FRI DAY, MAY 31, 2019
The Prospector Student Newsmagazine of Cupertino High School
[CONTENTS]
6 | NEWS
18-29 | SENIOR ISSUE
Blake Anderson leaving CHS
Spreads and articles dedicated to the graduating class of 2019
VOL. 61
NO. 8
THE PROSPECTOR
ISSUE 8 TABLE OF CONTENTS
NEWS
Senior Sendoff Rally
Blake Anderson Leaving CHS
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LIFESTYLES Cleaning out Your Backpack Bye Sister! Summer Bucket List
FEATURES Middle College Intro Claire Peters
SPORTS Varsity Captains reflect on 2018-2019 season
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See page 15 for information of our coverage on Instagram and about our upcoming online articles.
SENIOR ISSUE Opening 18 Spread Letters to 20 Seniors Where We 22 Will Go Next College Near Home: The Community College Path Kevin Lee: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
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What We Got Wrong
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Final Words From Prospector Seniors
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POSTSCRIPT Memory in 2018-2019
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Staff Issue 8 2018-2019 A Letter From The Editors-in-Chief
Exactly 12 months ago, both of us were sitting in SuperCue—I (Santosh) drinking my cookies and cream smoothie with boba and I (Esha) munching on my curly fries—wondering if we should transition our newspaper into a contemporary 32-page magazine. We opened up a blank google document, titled it “Magazine: Pros and Cons List”, and began jotting down points. Among the few cons, one read, verbatim: “May be difficult to adjust to the change.” Fast forward three months later, after committing to switching to a magazine and crafting various different plans, speaking with our publisher multiple times, and notifying everyone on our staff of the giant leap our publication was going to take, we were sitting in the same SuperCue—although I (Santosh) pridefully upgraded to drinking passion fruit milk tea and I (Esha) upgraded to eating curly fries with advanced chopsticks skills—and every forward step we took seemed to exemplify that one con. Our designers were going to design 4 pages instead of 2 every month? Our stories were going to be much longer than before? Compiling 32 pages each issue? Changing the entire year schedule? Every step of the way was undoubtedly hard to adjust to. But that’s inevitable when working on initiating such a project with an innovative and intrapreneurial nature. This year was an experiment year. Our designs were constantly different, we had many sections constantly changing. Our contents page (what you are reading right now) always had different types of designs, and our back page designs kept changing. We even tried a different logo on our front page for issue 7. And this issue, as you will see, is completely different from every previous one. It’s been a wild, ever-changing journey. Even though we had to hurdle around many obstacles, stress over last-minute design changes countless times, have to switch out many articles, and comb through survey data again and again, we would not have wanted it any other way. Because every time we saw one of your Instagram or Snapchat stories holding or flipping through our magazines where you or your organization was featured, every time we saw the student body react and respond to one of our opinions articles, every time we were going to hand a copy of our newest issue to one of our classmates or teachers and saw that they already had one, we knew that it was worth it. You made it worth it. So thank you, faithful readers. Thank you for everything. It is extremely difficult to publish this last issue, because this is the last time we will be sitting in SuperCue compiling the pdf of an issue to send off to the publisher. But we hope you enjoy this issue as much as we do. Class of 2019, we have special pages dedicated to our graduating class from pages 18 to 29. Thank you for sticking with us for so long, and make sure you come back next year—you won’t be disappointed. Signing off, this is: Esha Radhakrishnan and Santosh Muralidaran
editors-in-chief esha radhakrishnan santosh muralidaran
business manager kavya gupta
cover editor taha shafiei
staff writers anthony zhu suchetha kalluri
news editor lawrence fan features editors aashna shah kavya gupta lifestyles editors yooni park sydney liao sports editor kenneth jeon perspectives editor taha shefiei postscript editor angela ma photo editor sydney liao
senior issue editors leo rassieur tal ashkenazi varun shenoy casper wu christina shao neerali shah claire warner online editors ashley kang jeffrey xiong alexandria hunt sanat singhal darshini vijayakumar brandon hong ariana fahri stella jia keerthi lakshmanan sarah paulen advisor ann peck
Editorial Policy “The Prospector” is an open forum of expression for student editors to inform and educate their readers. it will not be reviewed by or restrained by school officials prior to publication or distribution. Advisors may and should coach and discuss content during the writing process. The staff of “The Prospector” seeks to recognize individuals, events and ideas and bring news to the Cupertino community in an accurate, professional and unbiased manner. “The Prospector” will not avoid publishing a story solely on the basis of possible dissent or controversy. If you believe an error has been made or wish to have your opinion expressed in “The Prospector,” please contact us via mail or email. Letters sent become the sole property of “The Prospector” and can be edited for length, clarity or accuracy. “The Prospector” editorial board reserves the right to accept or reject any ad accordance with its advertising policy.
