The Talon | Issue 4 | December 13, 2016

Los Altos High School, Los Altos, CA ■ December 13, 2016 ■ Volume XXXII, Issue 4

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

LOCAL NEWS

Mountain View passes rent control measure MICHAEL SIEFFERT HALEY ECKER Senior Writer Staff Writer

TRUMP’S AMERICA: LOS ALTOS RESPONDS

On the ballot last month, the citizens of Mountain View voted in favor of Measure V, which intended to curb growing rent and eviction problems across the city.

Measure V passed with 53 percent in favor and 47 percent against.

Starting Friday, December 23,

Measure V will allow rent to only increase between 2 and 5 percent per year, based on the Consumer Price Index to follow inflation, for homes built before 1995. Rent will also roll back to the rates in place from October 2015. In addition, the measure creates a Rental Housing Committee to enact regulations and determine the rent increases or decreases based on hearings from landlords and tenants.

Recently, Mountain View’s Con-

solidated Plan, which outlines the needs of the city’s low-income population, discovered that nearly one-third of renting households pay more than 30 percent of their income toward rent and housing costs. Between 2011 and 2015, rent has increased in Mountain View by more than 52 percent. Groups such as the Mountain View Tenants Coalition recognize the struggles of low-income households to keep up with increasing rent and see Mea-

The importance of teacher’s opinions

Javin Pombra gives his opinion on how teachers offering their perspectives can help them become better educators. Opinions, 6

Sports Editor Copy/Content Editor

In 2016, even the holiday season is a hot-bed for controversy. The Talon’s writers shed light on the divisive consumerism of modern holidays. Opinions, 7

The challenges of movie adaptations How can filmmakers balance faith to their original sources with a two-hour run time?

Art & Culture, 14

A dance for the season Five dancers share their experiences dancing “The Nutcracker” with their performing companies.

Art & Culture, 17

COURTESY ALBERT GWO

Learning to stay afloat with Hana Brett JAVIN POMBRA Staff Writer

Hana Brett’s greatest accomplishment this year would likely be either being recruited by Cornell for Division 1 swimming or being able to sleep at 9 p.m. on a regular basis. For most high schoolers, much less a student athlete, finding a way to get enough sleep and balance everyday life can be a tough venture. Given Hana’s practice schedule, her ability to do so is

even more impressive.

“Morning practice for my swim team starts at 5:45 and is until 7:15, and then in the afternoon I go to practice for three hours,” Hana said. “Some weeks I’ll have 21 hours of training. We also have swim meets which take up pretty much most of the [weekend].”

The path to this point certainly wasn’t easy, and along the way Hana needed to make a number of changes to her daily life. She has adapted to a lifestyle pointedly different than many of her friends

Flipping Supreme

Junior Julia Santos was awarded the title of AllLeague MVP for the SCVAL division.

Sports, 18

December 14

Finals Periods 2, 6, 7 December 15

Finals Period 1, 5 December 16

Finals Period 3, 4 End of First Semester

December 24

Hanukkah Begins December 25

Christmas Day January 4

Second Semester Begins News Editorial Opinions

2 5 6

Features 9, 12 In-Depth 10 Arts & Culture 14 Sports 18

“Hana”

continues on page 18

“Filippo”

IN-DEPTH P.10

UPCOMING EVENTS

First Day of Holiday Recess

— especially in terms of her social life.

“I definitely can’t make plans after school and just hang out with people unless I want to be up late,” Hana said.

“Some nights or some days I wish I could go hang out with my friends if everyone is going and I’m the only one who can’t because I have practice. Friends learn to understand that you don’t have much free time and you won’t be able to see each other that much.”

As an Italian exchange student, senior Filippo Salvati’s main goal before leaving America is to speak perfect English — and he’s halfway there, having mastered California’s notorious Valley girl lingo.

“Having been here for almost four months, I’ve become used to these filler words, and I’m happy about that,” Filippo said. “I want to know slang because it’s easier for me to make friends. I want to joke with slang because some phrases are funnier… But comparing [my current English] to my previous English and my Italian friends’ English, it’s so good, trust me.”

In addition to his goal of mastering English, Filippo chose to study a year abroad in California because of his relationship with his host family — an American couple who he has been in contact with since first meeting them in Italy when he was a child.

THARA SALIM

Sophomore Nathan Virrueta has made a name for himself as a local reseller. As a businessman, Nathan sees everything as an investment.

TINOMUDA TUGWETE EMILY MEZA-PEREZ Features Editor Staff Writer

At just 15 years old, sophomore reseller Nathan Virrueta sells some items for 1000% of their original price. Capitalizing on the popularity of brands like Supreme and Jordans’ lim-

ited nature, he uses pop culture’s obsession with these limited items to make profit and fuel his own love for designer clothing.

Two years ago, Nathan was looking to make money, but was not old enough to be employed. The reselling game offered him a perfect opportunity.

“Supreme”

continues on page 9

ON THE SIDEWALKS OF SUCCESS

Julia Santos, Water Polo MVP

December 19

continues on page 4

JULIA SANTOS SAVITA GOVIND

Holiday season controversy

In this installment of The Talon’s “Unique Colleges,” series, learn about everything that makes Evergreen State College special.

Features, 13

“Measure V”

Filippo Salvati: thinking Italian, speaking English

Read up on a variety of post-election perspectives on Trump’s election.

News, 2

Unique colleges

sure V as a way to protect citizens from this epidemic.

“Many are living in fear of unpredictable rent increases,” the Tenants Coalition Website said. “Because of a chronic housing shortage, average asking rents for a one-bedroom apartment have soared… forcing many from the city, separating friends and family members and making some homeless.”

continues on page 16

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The Talon December 13, 2016

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onald Trump won.

It’s a reality that many thought unfathomable — a nightmare for some and a dream come true for others. Millions across the nation mourn or celebrate the result, and calls for impeachment and secession jostle with cheers of “make America great again.”

With over 2000 students representing a variety of backgrounds, races and political standings, Los Altos is a melting pot of emotions. Many students feel uncertain about the country’s future as Trump’s rhetoric targets their upbringing and family. Others feel powerless in the face of possible deportation and xenophobia. Victorious Trump supporters feel a sense of pride, yet they worry to express their views with fear of judgement.

In this issue, The Talon explores the outcome of the election with perspectives from Trump supporters and ardent protesters.

ROSS AVERY, STAFF WRITER | YALDA KHODADAD, STAFF WRITER | ALEX LUNA, STAFF WRITER | EMILY MEZA-PEREZ, STAFF WRITER | JAVIN POMBRA, STAFF WRITER | MADISON WOO, STAFF WRITER | JACLYN SAIK, GRAPHIC ARTIST

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or junior Cinthya Fuentes, the election of Donald Trump stimulated fears that not many students face. As an undocumented immigrant, Cinthya is at risk if Trump follows through on his threats to minorities. Trump has established that he wants to repeal certain policies and services that aid undocumented immigrants who are pursuing continued residence in the U.S. For Cinthya and other undocumented students, Trump’s at-

tacks on the Deferred Action for Child Arrivals (DACA) policy have stirred uncertainty and concern, as they rely on DACA for protection. DACA gives undocumented immigrants a two-year renewal period of deferred action from deportation and eligibility to receive a work permit.

“I’m really afraid for my future, because when I had DACA, I felt safe, I felt like I had somewhere to go after high school,” Cinthya said.

“But now I'm not so sure of what

FRANCESCA FALLOW

As an undocumented immigrant, junior Cinthya Fuentes’ future is uncertain. The program Deferred Action for Child Arrivals, which provides Cinthya deferred action from deportation, may be under threat in a Trump administration.

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s a result of Donald Trump’s targeted statements, some faculty members have started wearing safety pins, which serve as a symbol to let students know that they are safe people to talk to. English teacher Susana Herrera introduced the idea for the pin movement at a staff meeting on November 10.

“My best friend saw something going around on Facebook that teachers had decided to wear safety pins to tell their students that they are safe in the classroom,” Herrera said. “We talked about wearing them as a lesson to tell

[to do] anymore.”

Co-founder and executive director of Educators for Fair Consideration (E4FC), an organization that helps undocumented students fulfill their education, Katharine Gin believes that DACA will soon be repealed but is unsure as to when the repeal will happen.

"We do not know when or how the Trump administration will end the DACA program,” Gin said in an email posted online. “It could end the program effective immediately and instantly revoke work permits, or it could allow current DACA recipients to keep their work permits until they expire but not renew them."

Despite the fears Trump’s presidency brings, Cinthya chooses not to let the results bring her down and continues to see life optimistically. On Tuesday, November, 14, Cinthya participated in Los Altos’ walkout to make her voice heard and find a sense of support in the community.

“I think the school has been really supportive, especially all my teachers,” Cinthya said. “[AVID teacher Aranxta Arriada], my fifth period teacher, literally told me, ‘Go Cinthya! Fight for your rights.’ I have so much support — I have her, my family, my parents. I have all my

students who are undocumented, “I talked to Satterwhite about part of different class, race, sexual it, and she liked the idea of teachorientation, religion ers reminding their or party to let everystudents that if they one at know that they do feel unsafe, [they are safe.”

The pins remind can] come talk to Herrera hopes stu- students that us,” Herrera said. “If dents and teachers is any bullying we teachers are there will continue to wear going on, the pins the pins throughout safe people to remind students that the school year. Prin- talk to. we teachers, admincipal Wynne Satteristrators and coun— English teacher white has endorsed selors are safe people Susana Herrera the the idea as a way to talk too.” to create safe spaces As well as teachers, for students despite fears they students feel that the pins are a may have. good reminder to have at school.

friends who are supporting me.”

Arriada informed her students Feeling secure with the sup- of the resources available to them, port of the community, Cinthya including E4FC — an organization does not want to be viewed as that offers alternatives to DACA. helpless or as just a statistic. Gin recommends undocumented Despite the future’s uncertainty, students to seek out other immiCinthya plans to attend a univer- gration services that could provide sity and attain a college degree, similar support to DACA. and her determination to achieve Counselor Jacob Larin also aids her goals keeps her families and students focused. dealing with immi“We are just people,” gration issues. Larin Cinthya said. “The I felt alone for a believes that equal day Trump won, I just really long time, rights and protecfelt like everyone was tion for immigrants but seeeing all feeling pity for me, will remain despite but I'm just another these people Trump's presidency. person like everyone at the protest, I “We are going to else. [I] don't wake up know we have a be helping the whole like, ‘Oh yeah, I’m un- lot of support. way,” Larin said. “Imdocumented.’ It’s just migrants have been — junior Cinthya part of your life.” here since the beginFuentes Teachers at Los Alning of this country, tos have also made an [and] nothing’s going effort to help undocumented stu- to change that. Not a president, dents. Arriada has witnessed the not a law, not the Supreme Court, reactions of her students to the not the Senate nor the House.” election and tries to help mainAs Trump’s inauguration day tain positivity. nears, Cinthya hopes others like “I had students that were crying,” her understand that support exists Arriada said. “They're scared they within the community. might lose all their protection that “We’re not alone,” Cinthya said. they currently have. What does that “I felt alone for a really long time, mean for college? Does that mean but after seeing all these people I am going to get deported? What here at the protest, I know we does this mean for my family?” have a lot of support.”

Originally, the pins were limited to faculty members and staff but has now caught on to a couple of Los Altos students such as sophomore Shawn Ridgway.

“I saw a post on Instagram saying to wear a safety pin after the election [to help those] who were scared that Trump was elected,” Shawn said.

“I’m gay, and I wanted to let other people know that they don’t have to be scared at school and that I support everyone.”

Math teacher Andrea Sisk showed her support for the movement by wearing her safety pin on her lanyard.

“I liked how the pin was a physical representation to show students that they were safe at school,” Sisk said. “I could confirm with students that they were safe in my classroom, and it was safe to talk to me without actually having to say it.”

While teachers have expressed their support for the meaning behind the pins, junior Cinthya Fuentes felt they were unnecessary.

“I don’t think we need the safety pins,” Cinthya said. “It is kind of cool to have, but I feel safe with all my teachers, so I don’t think it’s that necessary.”

The Talon December 13, 2016

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fter the election, hundreds of students participated in a campus-wide walkout in protest of Donald Trump’s impending presidency, while countless others took to social media to express their frustrations. Amidst the turmoil, the voice of one group on campus remained mostly unnoticed: students who put their support behind Trump.

two,” Johnson said. “[Hillary Clinton] is the most corrupt woman to actually run for the presidency.”

Johnson immigrated from China when he was 6 years old. He speaks of corruption in the Chinese government and views Clinton as an extension of the political climate of his homeland. He admits Trump has also been surrounded by scandals but believes Clinton’s faults make her more Senior Johnson Wang unqualified to be president.

Not all Trump-supporters at “There’s so much more [that ClinLos Altos are die-hard followers. ton] is hiding [in her emails], and it’s Some of them have crucial information,” been reluctant to faJohnson said. “Trump vor Trump, describing has done bad things, him as a lesser of two I explain to peo- and it’s a lose-lose situevils. Although back- ple my political ation. But to compare ing Trump may not be views, but there them both, Clinton the easiest decision, has been involved in so are some who senior Johnson Wang, many more scandals who describes himself will criticize than Trump.” a moderate, said what you and call Furthermore, Johnhe saw on the other you dumb. son believes that side of the playing Trump’s remarks con— senior Johnson Wang field made it easier. cerning women do “I’m just saying not make him unfit to [Trump] is the better option of the be president, dismissing them as

less meaningful than many have made them out to be.

“Words don’t define who he is as a president,” Johnson said. “Until he does something that’s actually sexist, what he says doesn’t really affect me. Actions define who you are, not words.”

Johnson also defends Trump’s stance on Muslim immigration, and he claims it is based more on national safety than on a desire to persecute others for their religion.

Although he acknowledges the possibility of potential ISIS terrorist threats within refugee groups is low, he fears that it will grow over time.

“Even though it’s not a problem right now, what if it is a problem in the near future?” Johnson said.

“You’re more scared of something that you don’t know than something that you definitely know.

The unknown of how strong they are and how they can infiltrate the U.S., really speaks to people who are scared in this country.”

Johnson expressed that he would not shy from his opinions but would remain cautious when interacting with his fellow students.

“I’m worried about the consequences,” Johnson said. “I explain

ANDREW YOUNG

Senior Johnson Wang, a moderate, views Hillary Clinton as corrupt and sees Donald Trump as a lesser of two evils. He says many students on campus have been intolerant of his political beliefs.

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olitics plays an integral role against immigrants is rising once in junior Jesus Membrillo’s more with the election of Trump. life and has shaped the career “We’re waiting for the history path he wants to pursue. He has books to be titled ‘Trump’s Retaken the school by gime,’” Jesus said. storm through his “We can say, ‘We lived political activism through that, and we We’re wait— just a few weeks survived,’ hopefully. ago, he spoke at and ing for hisIt’s a game of fate, helped lead a school tory books to be like ‘Politics 101: you protest against the titled “Trump’s tell people what they election results. want to hear.’ That’s Regime.” We Jesus’ interests in how somebody like politics stemmed can say, “We him came to power.” from his father’s in- lived through Jesus plans to orgavolvement in the that, and we nize his future around Mexican army. His survived.” his passion by majorfather attempted to ing in politics. During — junior Jesus join the Navy in the the protest, he shared Membrillo U.S. but was denied many of his own opindue to his lack of ions with the school, documentation. Jesus said that despite his lack of experience with his father’s experience helped ig- public speaking. nite his passion for politics, and “At first, I was one of many who he feels that this discrimination just decided to go because why

not?” Jesus said. “But when I heard people speaking up, I felt that it was my obligation to speak my mind and give out my thoughts about [Trump]. It helped build up my self-confidence [because] I was shaking a lot.”

Jesus holds strong views on the outcome of this year’s election. He believes that Trump is unfit to be president, likening him to a dictator or a con-man.

“You just can’t deny the reality we live in,” Jesus said. “We have people like [Trump] scapegoating, targeting minorities, homosexuals [and] mentally-ill people…

[Trump] concludes that [minorities] are the bad people.”

Jesus felt angered over Trump’s views on minorities, especially his threats to deport Mexicans and Muslims. He denounces Trump’s stereotyping of Mexicans that portrays them as criminals.

“Donald Trump is targeting Mexicans… calling them rapists and criminals,” Jesus said. “We’ve got all of these [minorities] being targeted… He says that he’ll be the safety symbol of the American people, and that he’ll protect

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to [people] my political views, but there are some who will criticize you and call you dumb, [and say] that your opinion doesn’t matter and to shut up. But you can’t get dumber from talking to other people. You can only learn.”

fluence over the government.

“What I really don’t like is that the gay lobby has become increasingly powerful, and they’re using the government to infringe upon freedom of religion,” Ezer said.

“I’m perfectly okay with gay marriage as long as it does not infringe Senior Ezer Zuniga upon my freedoms.”

