The Prospector (December 6,2011) by The Prospector

THE PROSPECTOR

LIFESTYLES: Why to shop online FEATURES: An in-depth look at the people who make up the ELD program CUPERTINO HIGH SCHOOL’S

VOLUME 53 NO. 3

10100 FINCH AVENUE, CUPERTINO CA

ONLINE AT WWW.CHSPROSPECTOR.ORG

New clubs to meet interests of a diverse student body HONG SUH lifestyles assistant

which will hold its first meeting next semester, will engage in competitions of a different nature. For those unfamiliar with the basis of the club, amateur radio is exchanging radio messages for non-commercial purposes. The competitions in which the club is planning to participate are called DX competitions. “They’re about operating as far as you can. It’s very exciting because as you’re tuning across the radio, you suddenly hear someone talking from China or Europe,” club president sophomore Sunny He said. In stark contrast with clubs that bring students to interact through competitions, Hindu Student Council seeks to educate its members through cooperative learning in Indian and Hindu culture. “We want to offer our perspective, as Indians, as Hindus, support our viewpoint with evidence and present it to the people. We’re not going to force them into believing what we believe; it’s up to them,” co-president junior Aditya Gande said. They plan to bring religious speakers, hold philosophical discussions and participate in community service events in order to reach their high-minded goal. The Council will begin its meetings during second semester like many other new clubs this year. Bay Area for Clean Environment, also commencing next semester, offers students

DECEMBER 6, 2011

CSF INTRODUCES NEW STUDY BASH JASON CHEN lifestyles assistant

The influx of applications for club status has increased campus diversity but may undermine the original purpose of school clubs. This year, the school approved new, unique clubs such as E-Sports Gaming Club, Amateur Radio Club, Hindu Student Council, Cupertino Bike Party and Bay Area for Clean Environment. Each club caters to a previously unrepresented interest of the student body. Some clubs, like E-Sports Gaming Club and Amateur Radio Club, aim to participate in competitions. Senior Steven Zhao, president of E-Sports Gaming Club, and a few of his friends noticed many restless students interested in competitive gaming. “I thought it would be a shame if our school didn’t have a club to represent them,” Zhao said. More than 60 enthusiastic gaming fans, aficionados and novices alike, crammed into Room 212 to witness the debut of Gaming Club. Its members plan to enter tournaments in which they battle screen-to-screen with participants from other schools. On the other hand, Amateur Radio Club,

It’s good to have a big variety to pick from, but a lot of separate disjointed efforts are not as strong and detract from clubs themselves - Senior Shona Hemmady

FLIP SIDE: Prameela Boorada

CHRIS TRACEY

NEW CLUBS | Below, junior Daniel Stone participates with Bike Party; above, other students play games with E-sports.

57 clubs at CHS 12 6 3 3

new club requests

new clubs approved this year new clubs denied this year

new clubs pending this year COMPILED BY HONG SUH

an outlet for political involvement in the community. Said club president junior Youseph Pavlovic, “We’ve been protesting a cement quarry in the Cupertino Hills which has not been in accordance with federal and state environmental regulations. We’re trying to make them comply with pollution regulations and to keep them from expanding before they have valid permit documentation.” Pavlovic has also started a petition online regarding the cement quarry that has already garnered 30,000 signatures. With this club, he seeks to make local environmental changes and spread awareness of environmental problems. Cupertino Bike Party was created for students who may be intrigued by the workings of a bicycle. “We try to encourage people to get to know their bikes more, exercise, be green and have fun with it,” vice president sophomore Yiann Chou, said. The first meeting of Cupertino Bike Party attracted about 80 people who were eager to learn more about the club while munching on complimentary donuts. Cupertino Bike Party plans to

JASON CHEN

organize group bike rides, bike tune-up events, bike washes and occasional informational meetings about bike safety and miscellaneous topics. In all their differences, club representatives agreed that new clubs are a blessing to the school because they offer a wider array of options through which students can explore their interests. However, there are some negative symptoms that arise with an inflated number of club applications. Many club proposals have been rejected because of overlapping purposes. Club commissioner Shona Hemmady suggested that this may dilute the value of individual clubs. “Some of them seem to be really similar to other clubs so we sometimes encourage them to expand existing clubs. It’s good to have a big variety to choose from, but a lot of separate disjointed efforts are not as strong and detract from clubs themselves,” Hemmady said. The school should be wary of redundant attempts that may undermine the purpose of clubs on campus, but it certainly has sound reason to be proud of its diverse groups of earnest and passionate students.

The California Scholarship Federation (CSF) will hold a “study bash” on Sat, Dec. 3 from 1 to 5 p.m. in the cafeteria, in partnership with the Stress Less Cafe, to help students study for finals. The club wants to try something that other clubs have never done before and also further reach out to students through a combination of volunteering and academics. The study bash is a pilot event geared toward helping students focus and work together in groups, and is similar to ASB’s Stress Less Cafe or the library’s Student Center for Success. Unlike Stress Less, the study bash is exclusive to CSF members. Also, the bash will be different than the Stress Less Cafe because it will have sign ups; people who want to go must to RSVP for the event. With the RSVP system, the club aims to promote efficiency by gauging the number of students that will be present. The officers believe that people who RSVP will have a better work ethic and will be more motivated to study. “A lot of people go to the library on weekends to study, but are sometimes not productive. By going to the bash, they would actually get stuff done because there’s a teacher there for them to ask for help on. This would be somewhere for them to not get off track,” said Prachi Joshi, co-vice president of CSF. At the study session, history and ELD teacher Kelly Roush, the event adviser, and the CSF officers will be present to supervise students and help them stay focused. The club hopes to hold the study bash as a study session, not a social event. The officers want to provide a quiet study environment so that the students can work productively. There will also be designated subject tables so students will not be distracted by other subjects. Students studying similar subjects can also help one other at each study table. In addition, some food will be provided for the students that attend the event. The officers of CSF are facing the stresses of junior and senior year, so they want to help fellow students handle the stress. They believe that group study sessions can be very effective for students, if facilitated. By teaching each other, students can study their own subject better. Also, the Study Bash is still related to CSF’s commitment to academic prowess and scholarships. “CSF is supposed to be a club based on scholarship achievements, but besides doing grade checks to make sure our members our eligible, we don’t do anything academically related at all. The study bash will change that,” Joshi said.