Editorial Policy The Prospector 10100 Finch Avenue Cupertino, CA 95014 prospector.chs@gmail.com
NEWS
PHOTO BY SYDNEY LIAO
CLASS OF 2022 | The Freshmen show up to cheer on the seniors, who wil be leaving Cupertino High School next year. The Class of 2022 councilmembers are each holding a letter to spell SENIORS!
Seniors’ Final Rally Cupertino High School Holds the Senior Send-Off Rally to Pay Homage to the Class of 2019 ANTHONY ZHU staff writer
As the 2018-2019 school year comes to a close, Cupertino High School came together for one last rally to celebrate and send off the seniors of the Class of 2019. The theme for this year’s Senior SendOff rally was Game Night with the Seniors, with Seniors as Monopoly, Juniors as Twister, Sophomores as Battleship and Freshmen as Scrabble. The preparations for the rally included poster-making, balloons, and streamers. The Associated Student Body(ASB) also created a giant monopoly board with school-related events and locations. Like most rallies, this one took quite some time and effort to prepare for. “To be honest, part of me is kind of relieved that this is our last rally because council’s fun and stuff but sometimes it’s really stressful because there’s school
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and we still have to do a bunch of work. But it’s also really sad, because this is the last of everything: the last of making posters and the last of making decorations,” said Senior Class Council member Emily Han. This was also the last rally for Wes Morse as ASB Advisor, a position he has held for a long time. Next year, he is being replaced by Alvin Choe. The rally kicked off with an “Avenger’s Endgame” themed trailer celebrating the accomplishments of our seniors. Following that, the cheer team performed a routine featuring stunts, dancing, and the song “Old Town Road” by Lil Nas X. Next up was team cheers from two of the spring sports, badminton and baseball. True to the theme of the rally, teachers and students from the senior class faced off in
a game called “Are you smarter than a senior?” The teacher’s team consisted of Spanish teachers Kiki Canton and Jessica Schaetzke, Social Studies and ASB leadership teacher Wes Morse, and Law teacher Sean Bui. It was a classic trivia game where students and teachers competed one-on-one to be the first to press a buzzer and answer the question correctly to score points. Many students considered the highlight of the game to be when Ms. Schaetzke corrected a student’s Spanish translation of “What time is it?”, stating the correct translation, “Qué hora es?” The teachers ended up winning, and immediately after, Cupertino High School’s dance team, the Golden Spurs, took the stage to perform their routine. Earlier in the year, Cupertino High School, working alongside the Make-a-Wish foundation, dedicated a week to raise money for Tony Rey, so that he and his family could go on a trip to Disney’s Aulani resort in Hawaii. Tony was able to go on his vacation, and he and his family visited Cupertino High at the rally. Tony’s mother thanked Cupertino High School again and presented a slideshow of photos from their time in Hawaii. A representative from Make-aWish also added a special thanks to Mr. Morse for the work that he did with ASB to make Tony’s trip possible. Then, the Cupertino High School swim team and softball teams both performed their cheers on the gym floor, and one stu-
dent from each grade participated in an exciting race of Plunger Racing. After Cupertino’s KASA club performed a dance routine set to favorite K-pop songs such as “Kill this Love” by Blackpink, the
“It’s really sad, because this is the last of everything like the last of making posters and the last of making decorations.” - Senior Emily Han track and field team performed their cheers as well. The last game of the rally was “Minute to Win It”, and it required a duo of students from each grade. Each pair tried to complete the given task as fast as they could in under a minute. Lastly, the 2018-2019 Rally Commissioners Kainoa Miller and Kaitlin Linne introduced the Rally Commissioners for the upcoming year, Keerthi Lakshmanan and Kiyomi Muntz, and the two lead each class through the classic singalong which brought the rally to a close.
RALLY MEMBERS | Attendees of the rally clap and cheer at the action occuring on the center of the Gym. CHS students get very excited during a rally. PHOTO BY SYDNEY LIAO
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[CONTENTS]
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GOOD-BYE, TINO!