As a conservative, senior Ezer Ezer also follows the “alt-right,” a Zuniga aligns many of his politi- movement defined by the Assocical views with Trump. Unlike many ated Press as a “mix of racism, white conservatives, however, nationalism and popuEzer is Latino, although lism” that has risen to he primarily identifies prominence as a result Once you build as an American. of Trump’s popularity.

“I would say I’m an a wall, you The alt-right has American,” Ezer said. figure out what frequently come un“Originally, I was a you’re going to der criticism for some Mexican-American. I of the ideas, outlets do with the 11 was born here. I think and people that have that using all these million illegal claimed ties to it. The terms [like Mexican- immigrants in controversial BreitAmerican] makes this country. bart News and white sense, but at the same nationalist Richard — senior Ezer Zuniga time these [racially deSpencer are among scriptive terms] divide those that have called us, and I think that we have become themselves “alt-right.” However, too divided at this point.”

Ezer says this portrayal is unfair, Much of Ezer’s support hinges and he disagrees with the Associon Trump’s proposed solution ated Press’ definition. to illegal immigration, which he “[The alt-right] is getting recogviews as a growing issue in the U.S. nition for all the wrong reasons,” “You have to increase border Ezer said. “There’s a difference security, which is why I was in fa- between the alt-right and white vor of building a wall,” Ezer said. supremacists… The whole goal “Once you build a wall, you figure [of the alt-right] is to be as outout what you’re going to do with rageous as possible to shock the the 11 million illegal immigrants people who push for this liberal that we have… [Especially] if you [political correctness] culture, have a rare incident with an illegal where people are outraged by immigrant doing the wrong thing, pretty much everything.” you have to do the proper thing, Ezer acknowledges that his beliefs [and] that would be to send them may not be overly popular in Los back to deportment.”

Altos. He is not overt about his poAlthough the rights of LGBTQ+ litical leanings and is not as vocal as people have become a source some of his counterparts. However, of concern amongst many after he still views his uncommon opinTrump’s election, Ezer says this ions as a source of pride and would concern is unfounded. not allow his surroundings to pre“Trump already said we’re not go- vent him from believing in them. ing to do anything about [gay mar“I don’t think a lot of people riage], so that’s set in stone,” Ezer know that I’m a conservative,” Ezer said. “I really don’t have a problem said. “It does get a little bit unwith it. If people want to have certain comfortable to be surrounded by lifestyles they should be able to.” a lot of people who think that the Although Ezer is not opposed people who you support are racist to gay marriage, as a Christian, he and bigoted. Being conservative in is concerned about what he per- a liberal environment allows you ceives to be a growing restriction to see how other people think. It’s on religious freedoms. He alleges a lot better than being liberal in a the existence of a “gay lobby” that liberal environment and just being he believes is exerting undue in- in your own bubble.” them from any harm.”

However, Jesus believes students should accept the outcome of the election, regardless of whether or not they agree with it. He has faith that the U.S. will be able to make it past difficult times.

“People shouldn't be scared of the government,” Jesus said. “The government should be scared of its people. The people are the ones that give their government power, and the power that has been given to the government cannot be used against people.”

MICHAEL SIEFFERT

Junior Jesus Membrillo speaks at the Los Altos walkout that occurred on Monday, November 14. Jesus promotes unity on campus and plans to organize his future around politics.

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The Talon December 13, 2016

Safeway purchases Bay Area Andronico’s stores AVERY LUKE Staff Writer

Located in the Rancho Shopping Center in central Los Altos, Andronico’s has been the go-to family market for many Los Altos residents for generations. Residents know the community market for its freshly prepared foods and locally-sourced produce.

Last month, Safeway announced that it would be purchasing five Andronico’s stores located throughout the Bay Area.

Renovations have already begun and the stores will merge into a new branch of markets curated

by Safeway known as Safeway Community Markets this December. Safeway is working with shoppers at Andronico’s to

establish the brand identity of Safeway Community Markets in a way that best reflects its local consumer base. Director of Marketing for Andronico’s Community Markets Bridget Kwok commented on the transition.

“Safeway Community Markets is going to be Safeway’s test store for these specialty type markets,” Kwok said. “They’re keen on keep-

DANNY VESURAI

Currently, Andronico’s is undergoing renovations to become a Safeway Community Market. Safeway announced this decision in November and intends to preserve Andronico’s local identity while improving consumers’ experience.

Measure V CONTINUED FROM THE FRONT PAGE Because Measure V is a charter amendment, Mountain View City Council cannot repeal the ballot measure unlike previous ordinances regarding rent, and it can only be repealed or revised during the next election in 2018. Previous rent control campaigns have been unsuccessful in Mountain View because of organizations such as the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors and California Apartment Association, which lobby against rent control.

To protect tenants from eviction, City Council voted 6-1 to enact an emergency ordinance at a City Council meeting on Tuesday, November 15. The measure will prohibit landlords from evicting tenants without just cause and will be in effect until Measure V is put

in place on December 23.

City Council passed the ordinance due to a reported increase of no cause evictions after Measure V passed, possibly due to a projected decrease in rent prices which may have caused landlords to increase evictions.

“Over the past couple of weeks, staff has noticed that there has been an increase in complaints about no cause evictions,” City Attorney Jannie Quinn said during the City Council meeting.

City Council had hoped that a similar Measure W, created by City Council, would pass instead of Measure V, but the measure lost by a 704 vote margin. Measure W would have required a tenant-landlord dispute resolution program in which renters could dispute rent increases exceeding 5 percent per year. Measure W would have also allowed the council to manage the budget for this ordinance, but the Rental Housing Committee brought upon by Measure V can maintain a budget without council oversight.

“I’m disappointed… we wanted

something fair as an alternative,” City Council member John McAlister said to the Mountain View Voice.

According to City Council member John Inks, rent control may present a problem in regards to the current housing crisis. Inks believes the new measure will not alleviate housing costs in Mountain View and will only hurt the housing market as landlords find it harder to rent with lower pricing.

“Most economic think tanks… point to negative aspects of rent control,” Inks said. “It actually shrinks the housing supply over time that necessarily leads to increased costs… It leads to disincentives to invest in rental housing and that tends to weaken the market.”

Despite Inks’ argument, advocates of Measure V still believe that the measure will benefit the economy because residents will have more money to spend on items other than rent.

“This is a victory,” Measure V advocate Maria Marroquin said to the Mountain View Voice. “This is our time; this is our campaign.”

CARISSA LEE

ing many of the same specialty ther expand the local, fresh and products we have now because organic options they have come they’re recognizing that there’s to expect at both Andronico’s something unique about Andro- and Safeway.” nico’s, and they want to keep that Many customers, however, realive for the customers.” main apprehensive to this change.

After Andronico’s filed for bank- Los Altos resident Lori Cox, who ruptcy in 2011 and was forced to lives near Andronico’s, expressed close down three of its locations, concern about the purchase. it was acquired by Renovo Capi“The thing that’s nice about Antal. Earlier this year, Renovo Capi- dronico’s is that they’re a notch tal approached Safeway about up in quality from Safeway, and buying its stores. it’s a smaller comSafeway intends munity store, so I can to preserve the curfind specific items rent identity of An- Andronico’s and support a small dronico’s despite the Community business without the brand integration, Markets have crowds of a supermarand also plans to inket,” Cox said. “That’s developed a troduce benefits for what I’m worried will current customers well-respected change. I know Safesuch as lower pricing. brand... and we way is trying to prePresident of Safeway are committed serve the local feel Northern California to keeping the of Andronico’s but I Tom Schwilke emphahope that will truly be sized Safeway’s goal to local heritage the case.” preserve the local feel alive.

Despite loss of the of Andronico’s.

Andronico’s store— President of Safeway Northern California “Andronico’s Comfront, Safeway says Tom Schwilke munity Markets have they will continue developed a well-reto carry Andronispected brand and loyal custom- co’s freshly prepared foods and er base, and we are committed to friendly employees, although keeping the local heritage alive,” Safeway Community Markets Schwilke said. “The evolution of will also feature many of the these stores will give customers brands currently found in Safenew everyday low prices and fur- way supermarkets.

COURTESY JEAN MORDO, EDITED BY ANNE SCHILL

The map illustrates flight paths DAVYJ and SERFR. The Select Committee of South Bay Arrivals sent recommendations to local Congress members to change the flight path from SERFR to DAVYJ.

New flight path recommended JAVIN POMBRA DANNY VESURAI Staff Writers

After meetings with dozens of attendees, debates that lasted for over six months and participation from counties across the Bay Area, the Select Committee on South Bay Arrivals sent a letter of recommendations addressing airplane noise to local Congress members on Thursday, November 17.

When the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) changed the old flight path, named BIGSUR (BSR), that flew over Los Altos Hills to a new path called SERFR that flies over Los Altos on March 5, 2015, complaints over airplane noise rose from 1,227 per month to 302,475 per month over the new path. The Select Committee was created to address concerns from constituents, including Los Altos residents, about airplane noise.

After six months of work, the Select Committee passed recommendations for planes to fly higher, fly over fewer people, avoid noisy flight techniques and re-

duce noise with retrofits wherever possible. The Congress members will take these recommendations to the FAA and work with them to implement the desired changes.

Among the recommendations, controversy centered around which flight path should be adopted. With eight members for the proposal and four against, the committee recommended DAVYJ, an updated version of BSR. Committee members expect the FAA to change the flight path to DAVYJ within the next 18 months to 2 years. With the return to DAVYJ, planes will fly over Los Altos Hills again instead of Los Altos and decrease the noise level in Los Altos that caused the spike in complaints.

Because DAVYJ will still disturb residents across its path, the committee also unanimously recommended to look for an ideal path in the future which would minimize the impact of noise on residents across the Bay Area.

To deal with future airplane noise issues, the Select Committee also recommended creating a new successor board, which will work with the FAA and provide input.

The Talon December 13, 2016

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Please send letters to the editor to editor@lahstalon.org Los Altos High School

Stress less for success

Why students should consider prioritizing personal wellness during finals; identify the sources of stress, but focus on solutions.

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irst semester finals are here. identified that you don’t enjoy, We’ve also just finished up your commitments in that activWellness Week, with activities like ity or class are only going to escoloring, zumba and yoga to try to calate. The pressure to overperhelp students relieve stress in the form and overschedule to boost face of final exams. The budget for future college or job applications Wellness Week was doubled this can feel immense, often to the year, which is fantastic, but there’s point where it feels like we have something more imto be the president of portant that students all of the clubs we’re should keep in mind, in in order to get especially around It’s students’ anywhere. But the this time of the own healthy best path to success school year. Whethis to invest time and er stress is caused by choices that effort in the things systemic issues or in- will relieve their you really like. dividual choices, dra- stress more There is also the matic changes seem promptly and possibility that stuunlikely in the short dents really want to effectively than term. It’s students’ do all of the things own healthy choices any systemic they’ve signed up that will relieve their change would. for, but managstress more promptly ing them is just too and effectively than stressful. Although any systemic change would. the best path to success includes The society that we live in investing time and effort into drives us to push ourselves to the things you like, it also inthe limit, and in many ways, the cludes making certain sacrifices. pressure within our communi- Splitting time and energy into ty to succeed is responsible for multiple pursuits means smaller our stress as students and young portions for each, but limiting adults. But this system is not themselves to one or two allows likely to change for a long time, students to delve more deeply and as long as it stays this way, into their activities and likely it’s up to us students to take con- have more success in them. trol of our stress and our lives.

But, to those students out No matter how many Well- there who are hell-bent on endness Weeks there are, if you’re ing with 100 percent in all five of stressed because you’re taking their AP classes, the best way to tons of AP classes and participate do so might actually be to relax in hours of daily extracurriculars, and allow yourself to indulge in the activities will not relieve your the things you enjoy. stress as much as initially makIn 2012, the “Journal of Eduing healthier choices would. If cational Psychology” published you make the decision to over- a study by Patrick D. Quinn load your schedule, you will be and Angela L. Duckworth that stressed out. Students should showed a positive correlation beown the sources of their stresses tween happiness and academas much as the solutions. ic performance. It’s worth notBut,we get where you’re com- ing that the study was conducted ing from. These days it can feel with fifth and sixth graders, like anything less than five AP but have we really changed that classes is substandard. We beg much since sixth grade? students to reconsider. If you So, perhaps the way to nail push yourself to work hard down that 5.0 GPA (and a sucin something you’ve clearly cessful future) is to focus on ADVERTISEMENT

201 Almond Ave., Los Altos, CA December 13, 2016 Volume XXXII, Issue 4 Editor-In-Chief Emily Aoki Managing Editors Hanna Khosravi (Print) Jessica King (Print) Spencer Dembner (Web) News Editor Alex Wong Opinions Editor Akhil Jakatdar Features Editor Tinomuda Tugwete In-Depth Editor Miranda Li Arts & Culture Editor Avi Varghese Sports Editor Julia Santos Media Editor Andrew Young Copy/Content Editors Teddy Chmyz, Savita Govind Business Manager Cameron Avery, Dominick Lanni Senior Writers Anisha Desai, Rachel Lu, Booker Martin, Michael Sieffert Staff Writers Ross Avery, Maddie Chu, Priya Dixit, Haley Ecker, Nathan Godderis, Brian Huebner, Sana Khader, Yalda Khodadad, Emma Kwan, Avery Luke, Alex Luna, Emily Meza-Perez, Adrienne Mitchel, Javin Pombra, Jaclyn Saik, Yolanda Spura, Emma Van Geuns, Daniel Vesurai, Madison Woo, Justin Yu

happiness instead of multiple and feel obligated to do so, perchoice questions (although those haps they should reconsider. are important too). Some major Although there are lots of factors that have been proven to mixed opinions in the field, many correlate with greater happiness studies have shown that being include gratitude compelled to exert and healthy relagreat willpower betionships, espefore a cognitive test To those students cially with family. can lower a subThat’s why Well- who are hell-bent ject’s performance. ness Week is actu- on ending with 100 Of course, in these ally Wellness and percent in all five studies the subGratitude Week, of their AP classes, jects were asked to display self-control and why ASB and immediately beSCL offer gifts of the best way to do fore the test, but gratitude for stu- so might actually perhaps this could dents to send be to relax. apply to us stuto their friends. dents. It’s exhaustExpressing gratitude and strengthening friend- ing to force ourselves to study exships can reduce stress and in- cessively before final exams, and according to social psychologist crease happiness.

But obviously different things Roy Baumeister, it may hurt our make different people hap- scores to do so right before finals.

Of course, you still need to py. There are definitely students out there who take joy study. Absolutely. But not to in settling down at a desk with the point where it’s consuma weighty textbook for three ing every minute of your time, hours. But to those who don’t, and you probably don’t need to go through the entire curriculum five times over — a brief review of the recent stuff and perhaps a more comprehensive one of the old material should be sufficient. What’s more important is that students are taking care of themselves and making decisions for the good of their mental and physical health.

None of this is really that new. Everyone knows that you shouldn’t overload your plate, and that hanging out with friends will make you happy, and that forcing yourself to study for hours on end isn’t good. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t keep reminding each other that it’s true. The most important thing to keep in mind is that there are ways to lower your stress, and they don’t all lay in the hands of administrators or policymakers or teachers. Stress is a part of life, and students have to own it, take control of it and manage it, as they should and eventually will in all aspects of their lives.

Photographers Emily Aronovitz, Francesca Fallow, Katie Klein, Rachel Lu, Natalie Munguia, Kunal Pandit, Thara Salim, Kimia Shahidi, Michael Sieffert, Yolanda Spura Graphic Artists Ashley Cai, Carissa Lee, Anne Schill Videographers Arjin Unlu, Bobak Afshari, Britt deVisser, Danny Nguyen Adviser Michael Moul

POLICIES Los Altos High School’s Compositional Journalism class is solely responsible for The Talon, which is published eight times a year. The Talon also updates its website, www.lahstalon.org, with full-time coverage.

The Editorial Board sets the policies of The Talon and crafts its editorials and thumbs. Its members are Cameron Avery, Teddy Chmyz, Spencer Dembner, Sana Khader, Hanna Khosravi, Michael Sieffert and Andrew Young.

ADVERTISE & SUBSCRIBE Send advertisement and subscription inquiries to Cameron Avery and Dominick Lanni at business@lahstalon.org.

Talon Supporters Honorary Pulitzers Kazuo Aoki, Aloma Avery, Perry Dembner, Vaishali and Sanjay Dixit, Kendall Goto, Fred and Flora Khosravi, Andi Lou, Chung and Janice Park, The Sullivan Family

Silver Supporters Wendy Aoki, Jaclyn Brode, Zhuang Qi Dai, Derek Hua, Shawn Hui, Vicente Luna, The Martin Family, Jasmeen Pombra

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The Talon December 13, 2016

Read more opinions articles at lahstalon.org/category/opinions

Teachers, stand up for your stances JAVIN POMBRA Staff Writer

After Mountain View High School’s history teacher Frank Navarro was reportedly put on paid leave for comparing Donald Trump to Adolf Hitler, news of the controversy spread across the nation. While Mountain View’s administration allowed Navarro to come back, the debate over whether teachers should express their opinions on everything ranging from historical figures to current events has certainly hit close to home.