2 NEWS the Prospector 2011-2012 STAFF

Cupertino High School Established 1958 Vol LIIl., No. III | 2011

editors-in-chief harini jaganathan eric jang news editor azadeh rongere opinions editor sindhu gnanasambandan features editor jesse zhou lifestyles editor natasha sharma sports editors sunwoo jeong abhishek zaveri ﬂip side editors alya omar michelle cheung copy editors kevin chu victoria duan madhuri sathish business manager virena galotra

THE PROSPECTOR

Student receives recognition for her services to Christmas in the Park ebrated the holiday season with the annual Christmas in the Park event that has brought together families and friends from all over the Bay Area to rejoice in the holiday spirit. The festivities take Junior Fatema Elbakoury proved that place at the Plaza de Cesar Chavez in the heart of volunteering yields benefits when she was downtown San Jose, where the park is transformed honored by the vice president of Christmas into a fantasyland with a 60-foot-tall giving tree, in the Park for her contribution to a commuthe quaint Lima Train ride, more than 60 aninity tradition. mated exhibits and a photo booth to take pictures For the past 30 years, San Jose has celwith Santa. Christmas in the Park is a nonprofit event that requires countless hours of volunteer service. Over 257,000 people are needed each year to make this event possible. This year, National Honor Society (NHS) participated in Christmas in the Park by helping set up the plaza. Student volunteers worked at the volunteer booth, renovated displays, made and repaired costumes for animated figures and helped in the Santa booth. As an active NHS member, Fatema Elbakoury spent 20 hours volunteering at Christmas in the Park. “I helped make the lights that would go on the tree, washed the garlands for the tree and painted the stands that the booths would stand on,” Elbakoury said. “I also helped stencil and paint the snowflakes that COURTESY OF FATIMA ELBAKOURY go on the walls surrounding the entrance of the park, paint REAP THE REWARDS | Elbakoury is rewarded for her diligent work. NATASHA SHARMA lifestyles editor

opinions nikhil kanthi assistants laura kao features virena galotra assistants katie martin lifestyles hong suh assistants jason chen sports chris tracey assistants anand hemmady ﬂip side chris cai assistant

adviser 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, ideasand 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 e-mail. Letters sent become tbe 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 in accordance with its advertising policy.

candy canes and I put glitter on the ornaments that would go on the tree.” Elbakoury found her experience at Christmas in the Park to be extremely fulfilling. She received the chance to work with new people and learn how to be a team player. “I think that I am so lucky to be in this position! The Vice President of Christmas in the Park recognized me for my efforts. I get my name put on a metal placard on the fence surrounding the park and a certificate for college apps! I am very

happy,” a gratified Elbakoury said. Christmas in the Park is open through the first day of the new year and it is a great way to celebrate the holiday season while CAI CHRIS supporting the community’s efforts to uphold tradition.

UN Club helps Palo Alto UNICEF store by fundraising VIRENA GALOTRA features assistant

news seong hwan yoon assistants anna huang

DECEMBER 6, 2011

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) gift shop, located in Palo Alto, buys international fair trade items and sells them for profit to benefit their organization. The store has teamed up with the United Nations (UN) Club to sell their items at school, and the club is currently selling bracelets and greeting cards. All the money made through sales will be sent straight to the store along with any unsold items. The UN Club makes no profit from this venture; they are simply helping the UNICEF store raise money by selling their products on campus. The bracelets the club is selling are made by Guatemalan artists, while the greeting cards are made by UNICEF. The prices of the bracelets range from $1.25 to $2.50. They come in a variety of colors and sizes. In addition, some bracelets are woven from thread and others are made of plastic or beads. Greeting cards cost $1.50 each and are printed with various holiday designs. One of the cards features a unique holiday message written in five different languages. Sales will last through the end of the semester and possibly into the month of January. Club members will have a booth in the quad and sell the items during brunch and lunch. They may also sell the bracelets and cards in other places around

the community. The club may work with the UNICEF store again if the bracelets and cards sell well. Said UN Club president Shona Hemmady, “We’re going to see how well we do the rest of the semester. If this is successful, we’ll see if we can get different things from the store to sell.” Last year, the club got in contact with the UNICEF store for the first time to arrange for community service opportunities for club members. The initial plan was to have students volunteer at the store. However, student response was low because the store was rather far away and students needed to be trained before they could volunteer. This year, Hemmady visited the store once again and was inspired to help the store sell their merchandise. “We saw that a lot of their stuff was really nice and people at school would want to buy it. But it was also pretty cheap so they would be willing to pay for it,” she said. Hemmady hopes that the sales will bring more attention to the UNICEF store because it is struggling to make money and attract customers. “Since the store is not in a good location…we want to increase their market and get their name out so people can help support UNICEF,” she said. The goal of this project is not to benefit the UN Club, but rather to help UNICEF directly through the sale of bracelets, greeting cards and possibly other items in the future.

JESSE ZHOU

MERCHANDISE | The items sold include braclets and rings.

JESSE ZHOU

DECEMBER 6, 2011

Fantastics promotes district-wide spirit at Lynbrook HS JESSE ZHOU features editor

The Olympics will early next year through the Intra-District Council (IDC) Fantastics event, due to take place on Jan. 13, 2012. The event is essentially a district-wide athletic competition that includes events like a potato sack race and dance off, with many supporters rallying on the sidelines. The final product is an interschool “Olympic” competition, in which 40 students from each school in the district will compete against each other in the name of school spirit. The plan is to base the entire competition on an IDC rally, with the addition of competitors who battle against their rivals at the center stage. The competitors will sign up beforehand via a first come, first serve written application, and the audience on the side will pay a small fee for admission. The IDC planning committee is still planning some logistical parts, such as the price of admission, the amount and cost of food, the competitions being planned, and more. Despite it being the first year the district has done something like this, IDC commissioners David Won and Grace Kim are extremely optimistic about Fantastics. Kim thinks of the event as an op-

THE PROSPECTOR

portunity for all students across the district. “IDC Fantastics is truly going to be a one-ofa-kind event that everyone should really take advantage of,” Kim said. “In the past, IDC has put off this kind of rally-based event in fears that it would create unfriendly competition between schools, but this is the first year that we are actually bringing the idea of a [district] rally to life.” Won also shares Kim’s excitement, although he acknowledges that there is still much planning left to do before January. “We needed to figure out how much space we needed, whether it should be free of admission or not, how many athletes it would take, how many people would go,” Won said. “We’ve been discussing from the beginning of September. I still think that it’ll definitely be a success because all the other schools put a lot of effort and deliberation into making something this big.” Lynbrook High School currently plans to host IDC Fantastics, instead of Fremont High School as previously planned. No matter where Fantastics is held, though, both commissioners highly encourage attendance at the rally. It will truly be the first time students will be rallying not for their class, but for their school as a whole.

JASON CHEN

IDC PROMOTION | ASB students advertise IDC Fantastics by preforming as diﬀerent high schools in the district.