Blake Anderson and his last year teaching at Cupertino High School
ANGELA MA postscript editor
SUCHETHA KALLURI staff writer
Math teacher and National Honor Society advisor, Blake Anderson, will be parting ways with his job at Cupertino High School after the 2018-2019 school year. Having been a significant figure in the math department, and the school as a whole, Anderson’s decision to leave will affect many people and organizations at Tino. In the four years that Anderson has been teaching at Tino, he has taught Algebra 1, Pre Calculus Honors, and AP Calculus BC, as well as being a caring member of our CHS staff. “I really enjoyed having Mr. Anderson as a teacher because his classes are very informative and engaging, and he is always open to helping his students,” said junior and current AP Calculus BC student Rithu Eswaramoorthy. His decision to leave Tino was a hard one, with many conflict-
just an amazing math department and saying goodbye to them, and the students will be extremely difficult,” said Anderson. Anderson has been a kind-hearted and influential individual for both the CHS staff and students, and his departure will affect them all. However, Anderson has exciting plans for the future involving new schools and opportunities, as well as time with his family. “I think I’ll be a high school teacher in North Carolina. I think I have a job lined up. I don’t think I could say where just yet. If that doesn’t work out or if I wanted to take a break—which I don’t want to, but if I took a break, I might teach some college calculus courses next year at my wife’s school,” Anderson said. During his time at CHS, Anderson was a fun and caring indi-
“You should really study what you love. That’s what I did, and I feel like it’s worked out for me.” - Blake Anderson
ing feelings and potential future paths. With his family in mind, Anderson feels that this decision is a necessary and hopeful one. Said Anderson, “We have been chasing a dream, my wife and I. She wants to be a professor, and she got a job in North Carolina; that was the decision process.” Anderson has been a long-time member of our community, attending Prospect High School with his parents living only two miles away from CHS. His roots in Cupertino make his departure all the more challenging. “I’m going to miss the students and also my colleagues. We have
vidual who brightened his students’ day, and for them and future students, he leaves several words of advice. “When you go to university, it’s cliche to say, but you should really study what you love. That’s what I did, and I feel like it’s worked out for me. I met my wife that way, and a huge part of my life is centered around mathematics, which is what I love. So I would encourage everybody to go after what you love,” Anderson said. Cupertino High School is grateful for his time spent teaching at the school and will always remember his dedication and love for his students and the school.
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LIFESTYLES SYDNEY LIAO lifestyles editor / photo editor
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bye sister! KAVYA GUPTA features editor / business manager
Breaking news! Tati Westbrook has responded to James Charles’ third apology video, released at 2:00 AM this morning, and the situation is not pretty. In fact, it has become so volatile that… Now that I have your attention, let’s take some time to talk about Jeffree Star. The unapologetic, truth-telling makeup artist has been amassing a huge, cult following on Youtube since 2006. Since then, Star has been involved in feuds and controversies involving almost every other dominant figure in the makeup community, including the Kardashian sisters and of course, James Charles. Among the revelation of the highly-publicized betrayal of Tati Westbrook by Charles, stories have been not-so-quietly whispered throughout the makeup community, revealing an apparent predatory behavior coming from Charles, directed especially towards heterosexual men. Star chose to deliver his own take on the twisted story, going as far as to call Charles “a danger to society.” However, Star has made similar statements as Charles has been accused of, and unlike the subjectivity and lack of receipts in Charles’ situation, But Star was involved in a bigger outrage than just these. He has come under fire for these messages before, in another dramatic scandal involving him, Laura Lee, Manny MUA, Nikita Dragun, and Gabriel Zamora, who were all once trendsetters in the makeup community. Although his tweets were brought up first, he urged and encouraged his fans to dig up similar tweets from the other four gurus, resulting in their collective banishment from the front lines of Youtube. Star played the role of a prosecuted victim, amplified by LGBTQ+ support of a marginalized genderfluid, gay person, allowing his own tweets to go forgotten. Admittedly, it has been some
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time since most of these comments were made, and in the toxicity of ‘cancel culture’, the media steals away the opportunity for second chances and change. However, Star’s failure to address his comments and the hypocrisy of him describing others as “pure evil” for inferior crimes lessens his opportunity for redemption. Star profits off of the controversies of his rivals by unnecessarily pitching in with baseless, drama-stiring comments targeted specifically to put an end to careers. The biggest takeaway from this entire controversy essentially comes down to one question. Why weren’t either James Charles or Jeffree Star cancelled earlier? After all, their infamous tweets and comments have existed for quite some time without going unnoticed. Charles’ made outrightly transphobic comments in 2019 itself, but he came out of the situation relatively unscathed. Perhaps it’s because the internet is willing to give passes to their favorites, until fingers are
Why is your brother a predator? Why did you really move back to New York City? Exactly. Shut the f*** up. -Jeffery Starr to Jame’s Younger Brother pointed and a feud is begun. It’s good that the internet is finally done with James — the face of the beauty community absolutely should not be a predator. This message probably isn’t “Jeffree Star-approved”, but maybe his judgement isn’t as commendable as Youtube portrays it to be. Instead shine the spotlight on less drama-centric beauty gurus such as NikkiTutorials and Bretman Rock. The fickleness of the makeup community can only be erased by switching our focus to genuinity and legitimacy.