Navarro’s comparison was reported to the administration by a student’s parent who expressed concerns over Navarro’s seemingly biased perspective. The idea that some students feel uncomfortable when teachers express their opinion is a legitimate concern. Yet, teachers’ opinions can often stimulate greater discussion and promote students to express their own opinions.

Teachers should express their opinions in the classroom as long as they create a welcoming environment for all students, even those with perspectives differing from their own.

“You don’t want to create an environment where people don’t feel free to express their opinions,” social studies teacher Derek Miyahara said. “The question is, if a teacher presents a particular point

of a view, how chilling is that to the students in terms of presenting their own point of view?”

It’s a tricky debate, but there certainly are ways for teachers to ensure that they aren’t isolating students with their opinions.

For one, a teacher who is open to correction encourages equalized, intellectual debates rather than one-sided arguments.

“It's very important for teachers to always be open to be corrected and to model times where they might be wrong and admit it,” social studies teacher Seth Donnelly said. “If we create an atmosphere where people are open to being corrected, [sharing your opinion] is not such a scary thing. But if teachers exercise their opinions in a way where they say,

‘I'm right’ and stomp out student’s Miyahara said. “Usually what opinions, that's unprofessional.”

I say is that I don’t agree but Recognizing there are a lot the merit of stuof professional dents’ controvereconomists who Teachers should exsial opinions can do, because also help create press their opinions for any opinan environment in classrooms as ion that anyone in which stu- long as they create a puts out, you dents are will- welcoming environwill find profesing to share their sional historians opinions. It’s cer- ment for all students, and economists tainly possible to even those with perwho [agree]. I disagree while si- spectives differing try to say, ‘Even multaneously ac- from their own. though I don’t knowledging the agree, that other side. doesn’t invali“In economics class, there date the point.’” have been people who have By promoting students to expressed economic opinions share and discuss in a welcomthat are different from mine,” ing environment, teachers can

ASHLEY CAI

help their students think critically. Students naturally look to their teachers as models and teachers who are open with their own views promote greater room for ideas in the classroom space.

“The teacher should be part of the community,” Donnelly said. “I think if we want our students to model being open, part of what makes good teaching is for teachers to be open at times — saying, ‘Here's something; here's some of my thoughts and feelings on the subject, what do you think?’”

Moreover, a teacher who can express his or her opinion is able to offer insight that students may not know. While the teacher isn’t always right, he or she possesses a knowledge base that surpasses those they are teaching. Stif ling their ability to share their thoughts and analysis rooted in that knowledge base most certainly takes away from their ability to educate.

Creating a welcoming environment while also being open with their opinions is not an easy task for any teacher. At times a teacher may make students uncomfortable or may be forced to withhold their opinions, but when they do find a balance, they are able to effectively engage and educate their students. “lf teachers express their opinions too heavily, it stif les students sharing theirs,” Donnelly said. “But the teacher's job is to facilitate and bring out views, so you have to find a balance.”

Los Altos should bring dead week to life

dents the opportunity to find their own methods for studying.

Instead of a week, Los Altos has two days prior to finals in which teachers are prohibited from inThe week prior to final exams, or troducing any new material, which “dead week” as it has been referred limits students’ ability to exercise to by high school and college stu- independence and free thinking. dents, often conjures up images of MVLA School District’s own misoverworked students who are given sion statement says the district is yet another opportunity to slack off “committed to creating a commubefore their exams. However, this nity of learners with the knowlharmful misinterpretation increas- edge, skills and values necessary es the stress that surrounds finals to combine personal success with week and hinders potential success meaningful contributions to our for all types of students. Unfortu- multicultural and global society,” which would be nately, many schools, cultivated by the including Los Altos, practice of a dead have made the deciweek. The district sion to limit this nec- Rather than giving essary opportunity. students time to pro- should enact a full dead week The purpose of crastinate, a dead policy so that stua dead week is to week is supposed to dents can have withhold any new adequate time to material from being facilitate independevelop these valassigned to students dent study and allow ues necessary for the week before fi- students to synthehigher education. nal exams in order to size information Many teachgive them the time ers are optimistic to study. Rather than learned throughout about the idea of giving students time the semester. a complete dead to procrastinate, a week and view it dead week is supposed to facilitate independent as an opportunity to make sure that study and allow students to synthe- all students are on the same page size information learned through- and able to organize their thoughts out the semester. It is intended to on material learned throughout discourage cramming and give stu- the semester.

AVERY LUKE Staff Writer

“I think a dead week would require school-wide collaboration about what finals really mean because there are so many different interpretations of what a final is,” social studies teacher Marta Sakowicz said. “From a planning perspective, it would assure me that my students are ready for a final test or project.”

Another common misconception around the idea of dead week is that students will not understand how to utilize an entire week to effectively study. Many assume certain students are going to pro-

INTERESTED IN GUEST-WRITING FOR TALON?

crastinate. Providing a dead week can be an opportunity to engage in inefficient study techniques during this week without assigned material, but should we really limit hardworking students in fear of leaving the procrastinators behind? A block of several days would allow students to retain information and would even limit the stressful culture that tends to surround final exams.

If there was a week free of newlyintroduced material preceding final exam week, teachers could show students how to benefit from a dead

week during class time. Rather than continue the current pattern of reviewing material or providing a free work period in the days preceding finals, teachers could advise students. These lessons could include important study techniques to benefit each student’s ability to independently study the material after class, such as organization of notes or collaborative activities in which students could share techniques with each other. The school should place more emphasis on independent thinking, by enacting a longer dead week policy.

ANNE SCHILL

If you would like to write about your stance on an issue that’s affecting students at our school, email Opinions Editor Akhil Jakatdar at opinions@lahstalon.org with a summary of your idea.

The Talon December 13, 2016

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t’s that time of year again! By now many of you have probably seen several ads for holiday sales on TV, heard jingle bells chiming every time you enter a building and started making plans with family on how to celebrate the holiday season. But this joyous time of year has its own set of disputes whether they be at the dinner table or on a Facebook comment thread. Talon staff writers give their opinions on these winter controversies.

Holiday shopping is overhyped HALEY ECKER Staff Writer

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was the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring — probably because they were stuck in traffic on the way to the mall because they put off holiday shopping until the very last minute. Scenarios like this continue to happen yearly despite the fact that stores begin to sell holiday merchandise before we can even start preparing for Halloween.

While it is nice to get into the spirit of the holidays, it seems we’ve begun to place more of an emphasis on the shopping aspect

is excessive.

It’s not uncommon to hear stories on the news about fights takrather than the main purpose of ing place at stores like Walmart and the holiday season: spending time Target during Black Friday. The with family. We need to stop hyp- fact that people have taken to vioing up holiday shopping because it lent extremes just to get something has managed to turn on sale is absurd — arguably one of the your life and safety most joyful times of are more important I love the holiday year into one of the than a discounted season as much as flat screen TV. I, most chaotic.

In recent years, the next person, myself, have atthe first ads for holi- but I still think that tempted to embark day sales have been on shopping excurthe shopping hype released earlier and sions on Black Friearlier. We can’t is excessive. day but after getting even focus on enjoyrun over by a woming autumn without seeing glimps- an with a cart filled with Legos and es of Christmas lights and inflat- Barbie dolls, I decided that this was able reindeers on a trip to the store not worth the sales.

The fact that we place such a heavy emphasis on the materialistic aspect of the holidays sort of defeats the purpose of the holiday season. The true purpose of the holiday season is to spend time with loved ones and people we care about. The holidays are meant to be relaxing and celebrate the end of the long year. How can we do t h i s when we’re trying to sift through a clearance rack at Target? As appealing as those sales may seem, we’re sacrificing family time for consumerism.

While everyone has differing views on the holidays, the consensus is that the holidays are supposed to be about being with people you care about and not about spending late nights searching for items on your Christmas list at the mall. The economy does benefit significantly from the profits of holiday sales, but the I reinforced concept that we have to go all out in terms of love gift-giving is absurd. While some of the ads seen on (looking at you, TV make it seem like it’s now or Costco). Black Friday sales don’t never in terms of shopping, the best even start on the Friday after deals for specific items don’t actually Thanksgiving anymore. With happen during the holiday season. people lining up in front of stores Instead of spending hours upon during the day on Thanksgiving, hours shopping and shoving our way we’ve begun to prioritize get- through crowds to find the best deals, ting a good bargain over actually let’s spend those hours enjoying the spending time with friends and holiday season with those we care family. I love the holiday season about. Being able to spend time toas much as the next person, gether and bask in the glee that comes but I still think that the with this time of year is more valuable shopping hype than any gift you can buy at the store.

To greet or not to greet? ity to know everyone’s religious affiliation, a mere “Happy Holidays” is not is the season for fren- an act of disrespect zied holiday shopping, or contempt toward long-awaited ski trips and our Christmas or any other annual national debate on holiday, but rather a whether people should wish way to be inclusive and one another “Happy Holidays” conscious of everyone’s or “Merry Christmas.” The “war various personal beon Christmas” has provoked liefs. In pubrepetitive political and social lic spaces skirmishes, such a s like schools the annual Fox or shopping News segmalls, “Happy ment on Holidays” apthis conpropriately t rove r s y ; depicts the the perwelcompetual ing spirit of increase America’s diof reverse and comligious plex backgrounds and culwithout being too tural dispecific. versity in The holiday season the counis a time of loving and try naturall y supporting our peers, brings about a divide between families and strangpolitical correcters, and the ness and perfestivities sonal affiliations. should not The unnecessary The unnecessary be disrupted controversy has for a simple controversy has misconstrued the salutation. fundamentals of misconstrued the Instead, we the holiday sea- fundamentals of can broaden son, support and the holiday seaour perinclusivity, and son, support and spectives we should focus and work on celebrating the inclusivity, and together to various traditions we should focus include all and backgrounds on celebrating traditions of the season in- the various tradiand backstead of focusing grounds as tions and backon our wording. opposed to According to a grounds of the just trying Gallup study con- season instead. to please the ducted in 2015, 75 m a j o r i t y. percent of AmeriMerry Christmas, Hapcans identify with a Chrispy Hanukkah, Joytian religion. Due to ous Kwanthe prevalence of zaa, and Christianity in to everyour society, one — Christmas Happy is a widely Holip o p u l a rdays. ized holiday, with Christmas trees and a “white Christmas” becoming the hallmark for the holiday season. However, several holidays fall under the winter festivities, including Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, for which “Merry Christmas” would be inapplicable.

Due to the inabil-

MADDIE CHU Staff Writer

‘T

GRAPHICS BY ASHLEY CAI AND ANNE SCHILL

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The Talon December 13, 2016

Slacktivism: expanding activism or joining a trend? seems to be talking about it.

There is a concern that slacktivism discourages people from taking action. By reposting something on Facebook, people #BlackLivesMatter, #Love- satisfy their inner guilt over Wins, #LoveTrumpsHate and the issue and believe they have #StandingwithStandingRock taken sufficient action so they were all common hashtags per- go back to their daily lives. The taining to social and political oversaturation of posts on soissues that flooded social media cial media that pertain to cursites this year. Posting and re- rent “trending” issues on social posting about these issues, sign- media only serves to ultimately ing online petitions and upload- desensitize the public, as even the ing pictures or videos to spread most shocking or horrifying events awareness seem to be parts of are normalized through millions of an increasingly popular method likes, comments and shares. of activism. HowStill, it is necever, this type of essary to realize online advocacy, the importance called “slacktiv- Nothing can replace of slacktivism in ism,” is often crit- old-fashioned activan increasingly icized due to the t e c h n ological ism, but it is still minimal amount and social mediaof effort and important to recdependent world. physical involve- ognize the increasStudies have ment it requires. found that slacking influence that Because slack- social media has on tivism can actutivism only really be beneficial. quires passive our daily lives.

In a 2012 study engagement — a by Georgetown click of the mouse University, reto post, repost or tweet — many searchers found that those who consider it to be less valuable participate in slacktivism are than more active forms of en- more likely to engage in actual gagement such as volunteer- activism than those who don’t. A ing or protesting. As social and study published by the research political issues become “trendy journal PLOS ONE in 2015 contopics” on social media, there is cluded social media can be “ina concern users may post about strumental” in political protests them not because they feel truly by providing a means of compassionate about the issue but munication and exposing more simply because everyone else people to the issue.

YOLANDA SPURA Staff Writer

CARISSA LEE

While f looding social media with one issue can serve to desensitize the public, people can also become increasingly exposed to this topic, leading to a heightened level of awareness for current social and political issues. By casually scrolling through and reading posts on these topics and perhaps even being inspired to research them, people are able to learn more about — and even form their

own opinions on — relevant issues. It has become increasingly important that the general public be educated. Only through education can we form opinions, engage in discourse and productive discussion, and ultimately act. Even if the opinions formed by scrolling through Facebook posts about the Dakota Access pipeline don’t ultimately lead to action, the formation of a stance in itself is already progress; it

is important that we become exposed to and are educated about a variety of topics in order to become more well-informed citizens of our communities.

Slacktivism, whether it leads to traditional activism or not, can aid in the formation of a more informed, opinionated and educated generation.

Ultimately, nothing can replace old-fashioned activism, but it is still important to recognize the increasing inf luence that social media has on our daily lives and the immense potential that these forms of communication hold. While it is easy to discount slacktivists as people who post about important social or political issues to seem “trendy” or to make themselves feel like they have contributed toward the resolution of an issue without being actively involved, many slacktivists are genuinely passionate individuals. Whether they don’t have the time or means to get more actively involved or they are actively looking for ways to take their passions a step further, slacktivists have already done one important thing — taken time to share their opinions and insights.

It is critical to be actively involved in your community and beyond — volunteer, telemarket, protest. But if you have opinions that you feel passionate about, by all means, use social media as a platform to voice them.

Chow Mein and Chao Mian: on Asian-American cultural identity MIRANDA LI

In-Depth Editor

I’d rate myself a solid 84 percent in Mandarin f luency, but when I refer to Beijing and chow mein as embedded within an English sentence, I pronounce them as the Anglicized “bayjing” and “chow-main” rather than their linguistically accurate Chinese pronunciations.

Chow mein isn’t even spelled correctly phonetically — it should, in Mandarin, be “chao mian” — but I consistently spell it c-h-o-w-m-e-i-n in a voluntary ignorance.

I prefer chopsticks over forks, but I eat with a fork when I go to Panda Express. I speak Chinese at home, but say things like “Dope” and “Yikes!” excessively in public so as to assert my faux whiteness.

Despite what it may seem, I don’t really see these little mannerisms as a tragic loss of culture, per se. I honestly feel like if I hadn’t assimilated into American culture to some extent, I wouldn’t be fulfilling the very reason my parents immigrated to America in the first place. I don’t feel like I’m letting them down by wholeheartedly preferring spaghetti carbonara over chow mein. Still, there’s an unshakable, subtle internal conflict about what percent of me is Asian and what percent is American.

I’ve grown up with the unwritten assumption that by preferring spaghetti carbonara over chow mein, I’m somehow betraying my Chinese roots, but to prefer chow mein over spaghetti carbonara would mean refusal

MIRANDA LI

to assimilate into American fully a judgemental jerk in this culture. It’s a constant struggle regard, but it seems to me like between denial and a somewhat jusperpetuation of a tifiable symptom Chinese stereotype I of lacking cultural I’ve grown was born into. identity.

Because I’ve lived amidst up with the we ourselves feel a weird, unspoken unwritten an obligation to err phenomenon where assumption towards one side or Asian-Americans the other, Asian or that by preferjudge other Asianwhite, we put othAmericans for lean- ring spaghetti ers down for being ing more towards carbonara over on the “wrong side” one side of the hy- chow mein, because it makes us phen or the other feel that in the abI’m somehow — we’re either too stract, blurry range Asian or too Ameri- betraying my of ethnicities that can, too much Chinese roots. is “Asian-American,” Oolong tea and anwe are doing “betime or too much ter,” as if there even Brandy Melville and is an objective “betStarbucks. It’s an altogether ri- ter,” than someone else is. diculous phenomenon, though I In an effort to find words that am not at all immune to it and might express the unspoken laws

of Asian-American culture, I recently read a philosophy dissertation from the University of Iowa on panethnicity in AsianAmericans. In less esoteric terms, panethnicity is the idea that Asian-Americans as a whole identify as Asian-Americans. Because of this, they feel solidarity that transcends individual ethnic identity despite their “true” familial origins in India, China, Cambodia or anywhere else. I’d like to propose a highly empirical model of Asian-American panethnicity as a blueberry pancake.