The cafeteria modernizes A month ago, a pair of vending machines were introduced as a new addition to the cafeteria. The district made the decision to purchase these machines as another way for students to purchase snack food. Said Chean Hoang, Food Service Manager, “We still have a lot of kids that come to [the lunch lines]…but the vending machine is an option that offers more variety. It provides other items that [the lines] do not carry.” The company that sells the vending machines, Natural Cravings, restocks them with food almost every day. They JASON CHEN also provide the school with a portion of the profits made. NOVEL VENDING MACHINES | Cafeterias are modernized district-wide. Some of the items sold in the machines include water, juice, granola bars and chips. If the new machines do well, the district might purchase additional machines and place them in other parts of the school, such as the quad. COMPILED BY VIRENA GALOTRA

Financial stress prompts yearbook fundraisers MICHELLE CHEUNG ﬂip side editor

Every year, the yearbook staff has a certain budget with which it works to produce the school’s annual yearbook. For the 2011-2012 school year, ordering 1,200 yearbooks will cost approximately $57,242. “We fundraise to supplement the money that ASB provides us with, or if we want to change to a better printing company,” Leslie Robledo, the adviser of the yearbook staff, said. This year, ASB provided Yearbook with $56,302.56, of which $302.56 came from the Yearbook account. However, money from fundraisers is required to pay for tax, shipping and extras, which amount to around $8,000. The most effective fundraiser, which usually brings in about $6,000, has always been the baby ads for the graduating senior class, which are placed near the end of the yearbook. Yearbook also earned around $600 from carwashes last year, $800 from the Cupertino tumblers this year and $120 from Clubs Day. “I’m a little worried this year, because the deadline for baby ads is close, and we’ve only earned around $1,000 so far,” Robledo said. The school’s significant population increase not only means that more people have chosen to purchase ASB cards, but also that the yearbook has to add more pages to accomdate for the school, which requires more money needed from fundraising. If by any chance Yearbook is not able to raise enough money to cover the cost of the yearbook, color would be the first thing they would have to sacrifice. “Competitions can still be won without color,” Robledo said, “but we would be the only school in the district to have a black and white yearbook.” Last year, Yearbook was a participant in the competitions at JEA/NSPA Journalism Convention in Anaheim and was able to take home its first Pacemaker Yearbook award, in addition to a second place award for Best of Show. Additional changes were made to the yearbook’s usual plan this year as well. Due to the growing population of the school, yearbook had to cut out certain pages in order to fit the increased number of students. Two years ago, Yearbook changed the printing company that it had been with to a different company, Herff Jones. Composed of former credentialed teachers, the Herff Jones printing plant is located in Utah and is said to have outstanding service. Although the cost of the yearbook is slightly higher from this company, the noticeably better quality is worth the price. “We would rather have a quality book and pay a little more,” Robledo said, “We get better product and better services.” So far, the yearbook staff has never had a year when the money earned from fundraising did not cover the extra cost of the yearbook. If there is ever extra money from fundraising, it is often rolled over to the next year or extremely handy. “Last year we were lucky to see something wrong on the cover page and without our extra money, we would not have been able to fix it,” Robledo said.

OPINIONS Occupy Wall Street movement prompts needed discussion about economic disparity ANAND HEMMADY sports assistant

Three months ago, very few people would have known about the 1% and the 99%. Today, however, due to the attention the media are bestowing upon the Occupy movement, the topic of economic disparity has entered the realm of popular culture, and people are now far more aware of it than ever before. Occupy has made its mark on the contemporary world, and its methods are definitely effective. Many people, though, are of the opinion that the Occupy movement has not yet ushered in any sweeping legal reforms or tax amendments. And while this may be true, there is no denying that the movement has had an enormous effect on the public. The Occupy movement has brought light to the issue of economic disparity. Coupled with the massive amount of attention the movement is receiving, Occupy’s impact is huge. How many Americans were aware about the extent of disparity prior to Occupy? People may have known about income disparity between the rich and the poor, but did they know the severity of it? Did they know that, according to Forbes magazine, the top 1% of the U.S. controlled 42.7% of the nation’s financial wealth? Upon discovering this fact, many Americans were riled up and hungry for legislation that would implement a stricter, Robin Hood-esque tax on the 1%. With the gargantuan amount of information that is easily available via the internet, the Occupy movement has sparked curiosity within and thus educated Americans about the severity of the rift between the rich and poor, which in turn will cause the public to begin pressuring lawmakers into penning legislation that will force the 1% to share their 42.7% of the wealth. According to the poll site Gallup, 56% of all Americans “closely” follow the movement. Comparatively, only 30% of Americans watched this year’s Super Bowl. Occupy is almost doubly as popular in America as the Super Bowl is. Occupy is not changing laws directly; rather, it is informing the public about disparity with the hope that the masses will apply their will on the government. And as with all change, this may happen in time. The Occupy movement has made changes in the minds of Americans. The movement should be receiving praise for muscling the issue of disparity into the forefront of popular culture. Occupiers are doing a good job of exposing the truth of economic inequality to Americans, and their method of protesting and camping out in large groups is attracting media attention and spreading their message effectively.

DECEMBER 6 2011

STAFF EDITORIAL

Students need more respect for substitutes

tudents sit in seats they are not assigned to, work on homework for other classes and conveniently ignore instructions when it benefits them. This picture of insolence and disobedience is unacceptable to most, if not all teachers. If this kind of behavior is not tolerated by teachers, there is no reason why it should be tolerated by substitutes. It is no secret that classrooms under substitute teachers sometimes become rowdy and unfocused. Students should be more considerate of substitute teachers and try to understand the position they hold. Substitute teachers come into classrooms full of students who have a level of familiarity with one another. Every class has a unique dynamic to which students are already adjusted. Substitute teachers are placed in the position of leading such a class when they do not know any of the students or in some cases, the subject matter. Students need to understand that it is not the job of the substitute to be the teacher, but simply to fill in for them as classroom manager. Even though substitutes enter classrooms without a full understanding of the class, they deserve just as much respect as teachers. Just as substitute teachers are unfamiliar with students, students are unfamiliar with substitutes. Students usually do not know anything about substitutes, and this lack of familiarity causes students to lack respect for them. Thus, students have little difficulty taking advantage of them. In contrast, students usually have some knowledge of their teacher’s background and personality. This adds to the student’s respect and understanding of the teacher. Substitute Kimberly Vincent feels that students

“I think the Occupy movement is a good idea, but without a set goal in mind, it causes unnecessary issues. It’s good that our generation is trying to take a stand but we are not going about it the right way.” - Junior Victoria Votino

would be less inclined to take advantage of substitutes if they had some idea of who they are as human beings. Vincent is passionate about biology and is currently pursuing a master’s degree. However, in a 50-minute period, neither the students nor the substitute have much of an opportunity to get to know one another. Regardless, it is important for students to understand that substitutes have their own stories and lives. It is futile to take advantage of a substitute — they report what happens in the classroom to the teacher. It is impossible to gauge what exactly a substitute will write in his or her report to a teacher, so students should beware. In addition, teachers generally make sure work assigned on days they are absent is completed. If students do what substitutes ask, students benefit by relieving themselves of extra homework. More importantly, it will benefit students to know the material. Whether or not students are tested on activities completed when a substitute is present is inconsequential. Teachers give particular assignments on days when they are absent because they believe that those assignments are important for students’ education. In addition, students should take it upon themselves to help substitutes facilitate the assigned activity. If a substitute needs to pass out papers or find something or someone in the room, help them. If they cannot figure out how to turn the projector on, assist them. We urge students to be understanding toward substitutes and make their experiences better at this school. This will foster a more productive and respectful classroom environment for all.