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FEATURES
C o e l C o l d e l d d i d i M M 12
ollleeggee
Intro
LAWRENCE FAN copy assistant
Although most high school students spend all four years learning at one high school, some opt for middle college, a path that offers an opportunity for teens to attend community college in high school. Founded in 1989, Middle College allows upcoming juniors and seniors in the Fremont Union High School District to transfer directly to De Anza College, where they complete their graduation requirements. The tuition fee for De Anza College will be covered, but students are expected to pay for transportation, additional books, and lab fees. A major factor behind high-schoolers taking Middle College is to escape the competitive environment at a conventional high school. With rigorous courses, high expectations, and constant peer pressure, the high school experience can be stressful at times. Transferring to Middle College gives students a chance to start fresh, leaving behind their high-school frustrations. Having so many courses and opportunities, Middle College students will feel more comfortable pursuing their passions rather than trying to meet everybody’s expectionations. Along with a less competitive environment, high schoolers decide to take on Middle College for a multitude of reasons. In Middle College, students have more freedom in course selection, as they can choose from a variety of courses open at De Anza College; these courses go toward the student’s college transcript as well as a high school transcript. Also, without a set time for school, middle college students will have more flexibility in their schedule. While students taking middle college are essentially college students, many of them continue involving themselves in their former high school. Students often partake in extracurriculars in their former high school after class ends. For example, athletes often commute to their high school to take part in sports practices. Teens in Middle College also try to keep in touch with their high-school friends, whether it is through social media and texting or through meeting up in person. Due to having less guidance in courses and being around older individuals, students participating in Middle College must demonstrate responsibility, maturity, and independence.
Claire Peters Middle College Senior SYDNEY LIAO lifestyles editor
To most high school students, the prospect of going to college seems foreign and daunting. However, Senior Claire Peters is one of a number of CHS students who have chosen to take the unconventional but efficient route of middle college, an option that allows them to take college courses on a community college campus. There are two types of middle college: a program where one solely takes college classes, and one offered to seniors who only have Voices of Modern Culture (VMC) and Government/Economics to graduate high school. Peters is in the latter program, and it allows her to pursue courses geared towards her future while still fulfilling her high school requirements. Peters, who is in the De Anza middle college program, takes a diverse selection of college courses—automotive lab, automotive lecture, environmental science, critical thinking, and Native American arts—on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. For her, Tuesday is the busiest, with a schedule packed from morning to night with little breaks. However, Peters enjoys her classes, which eases the stress. “I go to my two classes at Tino in the morning and then I go straight to my 12:30 lab class at De Anza, which lasts four hours. Then I go to sports practice, but now that the season’s over, I relax at home until I have to be back at De Anza at 6:00 until 9:30 for another class,” Peters said. Each person has a different reason for attending middle college, but a majority do so with great forethought and consideration towards their college career. Said Peters, “I’m going to use the credits that I gathered from college now for my general ed requirements, and hopefully I can relax a bit more in college—take less classes or take more classes that I enjoy.” Opening up more freedom in college course selection is just one major advantage of attending middle college; those do are also rewarded financially. “I really like it because I can take college classes, and it’s less expensive than if I were to take them at a four year university,” Peters said. However, there are other factors to consider, and middle college may not be the right option for everyone.
“I’m not around school as much as I want to be, so I only have a connection [with my peers] through those two classes I’m in and after school sports,” Peters said. “Also, sometimes you don’t get the classes you want at De Anza. I have to fulfill a twelve credit minimum. This quarter I’m taking an online class because I needed more credits, but I don’t really care much about the course. It’s not a very interesting class, especially since it’s online.” Additionally, middle college is not the best place to make long-lasting friendships. Peters has made several friends here and there, but the friendships grew harder to preserve upon the termination of each class.
“I was worried that people would look down on me since they’re all older, but it’s completely opposite; everyone’s super kind and welcoming.” - Claire Peters Said Peters, “We only have one class together for twelve weeks, and then we probably never see each other again. At Tino you see everyone in the halls, so you can maintain a relationship, but at De Anza, you don’t. I make friends in each class and then I don’t see them again.” But for Peters, the pros outweigh the cons, and she greatly enjoys her middle college life, despite being one of few high schoolers in a sea of college students. “I was worried that people would look down on me since they’re all older, but it’s completely opposite; everyone’s super kind and welcoming,” Peters said. “Also, there’s a misconception that college professors don’t care about you, and that they’re cold and distant and don’t get as involved, but I find that untrue with most professors. They’re really cool people, and if you put in effort and talk to them, you can build a really great relationship.” Peters will be attending California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo in the fall to study construction management.