The reality I experience, in criticizing other Asian-Americans for being either too Asian or too American, is like being a blueberry in that pancake, and criticizing another blueberry for being too far to the left. Turn the plate, and which direction is

left anymore? More importantly, who gives a damn? We’re all part of the same Asian-American pancake. Pancake metaphors are dumb regardless of where you, a metaphorical blueberry, might stand.

Not that I have anywhere near the credentials to do so, but I’d like to take the already esoteric paper on panethnicity one step further: I hypothesize that panethnic identity can be a voluntary choice. There are obviously subconscious psychological factors at play — solidarity as promoting empowerment in the face of discrimination or an acceptance of a societally perpetuated stereotype — but I feel that if I could teach myself to see being Asian-American as its own ethnic identity and not the deformed extra limb of Asian culture, the spectrum of Asian to American would be nowhere near as instinctive.

I don’t honestly believe that by writing this piece I’ll undergo some sort of revelation and burst from a silk cocoon in a shower of confetti, screaming, “I won’t judge you if you shop at Ranch 99!” The stereotypes we hold for people even within our own minority group are far too deeply rooted to so easily disregard, but I think that by beginning to consciously recognize Asian-American not as a loss but as a confluence of cultures, we can maybe begin to placate some of the fears and overall confusion over cultural identity we’ve subconsciously held as first generation Asian-Americans.

Here’s to boba, here’s to spaghetti, here’s to Ranch 99. I raise a toast to all the things that make us Asian, American and Asian-American. Cheers.

The Talon December 13, 2016

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Read more features articles at lahstalon.org/category/features/

Alexis Rodriguez: An avid leader tells her story YALDA KHODADAD Staff Writer

High school students recognize junior year as one of the most, if not the most, important years of your high school career. For junior Alexis Rodriguez, AVID has not only helped her in this pivotal year, but has been an important part of her life since freshman year. After coming to Los Altos from Mountain View High School in her sophomore year, she joined the LAHS branch of the program. Alexis said that the AVID program has helped her significantly with her difficult classes.

“I always grew up knowing that I had to try extra hard, being a minority myself — I'm AfricanMICHAEL SIEFFERT American and Mexican,” Alexis AVID member and BSU vice president Alexis Rodriguez is only a junior, but with the challenges she faces said. “I’ve done advanced math she has gained years of wisdom. This year, Alexis balances her academics with familial challenges that she and science every year I’ve been in is working to overcome. high school, and I could not have done that without AVID tutorial, said. “We’re planning… to be Alexis was 12. reer path that she wants to purbecause there are really just peo- one community, not BSU at Los “That really hit our family sue after leaving high school. ple who want to help Altos and BSU at hard,” Alexis said. “We “I remember you succeed.”

Mountain View. So, woke up one day, and he my dad askWhile this is Alexis’ that’s mainly what was swollen. There were ing me in sixth first year of involve- I’m going to I’m focused on — no warning signs. For the I always grew grade, ‘What ment in BSU, she is outreach to people.” next couple of years, he do you want to make the most up knowing currently the vice Alexis grew up in was living in the hospido?’” Alexis said. president. This year, out of what I do Augusta, Georgia, tal. We did Christmas that I had to ‘“What do you one of BSU’s main have and all the and moved to Hawaii and New Year’s in a hos- try extra hard, want to be?’ And goals is to bring the time that I do when her mother pital room.” being a minority I knew I wanted Los Altos and Mounmarried her stepfaUnfortunately, this myself. to be in the medhave. tain View branches of ther. After living for strain of lupus was undisical field to help — junior Alexis — junior Alexis the program together some time in Hawaii, covered, meaning docpeople like my Rodriguez Rodriguez through outreach and her oldest brother tors had no information brother… I wantcommunity building.

Keith Rodriguez was about the symptoms or ed to be a bio“We want to be one big BSU diagnosed with lupus, an autoim- treatments. Her brother’s strug- medical engineer. [It helps] just in the school district,” Alexis mune skin disease. At the time, gle helped Alexis decide the ca- having that reminder that you’re

doing this for a person, you’re doing this for a purpose.”

Her brother’s journey has helped her realize the fragility of life and her own privilege.

Through her own experiences, she would like to make up for his missed opportunities. For Alexis, AVID has been a medium through which she can learn to better herself.

“You can’t give up,” Alexis said. “I have it better of than he did, and I am going to make the most out of what I do have, and all the time that I do have… All these doors have been opened for me, if he could do it without all [those opportunities], I definitely can do it to the best of my ability with the things that I do have… [In AVID], you can be a leader without feeling like everything is dependent on you, because AVID is focused on making everyone a leader in their own way… it’s helped me learn what I need to be as a leader.”

Alexis hopes that through her career choice, she will be able to help people and families that are going through what she and her family have gone through.

“We almost lost him so many times waiting for him to get a transplant,” Alexis said. “I want to help people so that no family has to wait and question how long they’ll have their loved one just because there’s a shortage of what they need… Just having Keith there [is] a reminder that people need people to lean on no matter what they’re going through.”

Filippo

getting tired of that because everyone knows everything about me and everyone knows everything about everyone.”

CONTINUED FROM Moving away from this familTHE FRONT PAGE iarity, Filippo’s new life in California requires him to have a new mindset to fit in with the social “They’ve given me a bedroom norms of high schoolers in Siliand a house to stay in for free con Valley. Filippo is adjusting just because they’re really kind,” to the fast-paced and unpredictFilippo said. “We’re not that able life in which he has learned close but we just know each oth- to value the smallest of gestures er. They were pretty brave to host from his classmates. me without knowing me better “Coming here just not knowas well as maybe my family would ing anyone, you’re going to know me.” appreciate more those little In Italy, high school things,” Filippo is typically five years said. “For example, with the fourth year if you’re just walkbeing very lax, so [Exchange proing around school Filippo took advan- grams] give you and your friends tage of the oppor- this boost you stop you just to say tunity to graduate need to emto you something high school with an funny, you don’t American diploma. brace the adult have to worry about The community he world and be it because you know grew up in — Pavia, more mature. it’s going to happen a small city south of one day. Once you — senior Filippo Salvati Milan — also moticome here, you figvated him to particiure out it’s all these pate in an exchange program. little things like ‘Oh she’s talk“In Italy, the culture of being in ing to me, oh he invited me to a group like 20 kids and spend- play soccer, oh he asked me if ing time together is really strong I did my homework.’ For me, if and of course Italy is smaller that question was asked to me in than California so everything Italy, I would answer the same is really close and everything is way, ‘yeah.’ But here I think ‘Oh reachable even if you don’t have he said that to me so maybe I a car,” Filippo said. “There’s no can try and talk to him, maybe empty space. Every day, I felt he wants to be friends with me like I was doing the same thing: so let’s try if I can make a friendwake up, go to school, do sports, ship with him.’” do homework and meet everyWhile Filippo is learning to adone because I knew everyone in just to American culture, he finds my Italian high school… I was that language barriers between

KIMIA SHAHIDI

Senior Filippo Salvati learns to adjust to his new American lifestyle with his host family and new school.

Filippo uses his passion for sports to make friends and overcome language barriers he has encountered. him and others often pose a prob- field in the spring, he participatlem when making new friends. ed in cross country and made the “I’m a social kid and the easiest Los Altos soccer team. way to make friends is to make “I think sports are absolutely jokes and be funny toso important to gether,” Filippo said. “In make friends,” Italy, I’m one of the funFilippo said. niest kids in my class, Coming here “Sports are one but when you change just not knowof the easiest way your language, it’s so dif- ing anyone, to just meet new ficult to translate your people because if jokes because maybe it you’re going you’re in class, you sounds so cool in your to appreciate can just talk about language but once you more those class stuff ‘What’s translate it in your mind, little things. your grade, homeit’s not that funny.” work’ something — senior Filippo Salvati Yet, in spite of these like that. You barriers, Filippo is able can’t understand to connect with other students deeply the person. How does he through athletics. Along with really think? If you’re in a sport, planning to try out for track and you have more time to spend to-

gether, playing something that you like. You have this passion in common so you can talk about that so it’s absolutely a good way to make new friends.”

Along with his goals of mastering English and forming new relationships with people, Filippo sees his year abroad as an opportunity to grow and become more independent.

“Exchange programs are invented also to raise [the students] to be men or women,” Filippo said. “You are far away from your parents and your past life, and it can give you this boost you need to embrace the adult world and be more mature and independent and know what you are doing.”

The Talon December 13, 2016

ON THE SIDEWALK T

he Bay Area is a land of plenty, yet the insidious threat of homelessness still lurks. To many, the holiday season poses a stark reminder of the families and homes they have lost.

Rent hikes and increasing rates of homelessness might suggest a negative prospect, but there are still reasons to be optimistic. The Silicon Valley has a number of solutions to combat homeless-

ness such as Destination: Home, affordable housing projects and Silicon Valley at Home, among others. The county recently passed Measure A, which supports affordable housing and funding for the homeless and other vulnerable populations. In addition, our school has resources to provide for those in need, with on-campus organizations like Club 10.

Resources

at SV@Home have been able to house over 1000 homeless individuals over the last few years, and they are taking actions to open up Silicon Valley’s solutions homes for many more.

When looking at the Silicon Funding from individual donors Valley, the rest of the world sees and companies like Google and only billionaire entrepreneurs, U.S. Bank goes to the construction overlooking the countless families or acquisition of existing properties on the other side of for housing. the socioeconomic Conversion of spectrum who live old motels into in shelters, cars or homeless housThrough their work, on the streets. As ing, leasing the people at SV@ victims of the Valland to build Home have been ley’s prosperity, these multi-stor y able to house over families struggle to buildings or 1000 homeless indikeep up with rising simply adding viduals and are takproperty values. Two affordable units ing actions to open different organizato regular comup homes for more. tions have taken difplexes are a few ferent paths to mitiways that SV@ gate this issue.

Home is trying Silicon Valley at to end the issue Home (SV@Home) of homelessness. works to get low-income and On the other hand, Destinahomeless individuals into af- tion: Home looks to solve the issue fordable housing units with ba- through legislative means, pushing sic amenities so that they may local government for policies to aid live sustainably on their own. the homeless.

Through their work, the people Recently, spending on affordable housing projects increased due to “Home Not

Buck reads a novel while waiting for donations on University Avenue in Palo Alto.

Although these efforts are steps in the right direction, we must continue to offer our unwavering support to the homeless.

Through these pages, The Talon aims to illustrate that homelessness is a very real problem in our community, and the first step in remedying homelessness is to understand that these are people who need our help and deserve our attention.

Found,” a comprehensive cost study on homelessness by Destination: Home and Santa Clara County. “[The study] showed that, overall, housing homeless individuals is less costly than providing emergency services for them living on the streets,” Destination: Home Communications and Engagement Specialist Colleen Haley said. “The more vulnerable individuals are [and] the longer they’ve been on the street, the more emergency services they require.”

In response to the study, counties in East San Jose have invested millions more into housing programs.

The efforts of advocacy organizations such as Destination: Home in conjunction with housing aid organizations such as SV@Home have brought homelessness to the forefront of discussion in the Valley and will continue to better the issue in the years to come.

School solutions

With only a cursory inspection of our school, it’s not immediately apparent that homelessness is a predicament that students on campus might face. However, Los Altos does have an established solution, fueled by student initiative and help from administration, to help combat the issue: Club 10 is an organization on campus that provides resources for homeless families and other families in need. Its goal is not only to provide immediate assistance, but also to proffer guidance in

Depriva

legal, financial and medical areas related to homelessness.

Club 10 was created last year by a group of parents, administration and students who Q&A with Steve Hohs had observed how Steve is a former software engineer homelessness was affectwho was laid off five years ago and ing some of their peers. has been homeless ever since. “[People usually] either come to me or go to… [the bilingual community liaison] who has a lot of connections with What does a day in your life the community here at look like?

Los Altos,” counselor “The brutal truth is I get up, do all and founder Ariel Rojas the stuff I need to do — clean up said. “We’ve had cases and get clothes, take showers, get where people are homebreakfast — which takes me about less. We’ve had a few three to four hours. If I have to get cases with families living any paperwork done with the govin cars, families that are ernment, that takes another four in need of paying rent, to five hours. Your whole day is families who are in need running around, doing what you of food. It’s not a ‘huge’ issue because a lot of have to do to survive. You have no families at this school do car. Imagine walking or taking the well here, but we do have bus to every place you go. What families that are in need.” takes you 10 minutes could take Last school year, Club me a whole day.”

10 held fundraising auctions to aid families by offering financial assistance in paying rent as well as other areas.

Members hope to conWhere do you see yourself in tinue the practice this the future? year, while also introduc“I don’t really worry too much ing new methods to help about the future because once students grappling with you’re over 55 or 60, you’re alhomelessness and other diready telling yourself that your lemmas, such as more fundtime is up. I might have five years, raisers and auctions.

I might have 10 years. I don’t Students can contribute to think I have much more than that Club 10’s efforts in a variety so right now, I’m going to try to of ways, primarily involving membership in the club and enjoy the ride the best I can.” donations to the auctions that Club 10 is planning for this year.

“We would like a bigger membership in the club,” Rojas said.

“But a big thing is for students to be aware: if you know somebody Any advice for high schoole who’s in need and they’re not “I want everybody your a saying anything, come talk to know that they should be c us… We’re not going to publish of what they do because yo names [or] talk about a particuend up in a place like this lar family or anything like that... than you think.”

If you’re going through any hardship, you can always come to us and talk to us. We will always [maintain] confidentiality.”

Los Altos runs the gamut of charity clubs, ranging from local to international. Yet at the heart of the Los Altos community, the key issue of homelessness is all but overlooked. Club 10 is a strong first step, and with more initiative and increased dialogue between students and administration, the issue of homelessness at Los Altos can continue to improve.

The Talon December 13, 2016

KS OF SUCCESS

ation in the Silicon Valley: Part Two

ALEX WONG, NEWS EDITOR | CAMERON AVERY, DOMINICK LANNI, BUSINESS MANAGERS | PRIYA DIXIT, EMMA KWAN, JAVIN POMBRA, ALEX LUNA, EMMA VAN GEUNS, DANNY VESURAI, MADISON WOO, JUSTIN YU, STAFF WRITERS

In the middle of the interview, a little girl comes up and hands him $5. He responds with a genuine, heartwarming smile.

On opposite ends of Uni“Thank you very much,” he says. versity Avenue “Have a nice day.”

Talon writers Cameron Avery When we ask him whether he’s and Danny Vesurai speak with ever been mistreated because of several homeless people on his situation, his initial response University Avenue in Palo Alto seems cynical. in an attempt to understand “Yeah,” he says. “Pretty much their lives and philosophies. all the time, considering that it’s In order to interview homeless improper to be 23-years-old and people, we go to University Av- healthy enough to get a job… and enue because we recall that we’ve be asking people for money on seen some homethe street.” less people here Despite the debefore — more rision he experithan on Castro.

I’m a simple, orgaences, Zachary says Within a few nized money collecthe remarks don’t blocks we come tor, somebody who’s bother him. across a man stajust simply moving “I don’t really tioned outside about his day and care what anybody Walgreens with a wants to make thinks,” he says. sign on his wheelthings happen.

“They can call me chair. We pass him a ‘piece of shit bum’ — Zachary by at first, both and I’m gonna be stymied by our irlike ‘alright, cool, rational fears and you don’t even the stigma around know me like that homelessness. We walk a little anyways,’ so it doesn’t bother me. farther, then pause in front of the Every once in awhile, people need Apple store. We look at each other, somebody to scream at [and] I can both guilty and fully aware we’ve understand being that somebody.” just shirked our responsibilities.

The conversation lulls to a halt, We turn around, and say hello. and we thank him before bidding Zachary is a 23-year-old man him goodbye. who’s been disabled since birth Farther down University, we meet with a deformed back and legs. Buck. He’s reading intently, and He was forced to turn to asking when we try to get his attention, he for money on the street in 2011 doesn’t look up — we later find out after the death of his mother, his he’s hard of hearing. sole caretaker.

In a routine physical six months Since then, he’s perfected ago, Buck found that he needed a the art of panhandling along kidney transplant. As a result, he with his mindset, ignoring had to quit his job as a carpenter, derogatory remarks about which he’d held for over 40 years. him from mean-spirited at- He now spends his days on Univertackers while brightening sity Avenue collecting donations, the days of passersby. He though he’s decidedly less passionseems to know everyone ate about doing so than Zachary — in this city; he often ex- Buck doesn’t actively greet people, changes a wave and instead choosing to sit quietly with friendly greeting with a box and sign next to him while he people walking past. reads a book.

“I’m a simple, orga“I’m not really your common ers? nized money collec- homeless guy who sits around age to tor, somebody who’s and drinks all day,” Buck said. careful just simply moving “That’s not me.” about his day and Buck views his situation with ou can wants to make disbelief and attributes it to s faster things happen,” mere misfortune.

