rapid weight loss causes muscle mass to deteriorate. Without sufficient muscle mass, every day tasks can become cumbersome. Furthermore, one can miss out on certain nutrients, leading to bone density issues, weakened immunity towards diseases and fatigue. Additionally, the clinic found that 80%

to 95% of dieters regain their lost weight. While there is no set formula for a healthier lifestyle, one common alternative to dieting is to trust your body to make your food choices. Benefits include increased satisfaction and less overeating.

MYTh #3: stretching before exercising

About 99% of sports coaches and physical education teachers instruct their athletes or students to stretch as a part of their pre-activity routine, according to the National Library of Medicine.

Static stretches require no movement and are held for extended periods of time. Dynamic stretches, on the other hand, are controlled movements that target preparation for a certain activity. Although static stretching can help loosen muscles, it has little effect on athletes’ avoiding injury. According to a study conducted by the National Library of Medicine with 26,000 participants,

researchers found that participants whose stretching regime focused on increasing strength over flexibility reduced their chance of injury by 70%.

Instead, athletes should stretch dynamically. Warming up can help avoid strained or pulled muscles. Examples of dynamic stretching exercises include side shuffles, hip circles and lunge walks.

MYTh #2: Health benefits of Organic foods

In many grocery stores, the produce section is often divided into two parts: organic and not organic. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, “Organic farming uses an approach that avoids synthetic chemicals, hormones, antibiotic agents and genetic engineering.”

Though many believe that organic produce is more nutritious than its nonorganic counterparts, there has yet to be proof of increased nutrition in organic foods. However, studies have shown a link between synthetic pesticides and reduced cognitive abilities in young

children. For adults, on the other hand, the difference between organic and conventional produce is minimal, and while there are slight benefits to organic foods, it depends on how much one is willing to spend.

MYTh #4: TARgeted fat loss

Targeted fat loss is a widespread idea advertised by health magazines and commercials. The common belief is that exercising a certain muscle group decreases the amount of triglyceride, or fat, in that area.

In a study conducted by the University of Connecticut, participants completed a training program targeting the nondominant arm. The results showed that fat reduction was generalized. Thus, “burned” fat comes from anywhere in the body.

Although spot-reduction exercises do not achieve targeted fat loss goals, they

can still be beneficial in a workout routine. Instead of spot-reducing exercises, a more efficient way of overall fat loss are routines that focus on cardiovascular or high-intensity interval training. Such workouts burn more calories, and lead to greater overall fat loss.

Compiled by Charlotte Qian

Graphics by Natalie Lam

Athletes weigh in on body image issues

Before every high school track and field meet, class of 2022 alumna Sharona Schwab meticulously planned out her dieting regimen: she would load up on meat and protein for four days, switch to whole grains and carbohydrates two days before competing and eat a mix of protein and carbohydrates on the morning of. Schwab’s careful scrutiny over her diet reflects the wider pressure on athletes to maintain certain weight classes, eating habits and body types for the sake of their sport. While often originating from an innocuous desire to reach one’s full athletic potential, this pressure can carry serious ramifications. According to a 2018 study published in the Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology, 7.3% of high school athletes struggle with an eating disorder—over three times the rate of high school non-athletes. The intense focus on constant improvement, comments from coaches and teammates as well as societal expectations regarding gender and body image can all shape an athlete’s perception of their body and negatively impact their selfconfidence.

One normalized aspect of athletic culture is openly discussing methods to gain or lose weight. The “ideal weight” for athletes depends on which sport they play: power-dependent sports such as softball and wrestling often favor more heavyset athletes, while speed- or performance-focused sports like sprinting and cheer idealize thinner body types.