FOLLOW
@chs.prospector This issue, 11 staffers have been and are currently working collaboratively to create multiple multimedia packages and online supplements. Among them include an environmental series, where staffers will explore corporate pollution, what specifically CHS can do to combat climate change and raise awareness, sustainability in Cupertino city and at CHS, and environmental issues in the greater Bay Area. Additionally, The Prospector launched two summer series: an exhibiting feature on the diversity of styles students show off at school through their fashion, and an intimate look into the sanctuaries of many students at school, their bedroom. We will be featuring students in both categories periodically throughout the summer. Check below out the ones that have already been released!
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SPORTS
“My favorite memory this season was when I won my 3rd place match at Central Coast Secion (CCS). The top 3 people in CCS gets to move on to the state tournament. Qualifying to the state tournament has been a goal of mine for a while and to see it pay off, it felt amazing.”
AASHNA SHAH features editor
-- Robert Piercy, Boys’ Wrestling
“My favorite memory has definitely got to be when our team beat Mitty during the semifinal round of Central Coast Section (CCS). We unfortunately lost against them during Tino senior night, but winning against them in CCS was beyond amazing. It wasn’t just the feeling that we beat Mitty, but also the fact that the girls field hockey team was a finalist against one of the toughest teams, Los Gatos, which hasn’t happened in ages. This is a season that I’ll never forget and I am forever grateful to have been part of such a phenomenal team.”
-- Hoa Doan, Girls’ Field Hockey
Var
“For our win against Oakland Tech in the first round of Nor-Cals, we traveled all the way up to Oakland and it took about an hour and half. We were playing on their home court, and the score was like 12-1 in the beginning. We were losing and everyone could sense that it wasn’t going to turn around. But then John (Duan) and I shot the ball really well the whole game, and we both finished with a lot of the team’s points.With 20 seconds left in the game, John made a 3 pointer to win the game, giving Cupertino its first Nor-Cal win ever for basketball. We were all really excited, we had executed our game plans well and we were just really happy with the outcome.”
-- Jack Townsend, Boy’s Basketball
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captains look 2018-2019 spo
“My favorite memory from this year’s season was our first team bonding. From a captain’s perspective, I want the team to get along well and for all of us to become close with each other. During the bonding, I could just see the connections forming between the players. It was really satisfying to watch, and it was also a lot of fun playing games, listening to music, and eating food together.”
-- Lyric Rosa O’Hayer, Girls’ Soccer
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back on their orts season
“My favorite memory was during our nationals competition, on the second day. Day 1 was rough for the team because of our delayed flight and a lot of other hectic things. But on the second day, we really pulled through together and did really well.”
“Without a doubt, my favorite tennis memory this year was making it to the North Coast Section (NCS) level. Our team actually drove to Folsom twice and ended up playing our final match at home. The first time, the smoke from the recent fires affected the air quality and therefore cancelled our match, and the second time, we played 2 matches and got rained out for our final match. We ended up getting 2nd in Nor-Cals, which is the state level for our team, and as captain, I couldn’t be more excited. Going to Folsom was not only exciting as players, but as a team, we bonded more than we could have ever imagined. With the 3 hours there and back and sharing rooms, we spent a lot of time together, playing games and watching movies together at night before bed. Despite many obstacles this season, our team pushed through and motivated each other to get to the next level. Over the course of almost 5 months, out team grew so close to each other and I wouldn’t trade these memories for anything else.”