Zachary says.

“I never thought I’d be stuck out here… in a million years,” Buck said. “It’s all just bad luck. I was doing fine, working steadily [with] a house in Portola Valley.”

Stigmas surround the homeless community, stigmas which even some homeless people themselves can’t seem to escape. Even

Profiles

The topic of homelessness is the second in a twopart series on deprivation in the Silicon Valley. Last issue, The Talon covered the issue of hunger.

Buck thinks of the “common homeless person” as a lazy drunkard.

But after our day spent talking to four of the same people that Buck had vilified, it was clear that his views were rooted only in mainstream folklore, urban myth that painted the homeless in a negative light.

For example, there was the woman who had cancer and had just undergone another round of chemotherapy treatments and didn't have the energy to talk to us, but looked genuinely sorry that she couldn't and told us to have a nice day and God bless us. Or Zach, who’s been deemed by society as inferior based on his disability, yet still manages to remain positive in the face of legitimate hardship. Or any number of the thousands of homeless in the Silicon Valley who didn’t choose to be homeless, who suffered factors beyond their control and were forced into their situation.

Buck was right about one thing: bad luck definitely plays a part in homeless people’s situations. Sometimes, people aren't a product of their decisions. And in this supposed meritocracy, this valley of opportunity and success and wealth, this is overlooked far too often.

of programming in attempt to cre- If you can turn the wrenches, you ate the next Microsoft or just to can do it all. You do a lot of stuff become a software engineer. Yet in construction, [which] gives you unlike most programmers in the enough information pretty much Valley, Pineda has been homeless about yourself.” for almost a decade.

“I went to Hawaii, spent some time “Being homeless doesn’t mean there, went to Southern Califoryou gotta be disnia, spent some time traught or dethere…[got] relaxed,” pressed because it Pineda said. “It was a ain’t easy,” Pineda mood change, [and] You just try to make said. “But for me, when I traveled I left the best of your life I [kept] homelessit all behind. That’s the and if it works out, ness a positive soldier you got to be. it works out. experience. It is You got to walk away — Jeff or Robert Pineda a positive experifrom it, and I made ence; you gotta bethat choice. If you do lieve it. Waking up that, you’ll find who everyday without you are.” a meal, you gotta Pineda first began to chase the meal.” look toward tech during that sevenKeeping his files on portable year long vacation when he read a sedrives, he spends each day orga- ries of books on technology. nizing what he calls his “business “I just planted a seed,” Pineda said. data,” studying computer science “I said, ‘I’m going to read these books, and reading at the Mountain View I’ll figure it out, and see how far it is.’ public library. To learn C++ and It took me a little while when I was Java, Pineda took programs at dif- thinking about it. Read another book, ferent community colleges and read another book, to get into it. I also plans to take online courses to think it slowly just developed a picfurther his education. ture by itself.”

“I read a book everyday,” PineLong preceding his introspective da said. “I go the library, do some journey, Pineda’s adventurous spirit computers, spend time organizing developed during his childhood: one all my business data… and keep of his fondest memories is jumping aware of my software. I put in about off roofs when he was young.

C++ and cardboard signs three to six hours of studying on a “You ever jumped off a roof?” PineNews editor Alex Wong and computer and do other things too, da said. “Well we did. We were 3 or staff writer Javin Pombra re- personal stuff.”

4 years old. We climbed to top of the cently interviewed Jeff or Robert Yet Pineda didn’t always want roof, to the second roof of the apartPineda — he refers to himself as to get into tech. Throughout ment, and bounced down onto a matboth. While Pineda’s words are the 1990s, a few years after high tress. We were just perfect, ya know?” occasionally nonsensical, he of- school and after spending time Today, Pineda continues to view his fers a unique, opin a mixed-trades situation in positive light. While he timistic perspecschool, Pineda agrees being homeless is no gift, he tive on the issue of worked in construc- still makes the most of it. homelessness. tion in Pleasanton.

“Anybody who thinks they want to I never thought Like many of He spent over a de- be a homeless in life is wrong,” PineI’d be stuck out Silicon Valley’s resicade in the trade and da said. But you just try to make the here... in a mildents, Jeff or Robert reflects on the time best of your life and if it works out, it lion years; it’s all Pineda holds a caperiod positively. works out.” bad luck. reer which centers “It was an awearound technology.

— Buck some experience,” Pineda has been tryPineda said. “If you ing to learn C++ and can do [construcJava since he moved tion], you can do to the city in 2007, learning what anything. You hook up the house he calls “pretty big heavyweights” and start putting things together, one after another, that’s what I did, one thing after another.

PHOTOS BY DANNY VESURAI

Zachary shows off his swagger while greeting passersby on University Avenue.

12

The Talon December 13, 2016

Seth Donnelly: The art of protesting JACLYN SAIK Staff Writer

Social studies teacher Seth Donnelly knows how to protest.

You might find him picketing in front of Citibank against the Dakota Access Pipeline, reading an open letter to California congresswomen or walking among throngs of LAHS students in the November 14 “walk-out” protesting the election results. In the 90s, while engaged in political activism where he lived in Chicago, you might have even found him temporarily behind bars.

“I helped organize a protest right after the U.S. invaded Iraq, and we blockaded the entrance to Lockheed Martin and were arrested for that,” Donnelly said.

“Lockheed Martin had contracted weapons to the U.S. military and we were opposed to the U.S. invasion of Iraq.”

Although he isn’t encouraging his students to get arrested, TALON FILE PHOTO Donnelly's activism experience Donnelly leads a chant during a protest against the Dakota Access Pipeline. As advisor of Haiti Club and a gives him an understanding of frequent political activist, Donnelly often supports and demonstrates alongside politically-minded students. the planning, organizing and overall work that goes into stagsomething random, interfere with the then upcom- spirit as the struggle of the Haiing a protest. As the so people don't drive ing Haitian elections. The dem- tian people, for human rights and founding advisor by and say ‘Oh you’re onstration included a march to democracy and to protect their of Haiti Club and a just a bunch of people state representative Anna Es- land,” Donnelly said. frequent activist in There’s a lot of wanting to scream.’” hoo’s office, where they read an Why is it that these students are the local commu- fustration over With Donnelly’s open letter asking her to articu- willing to demonstrate for human nity, his expertise what’s happenguidance, Haiti club late their concerns to Congress. rights causes, even if they aren’t is especially useful ing in our counhas organized a numBut Donnelly and the Haiti club directly connected to the title of for eager students ber of recent protests, don’t just stop at Haiti-related their club? This understanding wanting to take po- try, but we have to be focused many specifically re- activism. A significant amount of of the wide scope of human juslitical action. lated to U.S. foreign the club’s members showed up to tice issues can be credited to the “There’s a back- and dignified. policy in Haiti. On the recent Dakota Access Pipeline environment Donnelly maintains ground that I bring — social studies September 30, the protests staged in front of Wells inside his classroom. in and try to share teacher Seth Donnelly club staged a rally Fargo and Citibank entrances.

“My class has a very open enwith the students in Lytton Plaza in “[Haiti Club] discussed it, and vironment for dialogue and for here,” Donnelly said. “How to do a press release, downtown Palo Alto. The rally the feeling was that the struggle people to just speak freely,” Donhow to organize it so it’s not just was calling for the U.S. to not at Standing Rock was in the same nelly said. “I’ve said to students,

if there’s something that concerns them, an issue about human rights and social justice, if it happens to concern me too, I would be happy to meet with them outside of class.”

In the case of the November 14 “walk-out,” a peaceful protest that drew in over 100 Los Altos student participants expressing frustration over the new president-elect Donald Trump, Donnelly marched, but was not an organizer. Instead, the walk-out was largely organized by students over social media, something Donnelly didn’t use as an activist in the 90s.

“With social media you can get numbers really quickly, but it also means that you can be potentially very unfocused, and people might not be disciplined or there for the right reasons.” Donnelly said.

Although this particular walkout was a safe event overall, Donnelly did not agree with some of the behaviors of certain student participants.

“I think when I was there not as an organizer but just there as somebody… I had some concerns there about people running into the middle of the street, and some of the use of profanity which I think didn't really help our cause,” Donnelly said.

Especially during a time in our country where multiple human rights issues are hotly debated, Donnelly encourages people to take organized, deliberate action.

“My experience is if we dig in for the long haul, you can achieve results,” Donnelly said. “I understand there’s a lot of frustration right now over what’s happening in our country, but we have to be focused and dignified.”

Jordin Perez: making music in the moment school hip-hop, but still kind of stick with the new-school, that way it could be like a completely different In senior Jordin Perez’s remix of genre,” Jordin said. “I produce a difDrake’s song “Pound Cake” — what ferent kind of music from what you he calls one of his most personal hear nowadays… I like to tell stories songs — he says, “at least my father in music, I like to tell my life, what taught me one lesson, to never de- I go through, because [with] music pend on someone, they can leave in you can express how you feel.”

Along with juggling his school a matter of seconds.”

This type of insightful lyric is not work, Jordin has studio sessions two uncommon in Jordin’s songs and to five times a month.

“I produce my music in my friend’s while the meaning can be mysteristudio in San Jose or in ous, one can clearly Santa Clara,” said Jorsee a sense of hardship din. “My friend makes in Jordin’s life. Despite beats and I usually tell this, Jordin is able to I see [life] as evhim what kind of beat live positively in the ery day is new, I'm feeling and what present through his kind of song I want to work as a musician and whether you mess up one make. From there I go a songwriter. and listen to the beat “I got into producing day or another, music slowly,” Jordin the next day you then I just write down whatever I feel [and] said. “I started seeing can get back up think about while lismy brother [create] tening, that way they music when I was in and fix it. can go together and it eighth grade, going — senior Jordin Perez can come out perfectly.” into my freshman year.

His music is often I used to go to the stucentered on spreading dio with him and he would record music, because he's his general positivity towards life been producing music longer than through promoting resilience in the me. He introduced me to it. I've been face of adversity. Believing in the idea producing music for almost the past that each day is a blank slate, Jordin possesses a unique life philosophy. two years.”

“I see life a different way than other Through creating music based on his own experiences, Jordin hopes to people see it.” said Jordin. “I see it as convey a deeper message about life. every day is new, whether you mess Jordin creates his music by combin- up one day or another, the next day ing elements from modern music you can get back up and fix it up. I see life as a lesson.” with aspects of older hip-hop.

Jordin has been able to promote his “I want to bring back the old-

EMILY MEZA-PEREZ Staff Writer

ANDREW YOUNG

Senior Jordin Perez started producing music two years ago after being inspired by his brother. He categorizes his sound as a combination of old school hip-hop and modern music. music through performing in shows which feature upcoming artists in the Bay Area, usually occurring in Cupertino, Sunnyvale or Mountain View. Jordin has performed in four shows already and through these opportunities has learned to improve his work.

“I like the experience because you get to go up there and it's a different experience from writing down music by yourself,” Jordin said. “[When] you [perform at] concerts, people view you and you get advice from them.

I appreciate the opportunities I get.”

Jordin’s main source of motivation comes from the encouragement he

receives from his supporters.

“I receive a lot of support from my close friends, my family and lately I've been getting a lot of support from random people,” Jordin said. “A lot of people support me, but then again I got a lot of people that hate what I do or just don't think it’s right.

But, I think that no matter what you do you're always going to have haters trying to beat you down, but I just keep on going.”

Instead of letting skeptics’ words get to him, Jordin uses those who don’t support him as a way to improve his music.

“People are going to bring you

down, but you should let that motivate you.” Jordin said. “Let that sink in, because they spoke about you for a reason. Maybe because they hate you or because they don't want to see you succeed, but just keep on going and whatever you want to pursue just keep on trying harder and harder. Sooner or later someone is going to notice it and they are going to appreciate it.”

Despite receiving some messages of discouragement, Jordin pays little attention to those who do not support his music, and finds security and trust within his closest friends and family members.

“I have this group called RBF Ent, which [includes] me, my brother, my other friend and a close cousin of mine,” Jordin said. “RBF stands for Rolling Block Family, which means that all of us in the group, we roll together and block because we live on the same block, or same city, as in Mountain View. And Family because we consider ourselves family.”

Jordin is not sure whether or not he will pursue music in the future as a career as he chooses to see his life in the present. For Jordin, writing and producing songs is truly about the experience and the joy it sparks in him at the moment.

“For everybody pursuing their dream, even if it's art, writing, whatever it is, just keep on doing it,” Jordin said. “Every day you improve, whether it's from learning [from] your mistakes or improving [yourself], so just keep on doing it and keep your head up.”

The Talon December 13, 2016

The Real World is Scary

13

Alex and her custom cakes sweeten up Los Altos ADRIENNE MITCHEL

this unofficial baking business with a Facebook page, business Sophomore Alex Warren will cards, and a website, which will finish creating her own baking be up next semester. She also has business, Alex’s Baked Goods, set up a small-scale photography next semester. This decision was studio in her house made up of not a spur-of-the moment plan, white panels for her website. but rather a gradual progression “I’m working on my finances, of events that inspired her to so I can get set prices down to start an official baking business provide consistency,” Alex said. this coming year.

“I enjoy the look of joy on peo“My mom taught me how to ple’s faces when I bring them my cook when I was really little, and creations, and honestly warm then she taught me how to bake, baked goods make me really and then I kind of took off with happy because they make alit,” Alex said. “I wouldn't have most any situation better.”

Although her been able to start my specialty cakes will business without her not be available to because she is the one who taught me [Baking] has be- people outside of come an outlet Los Altos due to how to bake.” shipping reasons, The business for my stress or Alex’s mixes, breads idea arose after Alex simply someand cookies will be and her mother available to those hosted a tea party at thing that helps a neighbor's house. me make others anywhere in California. The profit Alex’s cupcakes were and myself that she makes off a major success, and happy of her baked goods neighbors asked for — sophomore will be used to purmore of her homeAlex Warren chase baking supmade baked goods. plies as well as for Alex’s mom talked to the PTA and landed Alex her to go to baking classes.

“I have a nice profit margin, a spot to sell her goods in the Bullis Gardener auction. A bid- but it’s something I really love ding war ensued for Alex’s “Des- doing,” Alex said. “I really love sert of the Month,” a prize that baking and am glad it has bewould ensure a monthly deliv- come an outlet for my stress or ery of fresh homemade treats simply something that helps me for a year. Since then, word make others and myself happy.”

Alex’s specialty is custom of Alex’s penchant for baking spread throughout Los Altos, cakes, priced anywhere from and demand for Alex’s baked $20 to $50. Instead of a set menu to order off of, clients can ask goods increased. “[The auctioned baking pack- Alex to bake any goods that they age] went for a couple hundred wish for any event or occasion. dollars, so I was really proud of She uses go-to base recipes from cookbooks and alters them to fit that,” Alex said.

Alex is now ready to formalize the order.

Staff Writer

By Jaclyn Saik

!!!!!!!!

I love Christmas music!

Enough to use an exclamation mark, which is saying something, since they are usually disgusting.

I don’t mean “All hail Jesus Christ” music. I mean the music that acknowledges holidays, plural, the music that is overplayed and mainstream and cheesy and always remembered. I observe The Day After Thanksgiving as the acceptable date to start listening to Christmas music, and from that day on, my life is as filled with jingle bells as I can make it. To the many people who like to repeatedly tell me that Christmas music is annoying and to please turn it down, I will turn it down, but I will also automatically assume you have unresolved emotional issues about allowing yourself to feel joy.

But you know why I like Christmas music? It’s a constant. It’s repetitive. It comes every year.

Right now, life as a high school senior is pretty terrible. I see it in the solemn expressions of students cramming in the library, in the gaunt faces and bloodshot eyes of my peers (and the mirror), in the PJ’s worn past PJ Day. I’m probably the millionth person here to complain about the end of the semester, but this is my fourth year doing it and it’s still sucking. Plus, we’re all kneedeep in college apps that personally have driven me to wild levels of self hatred (It’s ironic to say it here, but I am ridiculously bored of writing about myself). Early Decision results come out December 15 for most schools, which means that for some stressed-out seniors, the decision that defines the next four years of our lives is about to smack us in the face in a week.

Not to mention, this is our last winter season here. I know this is a back burner topic amid the stress of completing the semester in one piece, but it’s still true: most of us have no idea who we will be this time next year. Some may know what school or job or place they will be in, but I can guarantee that none of us know what type of person we will morph into once we leave the comforting familiarity of this campus.

But we do have Christmas music. Andy Williams will still croon over how wonderful this time of year is, Nat King Cole will forever sing of chestnuts roasting over the fire, Mariah Carey will always want only me for Christmas.

Right now, I’m trying to look into my own life path, to get a glimpse into where I’m going, and all I see is fog. The only thing I can really make out is the cover art for Michael Buble’s Christmas Album. Thank god I’ll still have him.

EMILY ARONOVITZ

Alex Warren decorates a vanilla cake with buttercream frosting. If you are interested in ordering Alex’s custom cakes before the official website is up email her at Alexalexandriaw2019@gmail.com.