Softball player junior Aarushi Kumar has experienced pressure to achieve an “ideal weight” from a young age. “Softball is a power sport. You need a lot of power to play properly, so people seem a lot more comfortable putting pressure on you to change your weight,” she said. “I’ve always been on the underweight side, which, genetically and biologically, is totally normal. But in softball, when you hit 10 years old, your coaches feel like it’s okay to start putting this type of pressure on you. When people keep emphasizing that you look some way, it messes with your brain a little bit, especially at that age.”

“If you’re performing, people are watching you, and there’s definitely pressure to look a certain way or fit a certain way into your uniform.”

Freshman Meagan Sutherland

Cheerleader freshman Meagan Sutherland emphasized the unique expectations surrounding weight in cheer and dance. “If you’re performing, people are watching you, and there’s definitely pressure to look a certain way or fit a certain way into your uniform,” she said. “In cheer, there is also lots of pressure for flyers to stay thin and maintain a light body in order to be lifted into the air, or they could be switched to bases, which can be very damaging to someone’s self-esteem.”

In wrestling, athletes are often encouraged to lose a specific amount of water weight in order to “make weight,” or fit into a certain weight class. Wrestler junior Mihlaan Selvaretnam has witnessed the consequences of the culture on athletes. “It’s become part of the culture to cut weight and lose weight,” he said. “And it’s not necessarily a good thing. But since everybody does it, you kind of have to.” To make weight, depending on the amount of weight he plans to lose, Selvaretnam will typically keep meals light a week before competing and cut out nearly all water the day before.

While care for one’s eating habits is important and even beneficial under the right circumstances, Schwab’s

48.5% of students believe that their sport’s uniform increased their body dysmorphia

Source: Self-selected survey sent out to Gunn students by The Oracle from Jan.

intense focus on her pre-competition dieting routine negatively affected her relationship with food, even in the track off-season. “Because I had built in that emphasis on eating habits and food, I found myself caring too much and thinking too much every time I was eating, even if I wasn’t competing,” she said. “When I’m paying attention to everything I put in my body and making sure I have enough protein every single meal, it can get really stressful and tedious at times. It takes away from the enjoyment of eating.”

“Because I had built in that emphasis on eating habits and food, I found myself caring too much and thinking too much every time I was eating, even if I wasn’t competing.”

2022 alumna Sharona Schwab

Much of the pressure to diet, work out or look a particular way comes not only from an athletic context but a social one. Sutherland recalled an incident that occurred when she was in the locker room before practice. “I have a strong memory of my friends going through every single one of the girls and talking about how their skirt fits them,” she said. “Like, ‘Oh, I wish my skirt would fit like that. Oh, hers is so much longer. She’s really skinny. She has a big butt.’ Everyone was comparing themselves to every single other person in that room.”

Water polo player junior Ron Zamir argues that select social influence can be beneficial in motivating people to stay healthy. “I feel like working out to impress someone is a dangerous mindset to have,” he said. “A lot of it comes from social media now, especially because there are a lot of people in the gym with TikTok going around. But staying healthy and working out is a good thing. As long as you stay educated on what you’re doing and you’re not blindly following what you see on social media, it can be important. It’s good to remember to not only do it for other people and to have a goal for yourself.”

One of the largest factors behind an athlete’s perception of their body is not related to their physicality at all but

hand, I’m not super happy with my body, and I don’t know exactly how I want to look. But on the other hand, I’m able to perform well in sports, and I don’t want to lose that.”

Schwab also noticed the preference for more masculine bodies in athletics. “Especially as a female athlete, it’s harder to figure out what people even want to see in an athlete aesthetically,” she said. “I feel like on the men’s side, there’s always a specific goal of looking very muscular, which isn’t necessarily the ideal for female athletes. Sometimes I’ve been unsure if I even want to look super strong, and I’m self-conscious about bulking up a lot. It’s not necessarily a trait that is praised like it is for male athletes.”