-- Ruhi Dhayagude, Girls’ Tennis
-- Naomi Gau, Cheer
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SPREAD DESIGN BY CHRISTINA SHAO AND VARUN SHENOY
LETTERS to seniors
LETTER FROM THE CH(I)EFS Dear Class of 2019, We’re hungry. As in, we can be defined as being hungry. Not in terms of food or drinks—although the evidence on that front cannot be disputed—we mean to say that we, the class of 2019, are hungry for growth. From every rally, to fundraiser and sporting event, one can clearly see the amount of spirit, enthusiasm and joy, the key ingredients we pour into our academics and extracurriculars that make us successful and ambitious for more. We have contributed enormously to the Cupertino Pioneer name, and that’s because of our desire to feast and enjoy life. In a world with such diverse cuisines and cultures, we’ll taste life in its sweet, bitter and eye-watering moments. It’s truly crazy to think that we are graduating and about to embark on the next journey of our lives. Whether it’s a four-year college, two-year college, the military, work experience, or a gap year, we know that each and every one of you will continue to exemplify excellence in your post-high school plans. We’ve only got the kitchen for so long, make sure to keep cooking, even when you’re full. Now, go dig in. With love, Esha Radhakrishnan and Santosh Muralidaran
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SPREAD DESIGN BY LEO RASSIEUR
LETTER FROM THE ASB PRESIDENT Dear Class of 2019, We made it. Four years ago, I thought I would be serving on Speech & Debate and taking classes related to Business. I quit both after Freshman year. We all came into high school with expectations of what clubs we’d join, friends we’d make, and activities we’d pursue. Like me, I’m sure a lot of those expectations changed. And that’s not a bad thing. After four years of exploring, some of us have found what we truly enjoy doing, and others are still trying to figure it out. For me, it took a whole year of Chemistry Honors, and then an extra year of AP Chem for me to realize that Chemistry… is definitely not my thing. For others, it took four years of performing in CAT or speaking with MUN to realize they wanted to pursue a degree in music or political science. Regardless, we explored what sparked some interest in us and learned a little bit more about what subjects or activities we like… or strongly dislike. As we journey into the next chapter of our life, I want to wish us all the best of luck. Cherish the memories you made throughout these last four years. Remember the good—the inflatable t-rex homecoming dances, senior ditch day, crazy helmet games, prom, sports game wins. Remember the bad—the 4 am essay cram sessions, tournament losses, bad breakups, bombed tests–and everything in between. I’ll never forget seeing our class hold up gigantic golden 2-0-1-9 balloons, sitting on each others’ shoulders, jumping up and down, cheering together as one class in our CHS Lip Dub. Thank you, 2019, for giving me the high school experience of a lifetime. I’m excited to see the places we’ll go. Signing out as your ASB President, Angela Ding
LETTER FROM THE CHS ADMINISTRATION Class of 2019, One of the most rewarding parts about working with a new graduating class every year is the manner in which each class expresses their unique skills and character. Reflecting on the Class of 2019’s four years at Cupertino provided me with an insight into how this class differentiates themselves from previous graduating classes. First and foremost, the 609 students in your class distinguishes it from the prior 58 classes to walk the stage at graduation. This bubble of students flooded our classrooms, athletic facilities, theater stages, music rooms, robotics room, and dance floors. This flood of students bolstered ouralready strong, comprehensive high school, into one that carries an exemplary reputation in California. In addition to size, your class also established an atmosphere of care and support for one another. Having attended events in the performing arts, athletics, the FUHSD board meeting, and school dances, I witnessed your class cheering, yelling, whistling, and loving one another. The encouragement crossed over to different activities, as athletes attended drama productions, and drama students at sporting events. The Class of 2019 exemplified this cross campus celebration better than any class I have seen in my 12 years at Cupertino
High School. Individually, the Class of 2019 left a number of memories on my brain, all for different reasons. Hoa Doan’s thoughtful re-dedication of the Vietnam Memorial blended US history, her own family’s story, with the 60 th birthday of our school. For the combination of grit and creativity, I will always remember Diego Zamora weaving through SCVAL defenses to help CHS earn a league championship in football. Kainoa Miller’s on-stage brilliance, not only awed me, but inspired a nudge from my mother during Pippin, with her declaring, “Wow, he’s GOOD”! Yes mom, he is. Though I share these three individual memories of your class, many others come to mind as well, that are too personal and private to share in this space, but still demonstrate the signature perseverance, brilliance, kindness, and confidence of this class. I am not one for advice, particularly to a group of young people far more intelligent than myself; however, as a 45 year old, I believe I have learned a bit of wisdom. Succinctly stated, never let someone else tell your story- write your own forward, narrative, and epilogue. Good luck Class of 2019. Andy Walczak
The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. Class of 2019, dream big, stay positive, work hard, and enjoy the journey ahead. 21
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“The only thing that should make le hope against hope that you are tak 22
SPREAD DESIGN BY LEO RASSIEUR
eaving high school bearable is the king the best part of it with you.� 23
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En route to Community College
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SPREAD DESIGN BY SANTOSH MURALIDARAN
SANTOSH MURALIDARAN editor-in-chief
VARUN SHENOY senior issue editor
While it may be surprising to many students, community college provides a venue to help students follow their true passions.