“I am a supporter of the “Occupy Everything” movement because I see it as an affirmation of the democratic beliefs that our nation stands for. If anything has been able to inspire so many individuals to get up and actively participate in such a widespread movement, then there clearly is an issue in our society that needs to be addressed.” - Senior Roger Wang

CHRIS CAI JA

THE PROSPECTOR

DECEMBER 6, 2011

Let breaks be breaks: free of homework SEONG HWAN YOON news assistant

The Oxford Dictionary’s definition of the word “break” is “the act of separating oneself from a state of affairs.” If this is so, then are our vacations really “breaks?” Students are often so burdened by their stressful workloads during vacations that they do not have the luxury of dropping everything and relaxing. Homework, on top of SATs and extracurricular activities, serves as a permanent barrier between students and a relaxing break. Not only do homework-free vacations help students recharge their strained brain muscles and get organized before school resumes, but also they are essential in creating an unique individual and character that will shape who students become after leaving high school. Everyone, even those who seem to balance numerous AP classes with countless extracurricular activities, has their limits. A break without homework is a perfect opportunity to kick back, relax and get ready for another cycle of hard work. Students are therefore not burned out by the time they go to college, where everything really matters. However, an ideal break without any homework rarely exists. “If I wasn’t doing homework, I was either volunteering for the Turkey Trot or eating dinner with my family. So basically I was doing homework all day Friday, Saturday and Sunday,” senior Nathan Hui said. Although Hui believes that homework helps students to learn efficient time management, he is encumbered by the amount of homework over the break and wishes he had more time to work on his Robotics designs and college applications. “During the break, I start working around eight. The first couple hours, I do my college apps. And everything else is AP Lit,

AP Chem and more AP Lit,” Hui said. Though teachers readily agree with this concept, homeworkfree breaks rarely materialize due to the STAR and AP exams looming in the near future. Teachers are under constant pressure to prepare students for college to the best of their abilities, especially in a competitive environment like the Silicon Valley. Fortunately, a couple of years ago the first semester final was moved from January to December — before the winter break — so students can enjoy their two weeks of no studying before the next semester begins. One of the most crucial benefits that a homework-free break can offer is shaping students’ characters. It is extremely difficult to change the personality and habits found in high school. Students should be more focused on discovering who they are, not simply seeing themselves as an “A,” “B” or “C” student, but as the individuals they want to become, and how they can contribute to their future society. Senior Patricia Zhang volunteers at Second Harvest Food Bank every Saturday morning, bagging fruits and vegetables such as apples, pears and corn, to distribute to low-income areas. Zhang’s morning shifts usually lasts for two to three hours with one break in between. “Volunteering for Second Harvest, even doing something as small as bagging fruits, has made me realize the value of work... I feel that we are able to contribute to well-being and health of community,” Zhang said. Zhang is currently swamped with college applications and homework, so she barely has time to go to Second Harvest. Nevertheless, she would serve even more for her community if not for the substantial amount of homework. The extra days that a vacation provides help students chew on the idea of self-discovery and return to school as more determined, hardworking and diligent individuals. When it boils down to a student’s character or his or her own grades, who he or she choose to become stays with him or her far beyond his or her college degrees.

Recommendation letters:

no masks allowed

NIKHIL KANTHI opinions assistant

In today’s classrooms, there is often a discrepancy between whom the teacher sees and who the student truly is. Out of the desire for a perfect letter of recommendation, some students don a mask of perfection in the hope that it is better than their authentic self. For these students, this letter is the primary reason the teacher does not see their true selves, and the cost of this letter is a genuine student-teacher relationship. These students are always self-conscious of the image they project to their teacher. If they feel outshone by livelier members of the class, they feel the pressure to offer an even wittier response to regain their position as the apple of the teacher’s eye. Such pressure smothers the real teenager inside of them. What do these students gain by playing this game? If the teacher realizes that the student is attempting to fabricate his or her image, the damage done to the relationship will be permanent. Also, students often underestimate the teacher’s ability to look beneath the mask. Teachers have been separating the truth from the lies for most of their careers, and no one likes being deceived. If, however, the teacher falls for the act, whatever letter of recommendation is written will more closely resemble the analysis of a fictional character than a report on a real person. The evidence will be acts put on by the

77%

23% CHRIS CAI

Homework during Break COMPILED BY SEONG HWAN YOON 381 POLLED

Homework spread out through year

student, not genuine interactions. A crippled relationship or a weak letter of recommendation are the only outcomes of this facade. At the same time, there is a difference between portraying a fake identity and displaying one’s best qualities. Students can always play to their strengths and try to show their teachers the best parts of themselves; after all, this is what all relationships are based on. By not wearing a mask but rather putting their best foot forward, students paint a brighter picture for the teacher. In an attempt to be the student whom the teachers want to see, students lose sight of what makes them special. Everyone has their plus points, and instead of creating a fake image for oneself, students can highlight these plus points in their interactions with the teacher. The fault, however, is not entirely the student’s. With so many students to analyze and focus upon, teachers have to rely on what the students show them. An AP teacher simply does not have the time to dig up the diamonds in the rough, and so the shyer students have to make themselves visible. The system forces teenagers to come out of their shells and raise their hands when they do not feel like sharing. There is no use in the teacher seeing the reserved teenager. If the student is reserved, the teacher has nothing to analyze. There is a distinct line between playing up one’s strengths and being fake. A teacher only sees what a student shows him or her, and a genuine student will always exhibit a better image than a fake one. The notion that one would need to don a mask to put on a good face is a sign of insecurity. It shows a lack of self-confidence if one believes that his or her true face is not worthy of a glowing letter of recommendation from his or her favorite teachers. Putting on a mask is a sign of weakness, while being authentic is a sign of confidence.