An athlete’s race or ethnicity also contributes to how they feel about their body while playing a sport. “I play a sport that is predominantly white,” Kumar, who is South Asian, said. “There are a lot of comments about skin color, especially when you’re in the sun a lot. You hear a lot of comments like, ‘Oh, I don’t want to tan too much.’ When I tell them it’ll be okay if they wear sunscreen, they say, ‘No, it’s more of an aesthetic thing.’”

“It’s become part of the culture to cut weight and lose weight, and it’s not necessarily a good thing. But since everybody does it, you kind of have to.”

Junior Mihlaan Selvaretnam

To feel more secure in their own bodies, many athletes aim to avoid social pressure, focus on performance over appearance and keep their sport in perspective.

Sutherland works to steer clear of harmful content both online and in person. “The biggest step I’ve taken to feel more confident in myself is ignoring people’s comments,” she said. “If I’m scrolling through social media and see a video about body image, tips to be thinner or how to lose weight quickly, I just scroll past it to block out anything that might make me feel insecure.”

Selvaretnam prefers to hone in on the physical advantages his body provides rather than how well it fits into a standard body type. “I’m a bit on the taller and skinnier side,” he said. “I’m not very short or stocky like the usual wrestling body type is. In the beginning, it was tougher for me to address, but once I realized that I can use my height to my advantage, it wasn’t as big of an issue for me anymore.”

Schwab reminds herself that her sport is only one part of her life. “It’s important to focus on track some of the time, but remember that I’m doing this for fun,” she said. “I’ve gotten better over the years at going with the flow and not worrying about the effects of my diet on my training because at some point, you just have to live your life. The sport isn’t everything. Separating athletics from the rest of your life allows you to keep enjoying things like eating without the sport taking over your mentality.”

—Written by Carly Liao

38.3% of students have lost weight for a sport

Source: Self-selected survey sent out to Gunn students by The Oracle from Jan. 27 to Feb. 3 with 97 responses.

Emma Cao and Irene Hong

introducing anticipated movies of 2023

Spider-Man: Across the Spiderverse

“Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” is the next chapter of the Oscar-winning “Spider-Verse” saga, set to release on June 2. Protagonist Miles Morales will reunite with Gwen Stacy for a journey across the Spider-Verse, where he will encounter a number of “spider people” and ultimately redefine what it means to be a hero. The movie will continue with the first movie's signature animated style and visuals while furthering the story in a much wider setting. Instead of being set in New York City, as the first film was, “Spider-Man: Across the SpiderVerse’’ takes place across six different dimensions and will include 240 characters instead of the previous 40.

“Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” also features an impressive returning voice cast, including Shameik Moore as Miles Morales, Haliee Steinfeld as Gwen Stacy and Jake Johnson as Peter B. Parker. Although there is high pressure on the film to live up to fans’ expectations, “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” looks like a sequel capable of impressing both loyal fans and newcomers to the series.

Oppenheimer Barbie

Coming out on July 21, “Barbie’’ is the first live-action film adaptation based on the namesake’s iconic fashion dolls. The movie has already received mass amounts of attention from the press for its original concept, A-list actors and a $100 million budget. Australian Academy Award nominee Margot Robbie was cast to play Barbie alongside a bleach-blond Ryan Gosling as Ken. Director Greta Gerwig, the mastermind behind acclaimed dramas such as “Little Women” and “Ladybird,” makes her romantic comedy debut with “Barbie.”

Although many have been surprised by Gerwig's decision to direct this movie, Gerwig considers it a project that she couldn't turn down. The movie will follow its heroine, Barbie, who is expelled from “Barbieland” and must set off on an adventure to find true happiness in the human world. “Barbie” has both the potential to be a fun romantic comedy as well as subtly comment on modern beauty standards and conformity. For moviegoers who want a fun take on a loved franchise, “Barbie” is the perfect choice.

After going to see “Barbie,’’ it could be worthwhile to stay in the theater and catch famed director Christopher Nolan’s latest project, “Oppenheimer.” Set to release on July 21—the same day as “Barbie’’— the movie tells the story of physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer’s work on the Manhattan Project, which led to the development of the first atomic bomb.