“I love doing the custom cakes because they’re really fun,” Alex said. “Baking makes me feel relaxed. I love it because making things makes me feel accomplished.”

Along with starting her new baking business, Alex balances difficult school courses, water polo and chamber orchestra.

“Its taught me a lot of good

time management skills, and that I need to get better at not procrastinating,” Alex said. “I have had people call me a lifesaver after completing a last minute order, and little kids have even said they want to learn how to bake like me. Whenever things like this are said I feel needed.

I’m honestly just really happy seeing others happy.”

Evergreen State College: breaking from tradition CAMERON AVERY Business Manager

If you’re a student looking for a relatively normal college experience, you probably shouldn’t go to Evergreen State.

The school, founded in 1967 and located in Olympia, Washington, seems to take a sort of perverse glee in flouting convention, tradition and generally a lot of things that regular colleges do.

Evergreen’s motto is “Omnia Extares,” which loosely translates to “Let it all Hang Out.” Let what all hang out, you might ask?

It’s doubtful that anyone really knows. In fact, “Omnia Extares” isn’t even a real sentence in Latin.

Its mascot is the geoduck (actually not a duck, but a species of giant clam native to Washington with a long, fleshy neck), because a regular animal would just be too mainstream, wouldn’t it? The school seems to take great pride in the fact that most would consider this a terrible representative: there’s an entire page on Evergreen’s website dedicated to listing how many “Worst College Mascots” lists Speedy the Geoduck has made it onto.

But beyond face-value characteristics like mascots and mottos lies a set of qualities that truly set Evergreen State apart from almost any other school.

To start, there aren’t really such things as classes, at least not in the traditional sense. Instead of picking out individual courses from a catalog, students choose from a menu of “programs” each quarter — interdisciplinary learning experiences taught col-

laboratively by a group of professors from different fields.

In typical Evergreen State fashion, many of these programs are quite strange: one is called “Dancing Molecules, Dancing Bodies” — a program that combines chemistry and biology with a field not usually taught in conjunction with the natural sciences — dance. It’s not as if this combination of disciplines is completely arbitrary, though: each program’s professors work closely together to develop unified, thorough curriculums.

But that isn’t to say that there aren’t some more normal programs to choose from for the slightly less adventurous. “An Ethics of Generosity: Community In and Through Creative Writing, 2D Design and Visual and Literary Theory” could appeal to a broad swath of students interested in the visual arts, literature, aesthetics and Native American studies (a section of the program focuses on Indigenous art and culture). There’s one program that’s simply called “Borders.”

With an acceptance rate typically hovering somewhere around 99 percent, Evergreen State isn’t exactly the most selective institution. This is good for students who didn’t take the whole “grades” thing all too seriously during high school (the average GPA of admitted students is a 3.04), since once they get to Evergreen State, there are none.

No grades? Not a single letter, number, or other symbol denoting a student’s level of achievement in a course? Of course not — this is Ev-

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS USER BRYLIE OXLEY

Evergreen State College’s unique approach to learning makes it a top choice for nontraditional students -- the school doesn’t give out letter grades, and divides studies into “programs” instead of classes. ergreen State, after all, and if they think there’s a better way of doing things, they’re unafraid of breaking from the status quo.

But it’s not as if students don’t get any feedback. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Upon completing a program, instructors will write each student a “narrative evaluation” — a written document outlining things like “How you approach your work,” or “Highlights of your skills and abilities.”

With this, students can learn for learning’s sake, free of the pressure to succeed brought on by letter grades. This makes Evergreen a place for self-motivated students: what you get out of your four years is largely dependent on how willing you are to

find enjoyment in your studies.

But for all of its quirks, Evergreen State is a truly special place.

It’s a breeding ground for independent thinkers, artistic geniuses, and apparently, visionaries of successful animated TV shows (“The Simpsons” and “Hey Arnold” were both created by Evergreen grads).

Other alumni include current Washington Representative Denny Heck, bestselling author Benjamin Hoff, rapper Macklemore, ex-Sleater Kinney member and actor Carrie Brownstein and medicinal mushroom advocate Paul Stamets.

It’s a learning experience that’s truly like no other, and Evergreen State’s students, faculty and alumni wouldn’t have it any other way.

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The Talon December 13, 2016

Catch reviews of new movies, music and more, plus read the entertainment archives at lahstalon.org/a&c

Bringing books to the big screen PRIYA DIXIT JUSTIN YU Staff Writers

From treasured classics to trending young adult novels, successful books inevitably receive the Hollywood treatment. “Lord of the Rings,” “Harry Potter,” “The Hunger Games,” “Percy Jackson” — the list is endless. The dedicated book lover would like to imagine that producers and screenwriters spend hours poring over the source material, extracting the essence of a beloved book and adapting it seamlessly from the page to the big screen. Yet the same book lover has most likely experienced jarring disappointment just as frequently as delight when the resulting movie arrived in theaters.

Disparities between the original source material and the adaptation are unavoidable, at least in terms of feasibility. But how many of those changes are justifiable? How many tweaks to the plot, scenery and dialogue irrevocably mar the adaptation as the changes obscure the brilliance of the novel?

That being said, the opposite can occur as well. The adaptation may complement the original story, drawing in new fans and satisfying existing ones. The panoply of existing book-to-movie adaptations runs the gamut of adaptation techniques, some more effective than others.

Take “Harry Potter and the

Goblet of Fire,” for instance. The 636-page book was adapted into a movie with a two-and-a-halfhour runtime. With a significant portion of that runtime needed for building the film universe and adding exposition for a streamlined version of the plot, the film sacrificed elements of the book’s plot points in order to present a seamless, complete story to the audience. For example, the producers decided not to include Dobby, a supporting character who plays an important role earlier in both the books and the movies. In the books, he appears throughout the series, whereas he disappears in the movies between the second and final films. Thus, Dobby’s death, while still significant, feels out of place because moviegoers did not build the same connection with the character that book-readers did. Nevertheless, the character’s absence did not disturb the overarching plot.

The ability for an adaptation to retain its continuity even with parts of the book removed plays a key role in the success of the franchise As a whole, the “Harry Potter” adaptations capture the magic of the books, balancing between removing certain details to maintain the coherence of the film and remaining true to the source material.

On the other hand, the “Percy Jackson” movie adaptations do this miserably, and as a result,

they simultaneously disappointed readers and failed to generate their own fan base. This is primarily due to a variety of poor casting choices and questionable decisions to remove vital plot points. Specifically, major characters Clarisse and Ares were excluded from the first movie, and efforts to introduce them in the sequel felt forced. Production for the series ended at book two of five due to poor earnings at the box office, a clear symptom of the directors’ inadequate inspection of the original books.

An alternative method used for adapting plot heavy novels such as “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” and “Mockingjay” from the “Hunger Games” trilogy is to stay as close to the text as possible by splitting the film into multiple parts. While this decision is in many ways financially motivated, these two adaptations demonstrate effective portrayals of the author’s original vision. Both significant and subtle plot points that would have been excluded were incorporated into the films, allowing the intent of the books to shine through.

On the other end of the spectrum, “The Hobbit” movie trilogy shows how separation can actually detract from the film’s integrity to the original novel. The movie trilogy transformed 300 or so pages into a grueling, six-hour ordeal of battles and watery allusions to “The Lord of the Rings” movie

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trilogy. In the final film, Legolas seemingly defies gravity by hopping between pieces of fallen rubble, and it’s hard to believe that this is not a result of the director’s decision to extend 20 pages of the original novel into a two hour-long film. Thus, the original charm of the adventure is lost in favor of an action-based trilogy made to attract today’s moviegoers.

Evidently, the various adaptation techniques have their own pitfalls, and each is inherently limited by film as a medium. While adapta-

tions should remain faithful to the original novels, they should also present original themes that combine the author’s intent with the director’s style. Adaptations should not be made with the sole intention of profiting off already successful franchises and existing fanbases. That being said, adaptations should do more than adhere to the novel line by line. At the end of the day, an adaptation should breathe life into the pages of a favorite novel and realize fantasies for fans, new and old alike.

CARISSA LEE

Steps in the right direction for diversity Bobak Afshari talks to students at Los Altos about their experiences on campus — positive and negative — with diversity and differences.

Check out the archive to see The Talon seek out the best Thai food, pearl milk tea, froyo and more in town.

lahstalon.org/talontesters

Catch the video at

lahstalon.org/diversity2016

A R T S & C U LT U R E

The Talon December 13, 2016

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The enduring success of Pokémon BOOKER MARTIN ALEX LUNA Senior Writer Staff Writer

This October marked Pokémon’s 20th anniversary, and it’s impressive that Pokémon is arguably more relevant than ever.

The newest entries, “Sun” and “Moon,” quickly became the fastest-selling Nintendo titles ever to grace North American markets. Pokémon Go, a spinoff mobile game that was released in July, garnered a staggering 500 million downloads worldwide in the app store. The franchise’s success is no f luke; while some franchises attempt to grow by lassoing in new players faster than existing players leave, the Pokémon franchise has made continual efforts to retain older players at the same time as it attracts new ones.

“Sun” and “Moon” once again draw players into a world full of wonder and adventure. Trainers, as in past installments, are tasked with catching and training their Pokémon and battling other trainers, all while bonding with the beloved creatures.

This simple cycle has captured and kept many fans over the years, and as a result, the franchise has cemented itself as a

ANNE SCHILL

dominant force in the modern gaming industry.

Pokémon consists of the perfect blend of quirkiness, uniqueness and, in recent years, nostalgia. Developer Game Freak makes use of nostalgia to keep the franchise growing and fans interested. The structure of the original game continues through the sequels, with gym battles, lands to explore and Pokémon to catch; veteran fans will be able to pick up a random game and instantly know the formula. As new games have been published, hundreds of new Pokémon have been added to the ever-growing roster. While many franchises focus on new characters to avoid clutter, often cutting out old ones entirely, Pokémon ensures that every new creature remains available in every game.

The franchise does not linger in the past, instead adapting to modern times to keep interest high. When the original Pokémon games debuted, they revolutionized handheld play by using connecting cables to allow players to battle and trade with each other, and as they evolved to take advantage of advances in online gaming, they've expanded into a battleground that connects players across the

How to photograph the family dog

her advantage. Instead of trying to make them sit still, she tries to capture their energy, mak“You have to be patient and ing for a photo that is sure to stay very calm,” animal photog- be much more life-like and aurapher Heather Lussier says. “I thentic to the dog’s personality.

“When dogs are too well think with the animals as well as with kids, they [feel] that on trained, [it] is actually harder a subtle level, so then they are a to catch the personality,” Lussier said. “[Use a] squeaker little more relaxed.”

After working as a Certified or say ‘Do you wanna go for a Professional Photographer for walk?’... That tends to get them over 25 years and even opening to react instead of just sitting her own business Posh Pooch and staying.”

Though it may Portraits in downfeel ridiculous at town Los Altos, the time, another Lussier says that trick is to make above all, the trick Stay very calm, noises while takto photographing because they ing the pictures. animals is a simple tune into that Try recreating cat one: stay composed. on a subtle noises to a dog or “Even [animals] level. Be quick bird noises to a cat that are high strung in order to get a or upset or really en- and anticipate genuine reaction. If ergetic or whatever, what they are all else fails, treats if I just stay really going to do. are a surefire way to calm, then they kind — animal photographer motivate any aniof eventually just Heather Lussier mal. After getting tune into that enertheir attention, it’s gy and calm down,” all about timing.

Lussier said.

“Be quick and Animals can be tricky to photograph given their anticipate the movement or unpredictable nature, so getting what they are going to do,” the perfect picture isn’t as simple Lussier said.

Most importantly, while takas just staying calm. With especially anxious or jittery pets, it ing your photos, keep in mind may be easier to manipulate your that the main objective is to setting in order to confine them capture the essence of the anito one area. Lussier recommends mal. Anyone can snap a photo putting the animal in a chair. An- of a dog with their smartphone, other trick is to tire the animal so focus on taking pictures that out so they are more calm for the will bring their unique personphoto session by going for a long ality to life.

“When people see their imwalk or playing with them for a ages and they have tears of joy, couple hours beforehand.

Difficulty is heightened when which is most of the time, then an animal is untrained, but with I know I have done my job,” the use of a few tricks, Lussier is Lussier said. “That makes me able to use their playfulness to really happy.”

ANISHA DESAI Senior Writer

world. Now, the games no longer end when the credits roll, for Pokémon has brought together a dedicated community to take advantage of the competitive and cooperative online opportunities long after games are released. For those who play mainly to battle others, finishing the storyline has become the beginning.

Despite the recurring game mechanics, Nintendo always introduces little extra bits to excite the fans and bring them back once more. For example, the introduction of mega-evolutions in the titles “X” and “Y” transformed the formula just as it was beginning to look stale.

Pokémon like Charizard that have been around for years could take new forms and abilities in the midst of a battle, allowing Pokémon veterans to rediscover old favorites. These types of additions send ripples through the online battling community — old strategies had to be reworked to take into account these more powerful creatures that could wipe out entire teams not yet adapted to the change.

Nintendo has also developed many Pokémon spin-offs in order to bolster the franchise. It can be difficult to find a person

who has not heard of Pokémon Go. The mobile game took the world by storm upon release by having fans go out with the app and catch virtual Pokémon in phone-oriented augmented reality battles. Despite taking advantage of new tech, the game included only the first generation of Pokémon; instead of a limitation, it feels like a showcase for characters who have become icons in pop culture in the

last twenty years. The huge success of the game, no doubt a result of the franchise on which it is built, has been truly staggering and most definitely brings in new fans on top of veterans.

As new fans are introduced and old ones remain loyal, the Pokémon fanbase is evergrowing. Because of Nintendo’s clever use of nostalgia and innovation, there is little surprise as to why.

CARISSA LEE

A tribute to Leonard Cohen AKHIL JAKATDAR Opinions Editor

On November 7, 2016, acclaimed singer and songwriter Leonard Cohen, most famous for his song “Hallelujah,” died in his sleep from cancer in his home in Los Angeles, California. He was 82 years old.

Though he came from money, Cohen truly desired to live a Bohemian lifestyle. His desire to find new passion bought him and his wife Suzanne Elrod a ticket to Greece, where his story of love flourished. He bought a small home on the island of Hydra and met a woman named Marianne Ihlen. Cohen’s conflicting love with Ihlen and Elrod led him to write some of his most heartfelt songs like his most acclaimed “Hallelujah,” “Suzanne” and “So Long, Marianne.”

The constant hassle and disconnect with steady relationships, although beautifully portrayed through his music, translated to transient unhappiness. Much of Cohen’s composure and soothing voice came from his unhappiness that stemmed from his unsatisfying love life.

As in every one of Cohen’s songs, love turned sour. After eight years, his relationship with Ihlen ended, although mutually, and he moved on with his life and career. In 1994, Cohen’s chaotic life aligned itself as he became a Buddhist monk and took a five-year break of seclusion in Los Angeles. When he came back to the music scene, he was back with more passion and drive than ever.

He released “Book of Longing” in 1998 and “Ten New Songs” in 2001, portraying his newfound understanding of the world. The fire and intensity in these pieces were immense and unmatched, a quality — like wine — that only seemed to get better as he aged. His strew of lovers and mistress piled on and on as his new songs became more and

more popular.

And his love story teetered on even in his dying moments. Three months before he died, Ihlen passed away. On his deathbed in Los Angeles, Cohen wrote to Ihlen, “Well Marianne, it’s come to this time when we are really so old and our bodies are falling apart, and I think I will follow you very soon. Know that I am so close behind you that if you stretch out your hand, I think you can reach mine.”

One of the many reasons that Cohen’s music was so pure in his older days was due to the fact that Cohen always found the perfect use of repetition or imagery to paint a picture in his audience's mind of what he saw in the world. No track was better in showing this than “Everybody Knows.” The melody, the word choice, everything in this song was perfection and showed how the ag-

ing Cohen was still at his very finest.

My favorite line of the whole song had to be, “Everybody knows that the boat is leaking. Everybody knows that the captain lied. Everybody got this broken feeling, like their father or their dog just died.” If there is any song that is a must-listen, it is “Everybody Knows” as it truly shows the word choice and flow that made Cohen as renowned as he was.

Leonard Cohen was always the light that brightened up even the darkest of atmospheres. His reassuring yet soft voice never failed to imbue every word he spoke with a precise and burning tone. His romantic confusion only brought out the best of him through his music and would always give us the taste of comfort and closure through every melodious beat he performed. His ginger voice and loving image will never be erased from our minds.

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS USER RAMA

Cohen, who passed away in November, performs in a concert from his revival tour in 2008. He’s best known for his instant classic “Hallelujah.”

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A R T S & C U LT U R E

The Talon December 13, 2016

Revisiting Stars Hollow HANNA KHOSRAVI SANA KHADER Print Managing Editor Staff Writer

Warning: Spoilers follow.