FEATURES HE LLO ! MY NA ME

DECEMBER 6, 2011

New student with foreign exp VICTORIA DUAN copy editor

Fitting into cliques, forging strong friendships and simply finding your way around campus all take time to do. By the time students reach high school, they know where they fit in. New students, especially those with limited Engish skills, are anomalies in this system, and must find a way to fit themselves into a pattern already familiar to their peers. Though she is a new ELD student on campus and is struggling through the hardships faced by many foreign students, freshman Jeevani Kodepati remains confident that she will be able to overcome language barriers and curriculum differences. One of the greatest differences she noticed between India and the America was the way the schools in these regions accepted new students. Kodepati is new to the school, but not to the states. A couple of years ago, she moved to Illinois for a single grade. But because she lived in Illinois for so brief a period, many of Kodepati’s more memorable recollections are from her life in India. When she looks back on her return to India after living in Illinois, she found that despite being in her native home, it is much more different to be a new student Sapin in India than in America. Dahal “In India, students don’t really get to Junior know new people. They don’t really want to nepal know new people and [have a] friendship with them,” Kodepati said. “They just ignore.” Pleasantly surprised by the welcoming manners of both students and

hyeonu cho Freshman korea

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Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless. -Mother Teresa

Sashand moghadasi Junior Iran

Delldiane lumantas Freshman Phillippines

AL CO L P MP HO ILE TO D GR BY AP KE H VI N

Teaching two different worlds

The similarities and differences between teaching AP and ELD

JESSE ZHOU features editor

The student from the English Language Development (ELD) program has tears welled up in her eyes. She rubs them away as history and ELD teacher Kelly Roush, who just informed her, smiles and gives her a hug. This particular ELD student has just passed the California High School Exit Exam, and is shocked that she has been able to accomplish such a feat. Roush sees similar reactions in her Advanced Placement U.S. History (APUSH) class after the AP Exam as well. Roush finds that seeing these similar reactions amongst her both ELD and History students makes her teaching experience worthwhile. Roush’s ELD and APUSH classes are completely different in curriculum, and she knows that there are some differences between the students in each class as well. After teaching ELD for three years and APUSH for two years, Roush has found that the American education system can be drastically different from others around the world. Students are affected differently by their own country’s education system, so when most come to an American school for the first time, they might not know how to act in the classroom environment. “Students might need specific instructions on what to do when a teacher is lecturing, or what to do when they have a question, or how they’re sup-

posed to address their teacher,” Roush said. “Simple things might need more instruction, but it’s amazing to see those [ELD] students two years later in regu classrooms. It’s amazing how fast ELD students are integra the community.” However, even though her students are different fro other, Roush treats all of her students in the same way. Sh jokes to both of her classes — although sometimes the reac her classes are dramatically different — and she tells all of dents to “go forth and conquer” from time to time. Still, som the students in ELD especially amaze Roush. She though particularly astounding that students could translate Eng their native language quickly. Roush said if others look at the big picture, they wo that both classes are quite similar. The students in each class erally the same after some time, even if some come from around the world. No matter what nationality students are thinks that students are fundamentally the same. “Whether it’s the AP exam for my APUSH students or it’s the CASHEE exam for my ELD students, I know when dedicate themselves and work hard, they feel such a sense o plishment when they achieve their goals,” Roush said. “I ing able to share that with them, and I love being able to s throughout the year. It’s fun and rewarding as a teacher.”

THE PROSPECTOR

DECEMBER 6, 2011

periences adapts to the USA teachers on campus, Kodepati found that communicating with the school’s populace was much easier a task than it was in either India or Illinois. She is currently enrolled in the school’s ELD program, and many of her new acquaintances are classmates who are in similar situations. But even with their comparable positions, Kodepati finds it difficult to effectively communicate with her fellow ELD students because of the language barriers between them. Many ELD students feel more comfortable speaking in their native languages and forming friendships with students of similar nationalities. “I don’t understand them because they speak in their language,” Kodepati said. “I just want to talk in English!” Kondepati works hard on her speaking skills, and cannot understand why her fellow classmates would rather speak in their native tongues. And when they do speak in English, Kodepati often finds their speech difficult to comprehend. “With me they kind of speak [English] but I don’t really get what they’re speaking,” Kodepati said. Though she is a freshman, Kodepati is currently enrolled in ELD 2, and is almost fluent in English. In India, she attended an English Medium School, a school where courses are taught in English, but she never had the chance to truly practice until she found herself in America. However, in Illinois, the ELD program existed in the form of a single period that replaced her literature class. The range of academics being taught and covered in her ELD classes here are also of a much broader range and variety than in her previous school. “We have every single subject, except in English. We have less grammar; it’s all based on question and answers,” Kodepati said. “Here, I’m learning about essays...and it has all body and parts of speech.” In her new environment, Kodepati strives to find a comfortable niche among new friends, the ELD program aiding her along the way.

How ELD changed a student for the better ANAND HEMMADY sports assistant

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Mizuki sakai Freshman Japan

yuhong zhang sophomore china

Ada Madejska Junior poland

ELD

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Coming into a new country with people who speak an unknown language is a challenge that could intimidate anyone, and junior Joon Kim was no exception. Kim came to America from Korea in 2008. Kim initially faced much difficulty, but with help from the ELD department, Kim was able to acclimate to American culture and overcome the language barrier, which allowed him to become involved in the school. Like most ELD students, Kim came to the school knowing little English. He started ELD in middle school and graduated from the program in his freshman year, with the intent of becoming fluent in spoken English. Said Kim, “When I moved to [the] U.S., my English was really bad, and I was too shy to talk to anybody. My main goal was to graduate from ELD within two years, and to do lots of talking in order to improve my verbal English.” Luckily for Kim, he found plenty of support in ELD. The ELD program uses a well laid out curriculum that integrates speaking, listening, reading, and writing. According to Kim, the ELD program worked well for him. “For me, [graduating from ELD] was the first big step I had in America. By the time I graduated from ELD, my English got much better, and I was not the old, shy Joon anymore. I could talk to

people,” Kim said. Kim also attributes his success to the attitudes of everyone involved in the ELD program. Teachers and students both worked hard to improve the students’ verbal and written communication skills. Said Kim, “My most memorable experience in ELD was seeing how everyday, even though none of us had fluent English skills, we all tried our best to learn English. The teachers, too, tried their best to teach us English, which must have been very tough for them, since we did not even speak the same language.” Kim found that ELD has turned him into a different person. He is much more outgoing than he was prior to graduating from ELD. He is even taking American Literature Honors as a junior, which is very remarkable for someone who three years before could barely speak English. This school year, Kim also became the first former ELD student to join ASB in school history. Kim says he tried out for ASB in order to inspire other ELD students. “I was first surprised to hear that in the history of Cupertino High School, no ELD people were in ASB,” Kim said. “It was not that they couldn’t make it, but they never tried. This was one of my motivations that pushed me to try for ASB. I really want to encourage ELD people to participate in school events or clubs more actively. Kim feels that he owes much of his success to ELD. Kim’s journey is a concrete example of the positive impacts that ELD can have on a student’s life.