Filming for Oppenheimer started on Feb. 21, 2022, and ended May 22 with a cast of A-listers including Cillian Murphy, Florence Pugh, Robert Downey Jr. and Rami Malek. “Oppenheimer” may turn out to be an intense watch, shot in blackand-white with a supposed three-hour runtime. According to Screen Rant, a media review and news outlet, “Oppenheimer’’ will tackle not only the effort centered around the creation of the atomic bomb but also the ethical impacts of the invention. For those who are interested in a more serious biographical movie, “Oppenheimer” stands out among upcoming releases.

Theaters provide meaningful experiences that streaming can't

Contrary to the belief that movie theater attendance plummeted due to COVID-19, audience rates have been either stagnant or in decline since 1995, a study from Business Insider found. Many believe that this trend is due to generational adaptation—younger generations are accustomed to streaming movies at home, while older generations have been going to the theater for decades. However, seeing a new film in a movie theater, surrounded by strangers, can provide a meaningful experience that may be impossible to achieve while streaming online.

Let’s face the facts—going to the theater can be time-consuming, costly and inconvenient. In a self-selected survey sent out to Gunn students by The Oracle from Jan. 27 to Feb. 2 with 221 responses, 76% of respondents mostly or always watch movies at home. According to a 2020 Morning Consult survey, 50% of respondents said it’s too expensive. While all valid and justified concerns, making an occasion of seeing a movie can be fun and bring people together.

Having a good time with friends isn’t all that movie theaters can provide—you can connect with strangers, too. Specifically, strangers who share something personally significant. When “Crazy Rich Asians” was released in theaters in 2018, I remember my parents buying tickets at a movie theater 30 minutes away—the closest one that had any available seats. It was the first Hollywood movie that made an effort to include an all-Asian cast, and the AsianAmerican community showed support and satisfaction by turning up to theaters in droves. Every seat was filled that night, and the night after and the night after that. To be

in a room surrounded by people I’ve never met but who have countless shared experiences, watching something on a giant screen and hearing voices from giant speakers which detail some of those experiences, was a feeling that can’t be replicated. Jon M. Chu, director of “Crazy Rich Asians,” recognized the impact his movie made not just on the Asian-American community, but also on the movie industry, sharing his perspective in an interview with the “New York Times” in 2019. “If you had asked me two years ago where the film industry would be in 10 years, I might have had a different answer,” he said. “But after what I’ve experienced with ‘Crazy Rich Asians,’ seeing the audience show up, it’s sort of reinvigorated the idea of going to the movies. That social aspect of sharing a movie with friends and strangers and family, that’s such a strong part of our tradition. The success we had would not have been possible any other way.”

When Chu was directing the 2021 movie version of “In the Heights,” he kept in mind the community impact that movies have. “I knew we wanted to go theatrical because it’s a musical, and we wanted people to experience it in the dark with a focus on the screen,” he explained in the same interview. “And, similarly to 'Crazy Rich Asians,’ this is a moment to make a statement about what the audience is willing to go see. Seeing Latino faces in the museum of cinema is important right now.”

The social aspect of seeing a movie intheaters doesn’t end there. When “Spider-Man: No Way Home” released, the roomful of strangers added to the general air of excitement and surprise at seeing new and old characters meet each other. When Daredevil appeared onscreen, the audience cheered and gasped at the addition of this character to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. When Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire appeared, the audience shrieked in excitement. This doesn’t just apply to exciting moments in movies, either—when watching

a horror movie in theaters, half the fun is watching strangers hold their breaths in suspense and scream at the jumpscares. During tear-jerking scenes, looking around and seeing others silently crying makes you feel a little better about crying yourself.