“[Attending De Anza] is actually a great path because of the Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) program and it is a lot less expensive than most other places.” - Senior Minh Truong Senior Angela Lee is going to attend community college next year largely to save money. Yet her community college path is atypical compared to other Cupertino students, as she opted for Pasadena City College, a community college in Pasadena, Calif., and intends to use her close proximity to Los Angeles to help her further her acting career. Said Lee, “Going into the entertainment industry, all the opportunities are either located in southern California or New York. Knowing that New York is all the way across the country, I don’t know if I was quite ready to make that jump. So I figured Southern California would be my next best bet. And I love Southern California.” Seeking success in a nonconventional career pathway, particularly in film and theatre, doesn’t necessarily require a college degree, as evidenced by renowned actors such as Matt Damon and Chris Pratt. Lee believes that attending a community college will initially provide her with the flexibility to find acting opportunities to improve her portfolio while immersing herself in the academic components of theater in school. “Personally, I know for a fact that I wanted to study the history behind theater, learn the art form itself and study literature. Literature is a huge part of theatre as well.” For other students, community college acts as a diving board to a plethora of other educational opportunities. Antonella Pardo was accepted to the University of Southern California for the 2020-2021 school year. Even though she didn’t plan to initially attend community college, she is optimistic about the chance to take classes nearby while completing general requirements. Said Pardo, “I got accepted to USC for next year so I see myself getting a USC degree in biology. Community college will help me with that because I can still go to community college for
the first year and then transfer.” Minh Truong, a senior who spent this academic year at De Anza College as part of the College Now program, plans to attend De Anza for one more year, citing the Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) program, financial advantage, and flexible course timings as his motivations. Said Truong, “I liked the freedom of taking more classes not offered at my high school and more freedom with managing my time [in College Now]. In De Anza, I could pick classes in the afternoon or even in the night so I could manage my time better.” Students who chose to attending community college early on, such as Joseph Chung, discovered that choosing to go to a local school opens the possibility of having a part-time job in the field of their future career while taking courses. Said Chung, “I want to go into medicine, so my parents encouraged me to go to community college so we can save money. I also feel like it will be more beneficial for me to still stay in the area and find a part-time job where I can work and study at the same time.” Regarding the stigma that exists against community college in Cupertino, Truong urges individuals who think negatively about community college or its students to change their mind. “[Attending De Anza] is actually a great path because of the Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) program and it is a lot less expensive than most other places. I would [say to people] with negative views of community college to be more open-minded and accept the change that [community college students] are experiencing now.”
“Going into the entertainment industry...I figured [Pasadena City College in] Southern California would be my next best bet. And I love Southern California.” - Senior Angela Lee
Yet not all seniors planning to attend community college experience resentment from their peers when discussing their college choice. Said Chung, “I am actually surprised that a lot of people are not discriminating against De Anza. When people ask me what college I am going to, I say De Anza and they respond with ‘Oh, that’s a really great way to save money!’ and they are really understanding. From personal background, I live with a single mother and therefore it is a struggle to get all that money for college, and I think people are very supportive.”
Embry-Ridd le Aeronautic al Universi ty
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It’s not until after receiving their bachelor’s degree when most students have a distinct clue as to where their true passion lies. But for senior Kevin Lee, his goal in life has been clearly defined. As a soon to be student of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Lee hopes to graduate ready for take-off as a airline pilot. Inspired after flying in a airplane in sixth grade, Lee spent every free moment from then on studying on how he could relive the experience, as a pilot, not a passenger. Said Lee, “I was just really interested in how everything worked in aviation. I began researching more about planes, and from there, my interest just grew.” Afternoons in middle school for Lee were devoted to watching Youtube videos about pilots and their daily lives. He explored topics ranging videos detailing the technical processes behind designing an aircraft to those that simply documented the experiences of an airline pilot. Said Lee, “There was a this one video I saw of a pilot who went to an aeronautical school. And from that point on, I considered attending a university that focused on aeronautics.” Although Lee considered many schools to receive his degree from, he ultimately choose Embry-Riddle for their unparalleled national rankings. Said Lee, “It’s a well-known aviation school. It will be a huge plus for me going there, and then going to an airline afterwards.” Although Lee was aware of the application requirements for Embry-Riddle, he did not have to deviate from the average high school path to be eligible. He urges others to keep their minds open their senior year in high school, and know that all opportunities are open to them as well. “Applying to Embry, was like applying to any other school. They had an optional essay, but I decided to write it anyways to really demonstrate my passion for aviation.” With all his preparation for aviation school since sixth grade in mind, one can be sure only the sky’s the limit once Lee graduates university. “My plan is to get all my licenses at Embry-Riddle and then apply and get into an airline, and then become a pilot and hopefully do international airlines,” said Lee. Many have questioned Lee’s interest in aviation, wondering whether the choice he is making to go to a vocational school is worth narrowing his scope in other fields for, but Lee persists. “I can only think of exploring aviation. It’s been my lifelong dream and passion. I can’t imagine majoring or even thinking about doing something else. I know I wouldn’t find pleasure in anything other than aviation. Taking this decision and pursuing it all the way to the end of the line is something I know I would be proud of,” said Lee. Lee hopes his story will set a precedent for others interested in an unconventional career path to follow. Said Lee, “To anyone with a passion, do what you enjoy doing. Don’t let anyone distract you into doing something else. Make your choices in life keeping your interests and happiness in mind.” SPREAD DESIGN BY CLAIRE WARNER AND NEERALI SHAH
kevin lee
PERSPECTIVES
CASPER WU senior issue editor
All of us seniors put so much on our plate, Food from T4 to Target always readily ate.