On November 25, millions of fans returned to the famous fictional town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut, a place overrun with crazy neighbors and antique stores. “Gilmore Girls,” written by Amy ShermanPalladino and Daniel Palladino, is back as a four-part Netflix original series, and while it was certainly nice to return to cozy Stars Hollow and its cast of peculiar characters, we were disappointed in the writers’ depiction of Rory’s (Alexis Bledel) transition from the end of the seventh season to the revival.

“Gilmore Girls” is, above all, a dialogue-driven show, and the Palladinos peppered the now-signature fast-paced writing with references to pop culture and literature. Rory and Lorelai, the show’s mother-daughter duo, grounded what could otherwise be a rather cliche story in an innovative way with their sharp-tongued heartto-hearts. With the tagline “Life’s Short. Talk Fast,” “Gilmore Girls” was a guilty pleasure that never actually felt like one. It was light viewing, but it wasn’t a soap-opera or a cheesy small-town exposé.

The storyline revolved around two highly intelligent women who used their wit and charm to navigate their funky, honey-hued, unrealistically comical lives. Viewers loved them for it — so much, in fact, that they tore through the show’s seven seasons repeatedly when they began to stream on Netflix two years ago and revitalized the “Gilmore Girls” following.

Supreme CONTINUED FROM THE FRONT PAGE I was 13 or 14 at the time and I wanted to make money immediately and start right away,” Nathan said.

“I didn’t want to [start making profit after] two years... and I had money to invest.”

Resellers like Nathan buy clothing and shoes from brands like New York’s Supreme label and resell, or “flip,” them for a higher cost. Many of their customers want to get their hands on products sold by brands that work in very limited quantities.

“There are shirts that are $50, that could [be sold] for $500,” Nathan said. “[Resellers] make mass profit off that… [Supreme items] are limited and if you can't get it, the people that do get it abuse that and resell it.

I’ll abuse that too.”

Rocking his own Supreme merchandise, Nathan acknowledges that the resale of brands like Supreme is not necessarily fairly priced. The cost is often inflated tremendously by the reseller. “[Supreme is] very limited,” Nathan said. “Anybody can put their own price on it. There are some things Supreme releases that are very limited, maybe there's like a hundred things that were released throughout the world.”

With Nathan’s savvy in the reselling industry he understands the reality of brands like Supreme and how they make their profit.

“Supreme is not a designer brand,”

And so it hurt viewers when they realized that the 32-year-old Rory of the revival was no longer the graceful and hard-working journalist we left at the end of the original series. What looked like determination in her youth translated to entitlement in her adulthood — and it seems that this might have been a deliberate choice. The Palladinos made it clear that it was never their intention to have Rory’s life tied up perfectly by the end of the revival. But it was still a shock to the viewers to see her arrogant reactions to her seeming failures.

Rory’s career mishaps cast such a large shadow over the revival that fans missed out on further exploration of Rory’s relationships. It’s a major departure for the original series, in which it felt like the character of each season was shaped by Rory’s and Lorelai’s romantic lives.

However, we were satisfied with Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and Luke’s (Scott Patterson) coupling for the majority of the series. Had the writers chosen to keep up the “will-they-won't-they” act they milked in the original show, viewers would have probably taken to the streets with pitchforks and protest slogans. Lauren Graham, arguably the superior actress in the motherdaughter duo, took back the reigns of the charismatic Lorelai persona with ease. Seeing Luke and Lorelai consider having a child in 2016 with the help of Paris Geller (Liza Weil), Rory’s hyper-competitive frenemy turned internationally-renowned fertility specialist, was a fun quip on modern family life that might not have been written into the show 16 years ago.

But the series hits it out of the park not with its main two hero-

Nathan said. “It's not something super high quality, that'll last you years and years, like True Religion — that's a designer brand. People who hate [Supreme] think that there's too much hype about it and [that] it’s ridiculous.”

Nathan recognizes the hype culture surrounding brands like Supreme and Bape, and he acknowedges that that fuels the desire that leads his peers and customers to purchase these brands regardless of their drawbacks.

“They sell out in seconds [online],” Nathan said. “That's the reason people want it. They don't even know who the CEO is. They don't know when it started. They don’t even know the history. They just see a box logo with Supreme and they think it’s designer. They think it’s the best… It's one of the most hyped brands in the world because [people] think that they’re getting it for retail when they’re getting it for [resale].”

Nathan recalls how he got started in the competitive and lucrative industry.

“I started off with luck, trying to be [online when products were released],” Nathan said. “I’d wake up at like 8 a.m. because [Supreme is] in New York. It started in New York and so their time is three hours ahead, and at eleven over there they release their [merchandise].”

Other than selling through their highly visited website, Supreme’s limited products are also sold in a select few retail locations throughout the world, with only two stores in the United States.

Nathan does not have easy access to these two stores, but even if he did, his actual chances of attain-

ines, but with its portrait of Emily (Kelly Bishop), Lorelai’s controlling mother and the eldest Gilmore Girl, who is refashioning her entire life following her husband Richard’s death. Emily, who maintained an intricate balance of villain and sympathetic grandmother in the original series, is no longer in the show purely to spar with Lorelai at “Friday night dinners.”

Instead, we see the previously buttoned-up Emily in jeans and Tshirts, actively endeavoring to take charge of her life after losing her greatest friend and partner. And she most definitely succeeds — she refuses to be subjected to the victimization to which she was constantly susceptible in the original series, and makes a conscious choice to discard anything that makes her unhappy. And the fact that Emily had the entire revival’s only scene of foul language — in which she tells off her fellow socialites and walks out of her gossip-heavy women’s group

— has to be some kind of badge of honor. We were pleased to see that Emily is ultimately able to find her own happiness, independent of the many things she was tied to as a married woman.

Though some were disappointed with the major cliffhanger dropped in the last ten seconds of the series, it did feel as though the writers had wrapped up all other plot lines successfully. Rory’s future was left hanging uncertainly, but we can reasonably imagine Luke and Lorelai living the rest of their lives in cozy Stars Hollow, visiting Emily in her Nantucket home in the summer. As for Rory, we can only hope that she realizes a few fruitful freelance pieces do not guarantee her permanent bragging rights, and that the determined, passionate teenage Rory we know and love finds her way back into her adult life. And — for the sake of indulgence — that she ends up with the right guy (we’re totally Team Jess).

NETFLIX

Actresses Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel resume their roles as Rory and Lorelai Gilmore in Netflix’s “Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life.”

ing Supreme products in-store would be low.

“There’s lines that wrap around the whole block, like probably three times [around],” Nathan said. “They have to close down the street because there’s some drops that are really important. If [the release is] hyped then [people will] be in lines. There’s riots there, not huge riots, but people do get mad if you cut them.”

In order to get a leg up in the competitive reselling business, Nathan, and many of the most successful resellers, use tools called bots. Bots are softwares programmed to automate a task; Nathan uses them to send orders to Supreme’s servers as quickly as possible when new products release.

“They're like a service that will enhance your probability,” Nathan said. “This does not mean you are guaranteed to get Supreme. It enhances your probability of getting Supreme, of getting Jordans and

brands like Bape.”

Although bots do not assure that you will be able to buy items online, they come at a hefty price, ranging up to hundreds of dollars.

“Many people don’t like bots, but if you want to become successful and you want to make money off it, then you should get bots, but it’s [an investment],” Nathan said. “Every successful person looks at everything as an investment.”

Using bots, Nathan is able to sell about ten to fifteen items every several weeks. Though he enjoys reselling, he doesn't see himself continuing the career in the future. He plans to make other investments in the years to come.

“After this I’m probably going to want to get into the stock market, because that's where you can make a lot of money,” Nathan said. “ [I want to work in] the stock market. I want to have a clothing line and I want to have a restaurant.”

THARA SALIM

Nathan Virrueta flips Jordans like these in as little as two weeks, and at markups of as much as 1000 percent.

Emma’s Dilemma

By Emma Kwan

A Christmas Story This is the story of a high school sophomore who lived in California among palm trees and Trader Joe’s and 80 degree winters. She was also surrounded by a very concerning drought, which made things difficult when it came to building snowmen ,or even having snow at all.

Manufactured snow for ski resorts didn’t count.

Luckily for her, Canada was there to save the day. Well, not exactly. Some of her relatives lived in Vancouver, “up north” where palm trees only existed on loud t-shirts and droughts were nonexistent. More importantly, snow was plentiful. It was a Christmas miracle.

But even the glittering fantasy of a white Christmas couldn’t hide the fact that she would be attending another awkward family dinner. Dinners with her family were a melting pot of everything — traditional Chinese culture, western customs that had been adopted by her immigrant grandparents, and a combination of religious and secular celebration.

She played enough board games and listened to enough Christmas music that night to last her a lifetime, not to mention the various conversations with her relatives surrounding classes and extracurriculars and the concept of middle school.

Ultimately, food was the magical item that brought the family together, as everyone pitched in to cook turkey and mash potatoes, frost cakes and bake pies. Three generations of her family crowded around the dining room table and assembled in a disorganized fashion for a toast to Christmas and family and snow.

They toasted to the end of 2015 and to the clean slate that New Year’s would bring while exchanging gifts and hugs and warm wishes. When the night came to an end, she said goodbye to all the relatives she wasn’t going to see until next year. She spent the remaining few hours of the night curled up on the couch watching TV, until she eventually fell asleep.

I’m leaving for Vancouver again in about a week, and I’m looking forward to seeing long lost relatives and helping to make food for Christmas dinner.

I’m not really sure what this year’s reunion is going to bring, but if all else fails, at least I’ll still get to build my snowman.

A R T S & C U LT U R E

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The Talon December 13, 2016

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Dancing The Nutcracker

he Nutcracker, a popular family-friendly holiday ballet dating back to the late 1800s and composed by Tchaikovsky, tells the timeless story of Clara, a young girl, and her magical adventure on Christmas Eve. After hosting an elegant party where she receives a beautiful nutcracker doll, Clara travels to the Land of the Sweets with her Nutcracker and is greeted by a multitude of dancing international candies that welcome her with mesmerizing dances. The ballet ends with Clara awakening, holding the Nutcracker in her arms, and realizing her adventure was all a dream. Featured below are some of Los Altos’ own ballerinas who performed in “The Nutcracker” this year.

YALDA KHODADAD Staff Writer

ADRIENNE MITCHEL Staff Writer

EMILY ARONOVITZ

Noelle Hanson

Photographer

Grade: Sophomore Roles: Spanish and Mirliton School: Western Ballet Years of ballet: 8 Approx. hours of ballet per week: 19 Background: Gymnastics and soccer Dream Role: Sugar Plum Fairy “Ballet is a way to express myself because I’m not very good with words or talking about my emotions, so ballet is an outlet, and I also love performing and being on stage. Being a ballerina takes a lot of time and a lot of work. You have to be pretty thick skinned because you look at yourself for long hours and you get a lot of harsh feedback.”

IMAGE COURTESY NOELLE HANSON

Lisa Deng

Grade: Junior Roles: Sugar Plum Fairy & Snow Queen School: Dance Connection Years of ballet: 6 Approx. hours of ballet per week: 12 Background: 5 years team gymnastics Goal: Find a company in college to keep up her technique

“This year I got all my dream roles. Sugar Plum is such a hard variation, but you just feel like a princess doing it. You feel like you’re a different person. For the Snow Queen, when the snow is falling down, everything just seems so magical.

I love both roles. I love ballet because there’s such a structure to it. Because there’s a specific bar of excellence that you want to reach, it keeps you motivated, and you want to keep pushing yourself towards this one goal. Ballet is definitely a sport because it’s very physical and it’s very tiring.

In fact, in a show, dancers can dance for the equivalent of seven miles. It’s also an art form because of the technique.

You have to have artistry in it, and you’re physically suffering but you have to put on a happy face and pull through it.”

Teagan Toomre

Grade: Sophomore Roles: Maid, Flower, and Chinese School: Dance Connection Years of ballet: 5 Approx. hours of ballet per week: 20 Background: Gymnastics Dream Role: Arabian or Russian soloist “[Ballet] has definitely shaped my work ethic. I don’t think I would nearly be as driven at school if I didn’t grow up doing ballet. I would say the hardest part is sacrificing just the everyday things that a lot of high schoolers do. We have to miss school dances for shows and rehearsals and we can’t hang out with friends a lot of the time because of that.

And also the hardest part is the physical pain. Pointe shoes hurt so bad that it’s hard to convince yourself that it doesn’t hurt. But you kind of have to do that, or else you are not going to dance your best. I wish people would understand how hard ballet is and not bully little boys who want to do ballet.

So many boys quit dancing because they get bullied and teased for it, and I just wish that other kids would understand it’s not an easy thing to do.”

Mika Ng

Grade: Freshman Roles: Russian Soloist, Spanish Soloist, Flower and Snow School: Dance Connection Years of ballet: 8 Approx. hours of ballet per week: 13 Background: First solo year in the Nutcracker Goals: Continue to get solo dances, and take classes after high school for enjoyment “I might take classes [in the future], but not competitively. I don’t want to be a principal ballerina. It is tough. You have a lot of teachers, and they expect a lot from you. It really helped me improve my pointe work. There’s so many different people, and so many different ages. There’s such a wide range of people — from kindergarteners to high school seniors. Everyone at Dance Connection is dancing because it’s something that they like to do.

We’re able to tell a story with our dance while [continuing to] improve.”

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The Talon December 13, 2016

Get daily updates on Eagle athletics and read the sports archives at lahstalon.org/category/sports

Julia Santos: the real (SCVAL All-League) MVP ALEX LUNA Staff Writer

Junior Julia Santos is passionate about water polo. From an early age, she has built her life around it. She was recently awarded the All-League Most Valuable Player for the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League (SCVAL).

The journey toward recognition was not an easy one. Julia has worked hard since first being introduced to the sport at the age of 11.

“We signed up for this club, and my mom threw me in,” Julia said. “I just tried it for fun and I picked it up

automatically. There were so many boys [and] there were only two other girls, and so it was really intimidating being one of the few girls there and not even knowing the sport.”

Despite being a novice, the sport continued to draw Julia in and make an impact on her life. By maintaining consistent attendance, not only has she improved her skills to league MVP status, but Julia has also built a strong bond with her teammates and coaches through the sport. “[My] coaches have practically taught me everything and have poured everything into me,” Julia said.

“Everything I do in the pool is not only

for me, but for them, because they’ve put so much time and effort into helping me become a better player. [The team’s] chemistry is great. We take everything seriously. Everyone's on the same page and there's nobody who does their own thing.”

Not only does she work hard to make sure she improves for every game, but Julia also gives back to the sport by coaching younger athletes in water polo.

“Water polo is something that I’m passionate about and to see a bunch of little kids trying this is really fun,” Julia said. “Trying to persuade them or show them how water polo is such a

EMILY ARONOVITZ

Junior Julia Santos looks to shoot the ball in the first game of the season against Willow Glen High School on August 30, 2016. Julia was named the SCVAL All-league Most Valuable Player for the 2016 season.

Hana CONTINUED FROM THE FRONT PAGE While Hana’s schedule makes it difficult to find time for her friends at school, she balances her social life through finding a “family” in her swim team. Many of Hana’s closest friends are also her teammates, and through their shared experiences and their endeavors to find their own balance, they have found a special connection.

“You can make your swim friends your social life,” Hana said. “On our team, most of us are in high school, and we suffer together and are definitely there for each other.

And for some of us on the team, we have been training together for five or six years, so we have had plenty to struggle through.”

And beyond social life, the regular stress of school work is further exasperated by Hana’s rigorous swim schedule: her time not spent in the pool is time used to focus on school.

“There definitely have been days where I have a lot of homework, but I still have to go to swimming,” Hana said. “Every once in awhile, I'll skip the first hour of practice which is just the out-of-water stuff.

But that doesn't usually happen because my swim coach doesn't really like that excuse.”

For many high schoolers, putting off work is a common occurrence, but Hana does not have the luxury of procrastination. Many

years of swimming have done more than only train Hana to do well in races; they’ve also helped her manage time more efficiently.

“You have to learn to be very disciplined from the beginning or else you'll really struggle,” Hana said. “For me, I was able to figure out how to manage my time early on. You have to learn how to time manage and not procrastinate or be distracted by your phone or something else.”

Hana’s profound love for swimming also alleviates her stress. She swims not only to compete or stay healthy, but also as a way to espcape from everyday worries.

“I usually use swimming as a way to de-stress,” Hana said. “I can get away from my school life and stuff like that and focus on swimming

“This guy elbowed me in the great sport and seeing them enjoy [the face and my tooth cut my lip and sport] that I love is really rewarding.”

Even with school, she is still able to it started gushing out blood,” Julia balance her time so she can maintain said. “This was back in seventh or good grades while practicing and eighth grade. Ever since then I’ve been wearing a mouthguard and coaching on a regular basis.