Even more, while streaming is still a highly-used and accessible option, there are some things that a computer screen just can’t quite capture. Especially with highly cinematic films such as the aforementioned “In the Heights” or the recently-released “Avatar: The Way of Water,” a big screen, dark room and especially 3-D glasses make the movie experience much bigger and brighter. Some directors make films specifically designed to be viewed in theaters.

Seeing a movie in theaters isn’t just about the movie—it’s about social connection, maximizing viewing experience and coming together with your community. While doable at home, consider going on a trip to the theater, where everything is designed to make the experience that much more meaningful.

—Compiled by Katie LaWer

Courtesy of Sony Pictures Animation

Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

Becca Wu

Lifestyle Editor

Seeing a new film... surrounded by strangers can provide a meaningful experience that may be impossible to achieve while streaming online.

Unexplored courses offer unique learning opportunities

From Culinary Arts to Interior Design, it may seem like Gunn offers classes about everything under the sun. Just a quick glance at the course guide reinforces this idea and offers an insight into the vast amount of courses. However, as students are naturally inclined to select courses based on reputation, certain courses are often overshadowed by others. Even if students are interested in the course name and description, a lack of information about the course may scare them away from selecting it.

Ethnic Studies

The Ethnic Studies course, listed on the catalog for over a decade, failed to generate enough student enrollment to run until last year. Ethnic Studies teacher Jeff Patrick believes his class is for students who want a broader look at the world than what is offered in traditional social studies courses. “What’s unique about it is the focus on the history of different ethnicities,” Patrick said. “The United States History and World History classes mention them, but it’s the sole focus of this class, allowing us to delve into it a little more deeply.”

Students who choose to take Ethnic Studies will not only learn about the past of historically underrepresented groups, but become equipped for their future as well. “We’re all living in a society, and the better we can understand how it works, the better we are going to thrive,” Patrick said. “American society is very multicultural and diverse, and it’s useful for students to know the background of historically underrepresented or oppressed groups.”

For students worrying about rigid curricula, the Ethnic Studies course can be a liberating experience. “There’s a lot more latitude to shape things towards what students are interested in,” Patrick said. “There are opportunities for more projects and students to investigate topics they choose. There isn’t a set list of projects and activities in the same way as an economics class or contemporary world history class.”

Above all, this class goes beyond the historical facts and dives deeper into cultural impacts. “The purpose of the course is to help us understand both the contributions and challenges that these various groups have faced,” he said.

The Works of Shakespeare

The Works of Shakespeare English elective hasn’t garnered enough student enrollment in recent years to run, but English teacher Paul Dunlap is looking to change that. “You don’t have to know anything about Shakespeare,” he said. “People who think they know something always learn something, and people who think they’re afraid of it surprise themselves by how much they understand it.”

Unlike other English classes where reading novels is the norm, The Works of Shakespeare covers works intended for the stage. “We integrate watching as much as possible because Shakespeare was meant to be heard and seen,” Dunlap said. “We do comedies and sonnets as well as histories and tragedies—I like showing people that his work is broader than just ‘Romeo and Juliet’ or ‘Macbeth.’”

“I would recommend students take a chance if something sounds interesting, even if they’re not sure or if it sounds like it might be challenging ”

—English teacher Paul Dunlap

Dunlap believes that low enrollment in the course is due to the lack of familiarity underclassmen have with him. “I’ve taught very few underclassmen in a while, so if none of them know me, they wouldn’t sign up for the class just based on my name,” he said. Dunlap also hypothesizes that a fear of Shakespeare ingrained in some students makes them apprehensive about taking such a course. “If their exposure to Shakespeare is very minimal, it might feel too daunting to sign up for a whole class about it,” he said. Dunlap encourages students to not be afraid to take risks with course selections. “I would recommend students take a chance if something sounds interesting, even if they’re not sure or if it sounds like it might be challenging,” he said. “If there’s any interest at all, what a great opportunity to sign up for it.”