En gli

Life after ELD graduation

The English Language Development (ELD) program helps those learning English and adapting to the surrounding culture. Connecting to a student from a completely different culture on an academic level is a challenge for educators, but here, it is accomplished and the results are significant. Individuals who have never spoken English develop fluency on par with those accustomed to American schooling. Teachers find unique methods to help each and every student, fine-tuning their writing and communication skills. However, it is not only the methods of the teachers that drive students to success, but also the initiative these English learners take in order to communicate effectively. ELD is an integral part of the school. It encourages foreign language students to adapt to life in an American high school while retaining and sharing their own cultures.

WRITTEN BY ABHISHEK ZAVERI

LIFESTYLES

DECEMBER 6, 2011

ALL THE SINGLE LADIES {and men} WOULD YOU GO TO WINTER FORMAL STAG?

Y/N

96%

A SHAR

“UP IN THE CLUB WE JUST BROKE UP IʼM DOING MY OWN LITTLE THANG”

NATASH

HOW TO GO TO WINTER FORMAL

{STAG} NIKHIL KANTHI opinions assistant

When I ask my friends whether they want to go to Winter Formal stag, they look at me like I’ve just suggested jumping off the roof of the gym. So, before you cross out my case, let me clarify what I mean: going stag is not going alone. Going alone means being solitary, lonely and miserable. Going stag, on the other hand, means partying with your friends and enjoying yourself at one of the most fun dances in high school without worrying about a date. But won’t you feel lonely during the couples’ dances? It all depends on why you are going to the dance. If you are ailing from a broken heart, a dance may not be the best place to go. However, if you are going simply to have a good time, then the couples around you should not matter. To the students who do not want to go with a date but still want to have fun after finals, Winter Formal should not be seen as an exclusive date club. Forgoing a date means at least 45 more dollars in your wallet and no need to constantly check if your date is having a good time. The most important fact to keep in mind is that dances are a social experience. If you choose to go without a date, make sure you gather your friends to go with you. The more the merrier, because it can be quite awkward if it is just the two of you in your posse. The members

of the posse should preferably be going stag as well; there is no point in being the third wheel amongst 20 couples. Since you have already determined a group to go with, meet at a house or a restaurant before the dance for a party. The nature of the party should depend on the nature of your friends. If they are not fans of black tie events, have an informal party with movies and games at a house. Considering that finals will have ended, make sure that the occasion is still informal enough for everyone to be relaxed after such a stressful week. Also, considering that you have no date to worry about in terms of picking up and dropping-off, you can be a lot more spontaneous with the before-party. The last issue to consider is transportation. If you’re going to go to a dance, you might as well go in some style. Try to rent a limousine. The dance is formal after all and cramming into a Camry just does not seem to fit the occasion. Once you are past the photo booth and the extra slow songs, Winter Formal is nothing but a fancy dance. There you are, all decked out in your best attire, with your friends, and the finals are over! There should be no reason to mope about not having a date. In the end, Winter Formal is what you make of it. You could be sitting alone at home with a bucket of ice cream while watching soap operas, or you could be having a blast on the dance floor with all of your friends and maybe a stranger or two. Go stag and have a night worth remembering.

N & JERRY E B : S D N IE R F Y O NEW BO MEET YOUR TW CTION}

H REJE T I W L A E D {HOW TO ALYA OMAR ﬂip side editor

Literally cry yourself a river. Get swept in the tides of your misery and ride the current all the way to your freezer. Fling that sucker open and eat every Ben and every Jerry before either dude can inform you of their disastrous nutrition facts. Since your life is over, write a will. Cry more when you remember the person to whom you wanted to give everything rejected you. Question life. What went wrong? It was the flowers, you convince yourself. X probably saw you tear them out of Safeway’s parking lot and now she thinks you are a teenage hooligan of some sort. Maybe it was the joke you made during tutorial that ended up sounding horribly racist. Perhaps it was simply that you felt an attraction so strong that you made up your mind that the feelings were mutual before X did. In any case, continue tracing the letters of the stamp on your forehead that whispers “not good enough.” Become a flopping ball of awkward. Map out every interaction and conversation starter minutes before actually seeing X. In your mind, sculpt a smooth, suave, 2 good 4 u version of yourself and approach X. Listen to your voice

crack and forget how to make your face move in a human fashion. Try to hate X. Remind yourself of the pimple that X once had. Silently celebrate when X’s status on Facebook receives fewer “likes” than yours and convince yourself that had she accepted your offer, she would be living a life of more pokes and happiness in general. Fail to hate X. You two shared a connection that gave you a reason to pursue X in the first place. Your attempt to establish a relationship does not invalidate the chemistry that was there, and it certainly should never nullify how much X means to you. Smile at your Dr. Phil moment and feel yourself growing up. In the future, say hello to X in the hallway. During one of these moments, realize that your world is not broken and that in fact, the earth remains as steady as the legs that continue to hold you up. Notice that seeing X does not fill you with pain or shame anymore. I am not going to tell you that rejection is not a big deal, because for all I know, your X might be a total babe. Maybe X was Mila Kunis. Maybe your X was even your best friend. But asking X the question does not mean that X owes you the answer you were looking for.

E OUT

PEOPL HOW TO ASK Say this: “Sorry hun, I have this policy where I donʼt go to dances with my really close friends...

5 WAY

WINTER O T E L P O E P K S S TO A

FORMAL

1. Ask your teacher to make “____, will you go to formal I hun,the Say this: “Sorryon with me” the last question next test or quiz. policy where I have this donʼt go to dances with my really close friends...