“I’ll have practice for two to two I’m one of the few girls to wear a and half hours,” Julia said. “In addi- mouthguard. I’ve had so many peotion, I'll stay on the pool deck [for] ple come up to me and say ‘Hey, are you the mouth guard girl two more hours to from Los Altos?’ It’s recoach. Time manageally funny how not only ment is something do people recognize you that I’ve been forced There's somebecause of your number to pick up because of thing about or your skill, but [there how many hours in scoring a goal are] other things that set a day I spend on the in a game you apart.” pool deck.” that is super Now, with the season Even when she isn't over, Julia continues to in the pool, Julia takes rewarding train in preparation any opportunity to and keeps you for her senior season. improve her game. wanting more, For her, water polo has “Sometimes in [making] every given her the memoclass when nothrable experiences to ing interesting [is] single pracmake it a passion. happening, I always tice and game “There's something have the habit of worth it. about scoring a goal in searching for arti— junior Julia Santos a game that is super recles or videos of the warding and keeps you latest events or popular people in the water polo com- wanting more, [making] every single munity just to check up on what's practice and game worth it,” Julia happening,” Julia said. “I always said. “When you're playing an actual find myself going on stat websites game there's just so much adrenaline [to see] how well other people my and the crowd is there. The coaches are cheering you on, and your famage are doing around the country.”

One particular thing that sets her ily is watching. You want to impress apart from other water polo ath- [them] but it's how much fun that letes is her use of a mouth guard you're having. That's what's most important for me.” during games.

A note from the Editor: Julia Santos is also the Sports Editor of The Talon, but was not involved in the writing or editing of this article.

and be with my friends, so it's actually helpful [in that way].”

Whether it be sacrificing some of her social life or using swimming as a way to ignore stressors, Hana has found a way to stay afloat. Her ability to sleep enough each day may seem trivial to some, but it’s no small feat.

Instead, it is a testament to a balance she has worked on for many years — a balance she will carry to Cornell next year.

“Everyone says how you have to figure out [college] freshman year and find a system that works for you so that you'll be able to get your school work done, practice done and enough sleep,” Hana said. “Right now, I have a good system that hopefully I'll be able to carry over.”

COURTESY ALBERT GWO

Senior Hana Brett dives off the block during a meet. On November 9, 2016, she signed a National Letter of Intent to swim for Cornell University.

ANNE SCHILL

The Talon December 13, 2016

#9, what’s on your mind?

Owen MacKenzie races to States PRIYA DIXIT DANNY VESURAI Staff Writers

By Julia Santos

The Woes of Winter Polo Imagine this: underneath your warm, zipped-up parka, you’re wearing one of your 20 water polo related sweatshirts along with your fuzzy Gryffindor pajama pants. There are socks on your feet, your hood is sufficiently covering your ears and your hands are in the pockets of your parka — one gripping your phone and the other touching your swim cap and goggles that should be on your head and covering your eyes.

You look around the pool deck and the lack of steam emitted by the pool is a bit concerning — shouldn’t it be warmer? The few trees on the pool deck are moving too aggressively for your liking. Suddenly, you can’t feel your nose any more as it starts to drip.

It’s almost 6 p.m. and your coach reminds you that there are only two minutes left to get changed. Underneath your sweatshirt and pajama pants is your water polo suit that is yet to be zipped up. Slowly, painfully and almost regrettably, you start to take off your clothes one-by-one. Off goes that parka, then the pants because who needs legs anyway, and then the most excruciating of them them, your sweatshirt.

You’re standing on the pool deck ready to jump in, suit zipped, capped up and goggles on, but then you look down.

Your socks are still on your feet and a loud, overdramatic groan escapes your mouth. You peel off your left sock, then the right, and wow, the ground is so, so cold, so you run to the edge of the pool and dive in.

Practice is fine. Your shooting is fine, you make a couple of jokes here and there and get shouted at one too many times. And then all of a sudden it’s over. It’s 8 p.m. and time to get out. You swim towards the ladder and pull yourself high enough for the water level to rest under your chest, but the wind blows and you dip back in, hands and feet in the same spots as before.

Around three minutes pass and you know it’s time to get out. You’re the last one left in the pool, but your towel is all the way on the bleachers and the longer you stare, the farther it seems to appear. You really should get out.

You decide that the faster you run, the quicker you’ll find yourself wrapped up in the dryness of your towel, so you pull yourself up and out and begin to sprint toward the bleacher.

You’re basically there but then you fall. You slip. You fly forward and your knees hit the ground, but it’s so cold and your body’s gone numb and the only thing you feel is your face burning from embarrassment.

Oh how the mighty have fallen.

19

With his grandfather winning a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in steeplechasing and his mother running at McGill University, sophomore Owen MacKenzie was born into a running family. Owen started running in New Zealand with his family’s running club when he was 8 years old. The sport kindled his competitive nature, leading him to where he is as a runner today.

“My family had a little running club called Scottish Harries, and when I was 8 I ran three races,” Owen said. “I think I did okay, and one day [after a race], my mom brought home a medal and said to me, ‘Owen, you won this!’ It was just a little trinkety thing, but I was so happy and so proud, so I started doing more races and got good at it by continuing to train.”

Owen was the only athlete from Los Altos across all fall sports to qualify for a 2016 California Interscholastic Federation State Championship (States). Along with an incredible performance during the cross country season, he posted a prodigious time of 16:29 at States, finishing in 90th place out of 200 runners in the Division 1 for boys.

Owen’s drive to excel in training and competition has propelled him throughout his running career, as manifested in his achievements this season. This intense internal motivation, coupled with a desire to be a role

COURTESY MALCOLM SLANEY

Sophomore Owen MacKenzie races at SCVAL League Finals, where he placed fifth with a time of 15:52. This year, Owen was the only fall athlete from Los Altos to qualify for the CIF State Championships.

model for his teammates in work in order to reach his goal of makethic, has fueled him to his cur- ing it to States.” rent state of success.

Los Altos’ cross country coach “Owen’s always Kenneth Chism pushed himself also agrees with really hard and and This summer, we were MacKenzie been competiattributes Owtive by nature,” away on holiday in en’s success to his assistant cross Canada, and while character, namecountry coach [Owen's] sisters were ly in regards to and Owen’s his work ethic swimming in the mother Stephaand enthusiasm nie MacKenzie beach, he was off dofor training. said. “This sum- ing a 12-mile run.

“Owen keeps mer, we were [the sport] in — assistant coach Stephanie MacKenzie away on holiday the right perin Canada, and spective, and he while his sisters loves learning were swimming in the beach, he and being pushed because he was off doing a 12-mile run. He knows he needs that in order to made sacrifices he knew he had to be the best and really compete,”

Chism said. “He’s a fun person to be around and he’s been great to coach and mentor.”

In addition to his individual drive to succeed, Owen wants to set an example for his teammates and help them because of previous positive experiences with teammates who were also his role models. His motivation and perseverance, in conjunction with his achievements so early in his running career, make him an ideal role model for his teammates.

“Last year I was a freshman, and there were two amazing seniors, Ben Zaeske and Andreas Godderis,” Owen said. “I went on runs with them, they pushed me and they cheered for me when I raced. I was really sad when they left, but this year we had a ton of really talented freshmen, and one of them, Adam Sage, is close to my pace so we do our workouts together. I feel like Andreas and Ben were so good to me that I want to be just like how they were [to me] toward Adam.”

Looking to the future, Owen is excited to run for two more years in high school and continue to improve his times. His goal is to reduce his times by one minute by the time he is a senior in order to make bigger waves at States in years to come. For Owen, ambitious yet realistic goals are essential to success.

“I feel like if you don’t set your goals high, then you’re just going to achieve [lower] goals and then you’re not going to expect more,” Owen said. “I don’t like excuses. If you make excuses, you’re not going to achieve those big goals you set.”

For Christopher Grey, faith comes first CAMERON AVERY AVERY LUKE Business Manager Staff Writer

“If I really strive to become a better person and live the way that Christ has entitled me to do so,” senior Christopher Grey says, “I’ll achieve my goals and He’ll help me regardless of the circumstances.”

Christopher has been going to church with his family since he was young, and it’s clear that his faith has played an important role in his life, both in the classroom and on the soccer field. Christopher currently plays for the prestigious San Jose Earthquakes Academy, and he’s headed to U.C. Berkeley next year on a scholarship. There, he hopes to continue to play the game he loves while majoring in Computer Science — an impressive feat, KUNAL PANDIT considering that Cal boasts both Senior Christopher Grey tosses a soccer ball while showing his school spirit on his shirt. Next year, he will competitive Division I athletics play Divison 1 soccer for the Bears. and a world-renowned Computer Science department. blessed to get a scholarship, and “The campus is nice and the learned not to take his success for Though his natural athletic gifts are because of athletics, I’m able to go school offers academics as well as granted. His Christian upbringing apparent, it’s his dedication and work to a good institution. I think know- athletics, so that drove me to go has given him humility and a sense ethic that have aling that throughout there,” Christopher said. “They’re of perspective, and he acknowllowed his career to the years has driven one of the top computer science edges the opportunity that’s been progress as far as it has. me to work as hard schools in the nation so that’s also afforded to him.

Christopher’s sched- In terms of soccer, as I can to become a a plus. [And] it’s close to home.”

“There are so many other people ule is both demand- [God] gave me athbetter player.”

Christopher plans to use his de- that are less fortunate than we ing and rigid — he’s letic ability. NothFor Christopher, gree in conjunction with his sports are, and we live in such a nice area missed out on events ing without God is receiving an athletic background to improve athletes’ where we’re able to go to a good like Homecoming, scholarship to U.C. performance and rehabilitation. school and the teachers actually and he isn’t able to see possible, I believe.

Berkeley was just “I think my end goal would be to care about us,” Christopher said.

— senior Christopher Grey his friends as often as the next step on his use computer science to enhance “In terms of soccer, He gave me he’d like but he realizjourney as a student the sports analytics world, and try athletic ability. Nothing without es that the long hours athlete. Despite of- to make things better for players God is possible, I believe. You can have paid off. fers from a number and how they recover from injuries think that working hard is part of “I struggled with [the com- of other schools, among them Yale, and how they prepare for games,” the process of getting there but mitment level] throughout high Harvard and Georgetown, Cal was Christopher said.

God can take it away from you at school,” Christopher said. “But I was the obvious choice for him.

Above all, Christopher has any minute.”

The Talon December 13, 2016

JACLYN SAIK

Girls soccer is shooting for success YOLANDA SPURA Staff Writer

After tying with Homestead 1-1 at their first game of the Fremont Firebird Classic preseason tournament on Saturday, December 3, the Los Altos varsity girls soccer team looks forward to a strong season.

“I think we have a good enough team to compete with the best of them,” head coach Eric Madrigal said. “I know we got second place last year, so it would be nice to get promoted [to the upper league], at the end of the day that would be the ideal goal.”

Co-captain senior Quinne Woolley echoes Madrigal’s optimistic view on the upcoming season.

“We’re out here to have fun and to win,” Quinne said. “We are very competitive, and we’re trying to get our stuff together right now, since we’re a little mingled. We’re very excited about this season. We’re out here to have a good time.”

Starting off the new season with a tournment would prove to be very beneficial in the long run because it gave the girls more opportunities to work on their team cohesion.

“It’s new, we didn’t do the tournament last year,” Madrigal said. “We’re going to

YOLANDA SPURA

Head coach Eric Madrigal holds a team meeting on the field during practice. Before league play officially begins, the girls aim to adopt a more physical style of play.

play a few teams we didn’t play last year a lot of good offensive talent on the team as well, so it’s going to be a good team [and] everybody plays defense really well." building exercise. It would be nice to Still, the team’s relatively young age due win a tournament, but it’s more impor- to the many new incoming players presents tant to get the practice and get the girls a challenge. working together.”

“Although we have [many] returners, it Madrigal also emphasizes the importance still feels like most of our team is still young of the team’s mentality in winning games. and inexperienced playing high school soc“I think every game’s going to be a chal- cer,” Quinne said. “The style of play is more lenge for us, that’s how we approach things.” physical and less focused on perfection, Madrigal said. “We want which is hard for a lot of to make sure that we don’t us to adjust to. The untake anything for granted, derclassmen who are a lot so every game [and] every We want to make smaller than the juniors practice is going to be a sure that we don't and seniors who we play challenge, and we’re going against struggle the most to attack everything with take anything for with this.” granted, so every that mentality.”

Despite facing these chalWhile their first official game... we're going lenges, the Eagles are nearing league game is not until to attack everything the start of league play and hope to prove themselves as early January, the girls are with that mentality. already hoping to improve one of the top contenders of — head coach Eric Madrigal upon last year’s second the El Camino league. place finish in the De Anza “All of the teams who League. In addition, the we’ve played against [in Eagles hope to be contenders in the Cen- the preseason tournament] this year are in tral Coast Section (CCS) championships higher divisions than us, so I’m glad that this season. we are challenging ourselves,” Quinne “We’re trying to make it into CCS this said. “So far, we have honestly gotten way season,” Quinne said. “We’re hoping for a better after each game we’ve played, so I first place [in the league] this year.” think we will continue to grow and be betSo far, Madrigal has been impressed with ter. Everyone loves an underdog, and our the team’s chemistry. team is hoping to make a comeback.”

“We have a very balanced team, there’s a lot The Eagles’ first game of the season will be of good distributors," said Madrigal. "There’s against the Lynbrook Vikings on January 5, 2017.

Young, inexperienced, but ready to rumble a lot of repetition of moves because wrestling isn’t a sport where you think,” Testa said.

“Wrestling is a sport that is about instinct, so Senior Writer you have go to boom, boom, boom. Keep doStaff Writer ing that move and if that doesn’t work then Los Altos wrestlers competed in their first you have got to have an alternative, and you tournament of the season on Saturday, De- have to know it automatically.” cember 3. It marked their first competition Because of the young demographic, the upsince the passing of Coach Randy Jimenez perclassmen have had to take on leadership last April. Though many vetroles within the team. Howerans chose not to return to ever, leadership on a wrestling the team, those who did have team is different than in most high hopes for what they can All personal affairs, other sports. accomplish this season.

“You don't have to be the The school hired former all personal hardmost experienced guy or the wrestling coach Nick Testa to ship, schoolwork, best guy, but you gotta know lead the team this year. Testa family problems — what you're talking about, and coached the wrestling team you go in the room you gotta be able to display it,” from 1991 to 2000 and led them Gino said. “Meaning you gotta and you leave it all to win two division titles. Senior go in there and manhandle Gino Vega has had a difficult out there. somebody to earn everyone's time adjusting to the change. respect. And that's how leader— senior Gino Vega “Every time I’m in there, ship is earned. So for a brand I hit the door and say, ‘Hi, new team to come in there's Coach,’ but not to Testa [or the other coaches], gonna be no respect, that high-level respect. So just Coach Randy,” Vega said. “I still go in there leadership is gonna take a while to develop.” thinking he’s going to walk in saying, ‘My wife In spite of inexperienced wrestlers and a held me up, I’m sorry I’m late.’ And then kill us new coaching style, the team is determined to with conditioning. It doesn’t feel like he’s gone.” do well this season.

Gino is one of two seniors on the team, so most “I’d say that we are an ambitious team,” juof the wrestlers were never coached by Jimenez. nior Harry Halvorsen said. “We have a lot of The majority of the team are underclassmen young kids, a lot of freshman, and the older and had never wrestled before this season. With kids have got to step up and teach them the such a young and inexperienced team, Testa ropes. We are still looking to win. We are still emphasizes the basics above all else, believing looking to do what we did last year and better.” good technique makes for strong wrestlers.

Testa is aiming high this season as well.

“I’m big on technique which means we do “I just want everyone to get used to my style

ANISHA DESAI SANA KHADER

NATALIE MUNGUIA

The wrestling team begins their practice with a warmup. This season, Nick Testa takes over as the new head coach. of coaching, and I’d like to win the division title this year,” Testa said.

Before their first league tournament, the team had informally practiced with other schools to give the new wrestlers an idea of what a real match feels like. “[The purpose was to] shake out the nerves, like feel somebody else you never met,” Gino said. “Like going out here, never seeing the person’s face, you don’t even know them and you’re going to go and be on top of each other. A lot of people get nervous about that.”

The team is positive about taking on the changes this season by stepping up to lead the younger players and adapting to a new style

of coaching. Above all, wrestlers emphasize the importance of maintaining a close bond so that the team can work together cohesively and be successful.

“We’re on the mat every day with each other, no bubbles, no nothing,” Gino said. “Race, gender, age, experience, background, none of that matters. All personal affairs, all personal hardship, schoolwork, family problems — you go in the room and you leave it all out there. And on the mat is nothing but just, just wrestling. No problems exist on that mat. No nothing. Just the person next to you is your best friend. That is your family member, that is your worst enemy.”