Positive Psychology

Positive Psychology is a course that tends to be overshadowed by other seemingly similar courses such as Psychology and AP Psychology. Nevertheless, Positive Psychology teacher Tarn Wilson advocates for its distinction and continuation as a class. “Positive psychology is a subset of psychology,” Wilson said. “Psychology covers the history of and major historical trends in psychology. It also focuses on mental disorders of various kinds, whereas positive psychology focuses on the science of wellness.”

Wilson explained that Positive Psychology is unlike other courses in that the majority of the class is used to practice methods that reinforce what is learned. “Martin Seligman in the 1990s felt there was a gap in psychology, and that we need to study what makes people well and not just what makes people unwell,” Wilson said. “We learn about the science-backed principles that make people well, but the main part of class involves practicing them, whether that be practicing gratitude or random acts of kindness or making sure we build fun into our lives.”

Especially at Gunn, Wilson believes that the study of positive psychology is essential not only for maintaining mental wellness, but overall academic achievement as well. “Gunn teaches a lot of skills in developing the mind and intellect, but we as beings have a mind-body connection,” Wilson said. A lot of us culturally in Silicon Valley are very disconnected from our bodies and from our emotions. Our physical, mental and emotional health are very connected to our academic success, but we separate them out.”

—Written by Victor Dang

Humor: What’s your excuse? Students, staff justify late work

Disclaimer: If you are sick, please stay home. The Oracle thanks you for keeping your germs to yourself. However, this is a common excuse that students and teachers may use to put off their assignments. Missing school allows for extended deadlines, which might as well mean that those assignments will never see the light of day. This doesn’t just go for students jumping at the chance to put off a lab report—it also goes for teachers who definitely could grade that essay you turned in last month, but didn’t because they were under the weather. We see right through you, teachers!

“Schoology was down”

Unfortunately, this excuse only works if you plan to be late on an assignment by a few hours, not a few weeks. Sometimes, Schoology just doesn’t work, which can be a bummer if you’ve been slaving over a paper due at midnight. It can also be a boon to those who have been doing everything to avoid beginning— opening the document at 11:53 p.m. and deciding to resort to a techrelated excuse. Even better, a teacher can use “Schoology isn’t working” to avoid assigning something that they’d really rather not have to grade. Teachers forget to give students access to assignments on Schoology all the time—and we are very grateful.

“My car was robbed”

This excuse is definitely more out there. The main criteria: You need a car. Preferably left unattended. Here’s the rest of the picture you’ll need to paint: You’re out and parked the car in the lot. While you’re busy, a masked thief peeks through the window and sees a plump backpack or work bag filled with mysterious goodies, a treasure trove too good to be true. They smash your window, take the bag and run with it, leaving you with nothing but a hefty repair payment. Oh no! A semester’s worth of assignments! That paper you spent hours on! And if you’re a teacher, all of your fourth period class’s vocabulary quizzes! An unfortunate and unsafe encounter, to be sure.

“I got sick”

Chaewon Lee

Sophie Rong

SophieRong

Sophie Rong

Valentine'S Day Crossword

ACROSS

Non-romantic type of love

“High school ______s”; popular chalky, organshaped candy

Stuffed animal depicting a large forest mammal; nickname of 26th U.S. President

This category of languages includes Spanish, Portuguese and French

Iconic heart-shaped treat printed with sweet phrases; how you might get to know your partner

Cupid’s sharp-tipped projectile of choice

“Roses are red, ____ are blue”

The city of love

Fruit commonly dipped in chocolate during this holiday season

Hugs and kisses

Person you’re head over heels for

Attachment and fondness for something or someone

Sentimental, slow style of song

Food-inspired nickname; product of pollinators

_____ Day; Korean holiday on March 14 involving the reciprocal exchange of gifts

Soluble plant-based carbohydrate; sweet nickname for a partner

Valentine’s Day falls on this date in February

Symbol of lasting love; soap brand

Fragrant fringe-petaled flower; “______s you had thought were roses, that’s us”