2. Give your prospective date four pictures of shopping malls throughout the day. At the end of the day, ask him or her out to “4Mall.” 3. Ask him/her what the best way to ask someone to formal is. Run home, make all the necessary preparations and do exactly what they said. 4. Serenade your friend (who is in on this) in the middle of the quad. When you get to the asking, turn and ask your desired date. 5. Get Taco Bell hot sauce with the “Will you marry me?” message, white out “marry”, and write “go to formal with me”. COMPILED BY SINDHU GNANASAMBANDAN

THE PROSPECTOR

DECEMBER 6, 2011

WINDOWS SHOPPING

Students choose online retailers for individuality ANNA HUANG news assistant

y M te ri I vo at a f th on g d bin th ase pro ak o h rc uld e cl OS s u o p w th AS itʼ . e e m ... us lin ly b fro ars tat s t ll ab go do gs n I i y at nt R NG th twe the FU f ON r fo rd oMYR Lo

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“

Since the advent of the Internet, the online apparel shopping industry has boomed, especially among younger generations. Convenience and price have been traditional motivators, but style has recently become a factor as well. While online stores in the past have been mere branch-offs of already established brands, people are now flocking to the web in search of more unique styles that cannot be found in a typical mall store. Large chains tend to design clothing that appeal to the masses, creating accessible but sometimes monotonous products. While this blanket approach works for the majority of consumers, not everyone is satisfied with the limited selection that is available in stores. The desire for more original and distinctive fashions has led to the growth of online-only retailers such as ASOS, a UK fashion store that has over 8 million visitors per month, and Modcloth, a Pittsburghbased business with about 2.3 million visitors per month. Other online destinations that are popular among teenagers are Etsy, a website dedicated to vintage and handmade products, as well as Karmaloop, which specializes in urban fashion and streetwear. Senior Myron Fung, who admits to shopping more online than in person, has found some of his most interesting pieces on the web. For Fung, finding items he can afford is just as important as finding items he likes. “My favorite thing that I purchased online would probably be the cloak I got from ASOS for twenty dollars... it’s Lord of the Rings status,” said Fung. Junior Jenny Kim agrees that items bought online are more likely to be one-of-a-kind. “I shop online if I want something that no one else has. Especially the ones with no physical stores, I know that no one else will have the same thing.” Although there is a vast selection online, apparel almost never looks uniform on every person. The full effect of a piece of clothing is hard to imagine without examining it firsthand. Some websites, such as ASOS, offer free shipping on all orders, which gives shoppers a chance to try on a piece of clothing with any consequences. For most sites, however, shipping is only free when the price of purchase is over a certain amount, and when shipping is not covered, it can sometimes cost just as much as the item. “It’s convenient when websites have stores as well because you don’t necessarily have to order. You can drive there and try it on to see,” said sophomoreFarica Carroll. Despite the inconveniences of not seeing an article in person before buying, there are still some devotees of online shopping who take it very seriously. When asked about the websites he uses, senior Andrew Qu refused to reveal the specifics. “That’s not up for discussion! It’s insider information.” Although there are drawbacks, as with every form of shopping, the Internet may prove to be an unexpected treasure chest for those willing to spend the time and energy. While the risks are big, the rewards may prove to be bigger.

JASON CHEN

10 online retailers 1. www.ruelala.com 2. www.hautelook.com 3. www.parkandbond.com 4. www.asos.com 5. www.gilt.com 6. www.modcloth.com 7. www.zappos.com 8. www.ideeli.com 9. www.karmaloop.com 10. www.lulus.com COMPILED BY NATASHA SHARMA

COMPILED BY NATASHA SHARMA

SPORTS o t t at i

e w s S:

T U O Y TR

DECEMBER 6, 2011

t i t ge

ALL PHOTOS BY JASON CHEN

FACING THE COMPETITION | Above: Junior Lucy Chian iuggles the ball, attempting to pass the players in front of her. Left: Soccer players play a game of scrimmage, demonstrating their teamwork, abilities and communication skills to the coaches.

AZADEH RONGERE news editor

Fundamentals, Finesse, Fitness and Fun. The Varsity girls’ soccer coach, Luther White, incorporates these four F’s during tryouts to ensure the success of the Varsity and Junior Varsity teams for the 2011-2012 soccer season. Inspired by the training tactics of his mentor Bruce Lee, White designed challenging tryouts to build the best possible teams. “I feel it is important for the players to express themselves individually and show confidence and emotional content when they play,” White said. White feels that there is no better way to test his potential players’ fortitude than with intensive training. His drills incorporate the variety of skills he expects his players to adapt, whether it is ball-skill, endurance, strength or dedication. “I like one-on-one drills because you get to see the heart, determination and skill sets of each player. It is very hard to hide in a one-onone situation,” White said. However, White is constantly searching for unique drills to challenge his players by researching and adopting training plans from University of North Carolina women’s soccer, St. Anthony’s High School Basketball in New Jersey and professional athletes. Some of the soccer players trying out this year view White’s drills as efficient ways to tone their bodies and get back into the soccer mode. Junior Courtney Sharrah categorizes the tryouts as challenging but said that they still manage to incorporate the fun aspects of soccer. She also appreciates the unusual collaboration between JV and Varsity tryouts. “By putting the Varsity and JV practices to-

gether, everyone has a chance to experience everything and it makes everyone try harder because no one is guaranteed to make Varsity,” Sharrah said. Freshman Stephanie Magallen recognizes that White’s training is much more vigorous than middle school tryouts, but also more thorough and accurate. “These tryouts, compared to Hyde [Middle School’s], have more variety of skill and talent because there are so many more people of different age groups,” Magallen said. However, former captain of the JV soccer team, junior Kenly Bicht, identifies White’s challenging tryouts as an overly aggressive approach for people who just want to enjoy soccer. “Right from the beginning it was tough and I think more people would have joined if it was easier,” Bicht said. Although the tryouts are more difficult than she anticipated, Bicht still confirms that the demanding practices determine which players are most dedicated to the teams. “We had running drills and some people didn’t come because the running didn’t make soccer fun. But then again these drills eliminated the weak and the less dedicated so that we know that we will have a dedicated team in the end,” Bicht said. Throughout these tryouts and the soccer season, White plans to emphasize a strong defense over a strong offense. “I plan to spend less time on tactics and more time on the fundamentals of defending and playing with high intensity,” White said. “Both the JV and Varsity teams will exhibit an exciting display of hard nose, tough and gritty defending.”

workout songs to unleash your inner

beast

COMPILED BY SUNWOO JEONG

1. “All I Do Is Win” — DJ Khaled This song is very upbeat and great for a hard workout. If you are planning to go all out during your workout, this is the song to listen to. The song encourages you by telling you that, “All [you] do is win,” and it is a great song to get you pumped up and going on your routine.

2. “Gonna Make You Sweat” — C&C Music Factory “Everybody dance now!” Although this song is from the 1990s, people of all ages will find it to be catchy and upbeat, giving them the jam they need to stay pumped throughout their workouts, whether they are doing pull-ups or dancing to the beat.

3. “Lose Yourself” — Eminem “Lose Yourself ” carries a mid-tempo beat that is great for warming up, cooling down or slow exercises that require the use of downbeat repetitions or lots of weight. It talks about the moment and how you own it, as the song inspires people to seize the moment (in this case, the workout), and make the best of it.

4. “Walk It Out Remix” — DJ UNK If the original “Walk It Out” wasn’t already upbeat, the remix of this song is sure to get you up and going on your workout. The upbeat tempo and catchy line, “walk it out,” keep your adrenaline up to keep pumping that iron.