The
Each diner with their own forks and knives,
YouTUBE
Some prefer to nibble while others engulf whole lives.
Whirlpool seems like a dope
But all of us seniors have also gradually learned,
place to eat, Along with it’s sisters,
Some tastes are too salty, too rich, too burned.
Snaps, Grams, Book and Tweets. And
Fear not, for we’ve all have had bad meals,
while at times they can be a nice treat, don’t check
Struggles with spilling tea, beans, and half-baked feels.
in for a table too often or on repeat. Don’t get me wrong
So here’s a version of Tino High School Yelp,
it’s a nice place to go, but maybe not on school nights or
Of 1-star restaurants to avoid, The
hope it helps.
Drama Queen
rough days though. An addicting distraction these cafes can be, to your main course in life and ability to be happy. Use these places to connect with a friend or two, but just make sure that in doing so,
Drive-Through is
you don’t lose connection with you.
nowhere to stay, even if on Instagram they comment “Omg slay bae.” Their advertised burgers may seem delicious on the outer, but take an actual bite, they’re colder than an artic shower. Please cut your losses if you’re already in the driveway. As to get a little in return, a great sum you must pay. If you ignore this warning and continue to consume, just remember these words when you’re sick of toxicity in the Bathroom.
There are too many restaurants us seniors have found to suck. We have tried to dish them all out to you with no luck. So we figured that with our final pieces of advice, to tell of some things to look for in a fulfilling meal and maybe life. Don’t rush to finish a meal because your neighbor already has, sit down and enjoy it, you’ll miss it if you don’t make it last. Tipping and compliments are always a welcome addition, sob e generous with those as you may make good days come to fruition. And when the good inevitably reaches you back. Stomach it humbly, as you really are a snack.
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SPREAD DESIGN BY CASPER WU
27 29
CHRISTINA S. “High school was a lot of experimenting to understand what I am passionate about and what I hope to accomplish in the future. I am thankful for all the friends I made along the way and will always cherish the memories.”
VARUN S.
“Every unpredictable FBL trip, RedBull-driven sleep night at a hackathon, and thusiasm-filled journalism we’d publish as The Prosp helped me create my own u sense of “Tino,” one that be vastly different from any “student attending the scho
SANTOSH M. “I can’t possibly describe my past four years in this little bubble, but if there is one piece of knowledge that has stuck with me, it’s this: This is the only time in your life where your only real responsibility is to learn. Not bump the 89 to an A or get that officer position, but merely learn. Think about how lucky you are everyday.”
TAL A.
28 10
SPREAD DESIGN BY ESHA RADHAKRISHNAN
“If I were to give everyone in this school advice it would be to try talk to more people and break out of your own shell. Everyone is as awkward as you are, believe me, and most of the people that don’t seem to be awkward have definitely had an awkward moments of your own.”
CLAIRE W. ESHA R. “Because of high school, my mindset has changed. Where others might get hung up on stark differences, I see wonder, eccentricity, and possibilities for growth.”
A less enissue ector unique would y other ool.”
“No, our lives are not linear functions. But we should take comfort knowing that the unique challenges we face today will leave permanent impacts on our graphs, producing a function unlike any seen before. And isn’t that more beautiful than a straight line?”
CASPER W. “While I don’t know exactly how all of my attributes contribute to make up who I am today, I know that if I keep working on myself for tomorrow, I’ll be able to find out soon enough. And that gives me hope.
LEO R. “For me, the most important memories and takeaways from high school aren’t the AP classes I took...What will never go away is the fact that I broke my personal boundaries and learned to explore outside of my comfort zone.”
NEERALI S. “Seek the opportunities you wish you had before, and make room in your heart for meeting more people. Every stage of our lives will bring more hardships and celebrations, so walk through these chapters with a clear and open mind.”
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