Brand of Hershey’s chocolate often purchased in February

Romantic partner; Taylor Swift’s seventh studio album

Spanish word for “love” derived from the Latin verb “amare”

Most popular shade of roses sold; Taylor Swift’s fourth studio album

Irene Hong

FINISHED? Stop by Room P-115 during 5th period or lunch next week with the completed crossword puzzle for a prize!

staffer recommends humorous routes to romance

Making the first move to ask your crush out can be frightening, but what if you tried using some humor to lighten the otherwise daunting task? Not only could it reduce the anxiety and intimidation around the event, but it could also create a memorable experience for you and your crush.

Using a pick-up line or a pun with your crush is one way to make your approach more humorous. Jokes are a fun way to demonstrate to your crush that you’re witty and observant. If your crush enjoys coffee, you can ask them out by asking, “Are you a coffee bean? Because you’ve got my heart brewing.” Or if they’re into music, you could ask, “Are you a guitar? Because you’re making my heart strum.” The trick is to show your crush that you know them and their interests by personalizing fun lines and jokes.

Another way to lighten the interaction is to create a parody of a popular movie or television show. For instance, recreating a scene from a romantic comedy where the lead character asks their crush out is an easy way to ensure your success using a tried-and-true method.

If you’re really willing to go the extra mile, you could also create a scavenger hunt with the location of your proposed date as the answer to your final clue, with other romantic puzzles along the way. This approach won’t just be amusing and novel, but it’s also an extremely creative way of showing your crush how much you care about them.

It’s critical to keep in mind that humor is relative. What one person finds humorous, another person may not. So, before you playfully ask your crush out,

make sure that you understand their sense of humor and the gesture does not come off as offensive or insensitive. Always take the other person’s feelings into account—make sure that your jokes are both hilarious and in good taste.

Additionally, it’s important to be confident in yourself when asking your crush out. No matter how creative or funny your approach may be, if you lack the necessary confidence, it will always be difficult for the other person to take you seriously. So, take a deep breath, and be confident in yourself and your intentions. This approach will also make the entire process more enjoyable and comfortable for you and your crush.

Asking someone out is always a risk, so even if you get turned down, remember that rejection is a normal part of life. Nevertheless, adding humor to the mix can make it a more positive and memorable experience, regardless of the outcome. And who knows? You might find that your crush appreciates your sense of humor and is open to the idea of going on a date with you.

Overall, it can be intimidating to ask your crush out, but adding humor to your approach can really make the difference. It’s crucial to be original in your approach while also honoring the other person’s feelings and boundaries. Being sincere and respectful will improve your chances of receiving a positive response and will demonstrate to your crush that you aren’t just looking for a date but also an exciting journey.

black artists elevate art, culture

Gabe Stone Shayer

Gabe Stone Shayer has been dancing almost since he could walk. He began taking classes in his hometown, Philadelphia, at the age of 5. His talent was noticed by The Rock School for Dance Education, where he received a scholarship at the age of 14. He participated in multiple competitions, often placing well. In 2009, he joined the prestigious Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow where he continued his training.

Shayer is the first African American male to graduate from the Bolshoi Ballet Academy since it was founded. After a successful career in Moscow, Shayer returned to the United States (U.S.) and joined the American Ballet Theatre, where he became a soloist in 2020 and expanded his repertoire to include some of ballet’s most famous roles, such as Von Rothbart in Baryshnikov’s “Swan Lake.” Recently, Shayer has focused on reflecting society through ballet. Self-assured and stylish, he now shows the world that today’s ballet is very different

Amanda Gorman

At just 24 years old, Amanda Gorman became the youngest inaugural presidential poet. She famously read her poem “The Hill We Climb” for President Joe Biden in 2020. After the address, Gorman published the piece in her second anthology, “Call Us What We Carry,” released in 2021.

A Harvard graduate and the first National Youth Poet Laureate, Gorman is considered extremely influential. Her poetry often explores the theme of race, focusing on the legacy of slavery and Jim Crow’s influence on modern Black America.

Gorman’s path to creative writing and speech was not an easy one. She grew up with a speech impediment, but realized early on that it was not a weakness but a strength, as it led her to improve her pronunciation, sound and pitch.

Gorman is also an activist. In early 2021, she created a nonprofit organization called “One Pen One Page,” which provides free creative writing programs for underprivileged youth around the world.

El

Soléna Imani Rowe, better known under her stage name SZA, has made her mark in R&B music and hip-hop in recent years. From MTVs to Grammys, she has won countless awards for her catchy and relatable songs.

Since the start of her career in the early 2010s, SZA quickly rose to fame with the release of her two albums: “ctrl” in 2017 and “SOS” in 2022. The mix of soul, R&B, hip-hop and rock in her music as well as the vulnerability in her lyrics speaks to many. Raised alongside her brother, an aspiring rapper, his passion for music quickly spread to her. Despite having no dreams of becoming a singer growing up, her brother’s insistence on her help with his work slowly led her to fall in love with making music herself. Her music career wasn’t always easy, as she often suffered from anxiety, especially after her album releases.

SZA’s popularity recently increased because of TikTok, which regularly makes her songs go viral through her large fanbase of younger listeners. Currently, SZA is preparing a U.S. tour for her “SOS” album, with plans to visit Oakland Arena on March 14.

Anat sui

Ghanaian sculptor El Anatsui is one of the most acclaimed artists in African history. He works and lives currently in Nsukka, Nigeria, where he uses simple, everyday materials to create his art. Anatsui has been in the art industry for 40 years and is both a sculptor and a Professor of Sculpture and Departmental Head at the University of Nigeria. His sculptures, often made from reusable and neglected materials such as bottle caps and newspapers, reflect Anatsui’s interest in reusability and durability and connect consumerism with global environmental issues. He is most known for his large-scale sculptures covered with foil and copper wire. These pieces can often be found in large public spaces worldwide, such as New York, London and Paris, though are more frequent in Nigeria.

Anatsui’s originality and ingenuity have earned him international fame. Some of his most famous works include his 2007 “Fresh and Fading Memories,” which made an impression at the Venice Biennale, and his 2009 “In the World but Don’t know the World,” which was introduced at the Dubai Art fair in 2010.

—Compiled by Lise Desveaux

Impactful hip-hop, r&b albums explore black narrative

“Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers”

In May 2022, rapper Kendrick Lamar released his fifth studio album “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers” after years of anticipation. Lamar’s unique and emotional style makes every album a story told through melodies and motifs. For example, in his polemic 2015 album “To Pimp a Butterfly,” there are recurrent themes of materialism and oppression, studying the struggle for self love in Black America.

“Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers” is an intimate, nail-biting collection of self reflection. Lamar digs into his childhood with lyrics examining his relationship with his father, friends and lovers. He brings up how generational trauma combined with systemic racism impacts Black identity and life, prompting listeners to pay attention and listen with empathy. Though Lamar’s album is not a light listen, it’s a personal piece that reveals something new with every play.

“Gemini Rights”

Singer Steve Lacy, a notable figure in the R&B world, has been developing his original style with deep, overlapping melodies since some of his earliest music. From originally mixing and recording songs on his iPhone, Lacy has come a long way with the release of his July 2022 “Gemini Rights,” his second studio album. Rather than creating it alone, Lacy collaborated with other artists and professionals to deliver a summery album detailing the pain and bitterness of a first heartbreak that his listeners are able to empathize with, if not completely relate to. “Gemini Rights” was received with positivity, winning a Grammy award on Feb. 5. The world can expect much more from 24-year-old Lacy, who begins his first World Tour on Feb. 12.

—Compiled by Vivian Studdert

Courtesy of Oklama Courtesy of RCA Records Graphics by Chinyoung