Does this singlet make me look fat?

ERIC JANG editor-in-chief

Wrestlers are like mangoes. Mangoes weigh a lot less when dried, but still pack all the glory and character of the fruit. Wrestlers are much the same; by cutting their water weight through a modified diet and exercise outside of practice, they can have an advantage in lower weight classes while maintaining their original strength. In freestyle wrestling, competitors attempt to pin their opponent to the mat using a combination of grappling and holding techniques. This close-contact sport requires that wrestlers be separated into weight classes in order to keep matches based on skill. Wrestlers who fail to meet their weight class are not allowed to wrestle, and thus cannot win points for the entire team during the game. With higher weight classes come bigger opponents, and it is surprising how hard a few

extra pounds of opponent can be to push around on the mat. “It’s the difference between ‘huge’… and ‘not quite so huge,’ ” Varsity wrestler senior Amir Bakhshi said regarding the upper division weight classes. Although a pound here or there is hardly noticeable in other sports, size difference between wrestlers plays a huge factor in wrestling, when athletes must use their entire bodies and strength to pin an opponent. For anybody, throwing around someone that weighs just as much as them — and fighting — is no easy feat, and so every pound counts on the wrestling mat. Additionally, bigger opponents are not only heavier but also tend to be the seasoned upperclassmen who are much harder to pin. Wrestlers try to reduce their body fat to seven percent to have the optimal strength for their weight class. At the beginning of the

season, they are weighed in a process known as “hydration,” which determines how much fat and water weight they can lose while staying healthy. They are weighed before each match under the watch of a referee to make sure that the wrestler’s weight is accurately recorded. Most wrestlers can cut three to four pounds, but in extreme cases a wrestler can dehydrate up to 12 pounds prior to weighing in. To do this, he or she reduces his or her portion sizes and eats less meat and carbohydrates (which soak up more water). For big tournaments, simply eating less is not fast enough; wrestlers exercise while wearing many layers to lose water weight in the form of sweat. Plastic suits also help by causing sweat to build up faster, which can then be peeled off in a sauna. It is the wrestler’s responsibility to watch his or her weight, even if it means exercising outside of practice.

“My freshman year, I actually had to cut class for that. I put on shorts, sweats, a couple sweatshirts, and ran and did push-ups and ran up and down the bleachers the whole day,s” Varsity wrestler senior Gene Yoo said. Despite the advantages of wrestling in a lower weight class, losing weight during a sports season goes against the natural order of things. Wrestlers usually gain muscle over the course of the season so moving into a lower weight class becomes increasingly difficult over time. Muscles demand to be fed, and the result is constant fatigue and hunger. Water weight is quickly regained, but all the same, losing up to 10 pounds of water in such a short span of time is stressful for the body. “It’s not healthy, but how else are you supposed to lose weight quickly without cutting off your hand?” Bakhshi said.

THE PROSPECTOR

DECEMBER 6, 2011

david han: WRESTLING WITHOUT SIGHT KATIE MARTIN features assistant

CHRIS TRACEY

DETERMINED TO WIN | Junior David Han, outside the locker room, about to enter wrestling practice and prepare for his upcmoing matches.

Sophomore David Han had always wanted to participate in judo, but none of the schools he attended offered the sport. In sixth grade, he decided to give wrestling a try. “[My interest in wrestling] goes way back,” Han said. “[History teacher Jay Lawson] was my middle school coach. When I first walked in, he said, ‘Oh, this is going to be a really good sport for you.’” Wrestling soon became one of Han’s favorite activities. It provides an emotional outlet, a way to bond with his peers, and the discipline helps him maintain his grades. Though being blind and being an accomplished athlete may sound like an impossible combination, Han is both. Wrestling is a challenging sport on its own. Requiring strength and stamina as well as fast reflexes, it is a sport of quick decisions and rigor. Take away the athlete’s sight and it becomes much more grueling. But even with his disability, Han has wrestled successfully for several seasons,

including two at the school. The only rule that changes when Han wrestles is that his opponent must stay in contact with him for the duration of the match, and Han admits that even with this modification, the sport can still be very difficult. “When my opponent’s going for a move, there’s a split second where I’m really vulnerable,” Han said. Athough he feels vulnerable at times, Han has learned to cope with his difficulties. He has worked with his coach to develop strategies to combat this moment of susceptibility. Practicing these techinques on a daily basis, Han is accustomed to using them aganist his most formidable opponents. “I try to get close and use angles, because if I’m far away, I can’t tell where [my opponent] is,” Han said. “Instead of coming straight in, I will step to the side a little bit and then come in.” Han started to prepare for the current season long before it actually began by running with his teammates. He is hoping that the current season will be more successful than last year’s, during which

a fractured rib sidelined him for several weeks. On top of his injury and withdrawal from the team, the team’s overall performance suffered due to a lack of camaraderie. However, he still remains optimistic awbout the upcoming season, and thinks highly of this year’s team. “Our team wasn’t very together last year...but I think this year’ll be a blast. There’s more bonding,” Han said. Through wrestling, Han has formed some close friendships that might not have been possible otherwise. Many people, he explained, shy away from those with disabilities simply because they are different. “But when you’re on the mat, if you beat someone, they tend to respect you more,” Han said about his teammates. “And it just helps them realize that I’m the same as other kids.” Wrestling has proven to be a valuable resource for Han. He stays healthy, both mentally and physically, and connects with his peers. Despite his handicap, Han has become one of the school’s most wellrespected athletes and a force to be reckoned with.

UPCOMING SPORTS EVENTS Dec.12 : Athletic Booster Club Meeting

Dec.5 : Girls JV Basketball vs. Branham

Dec.16 : Mtn. View F/S Boys Basketball Tournament (times TBA)

Dec.8 : Girls Basketball vs. Harker Dec.10 : Girls Basketball vs. Live Oak

Dec.28: Girls JV Basketball @ Capuchino

Dec.13 : Boys Basketball vs. Willow Glen

Jan.3 : Girls Basketball vs. Los Altos

Dec.14 : Girls Basketball vs. Del Mar

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FLIP SIDE COURTESY OF RITVIK DHAVALE

JASON CHEN

DECEMBER 6, 2011

NOVEMBER IN PHOTOS COURTESY OF ANDY WALCZAK

CHRIS TRACEY

JESSE ZHOU

CHRIS TRACEY

SUSHI HANAWEEN | Mitchell Dang, William Liu and their friends, donning neon sushi chef uniforms, win “Best Group Costume” in the Halloween costume contest. “I HATE YOU , MOTHER!” | Jadelyn Bacalso and Alex Castro act out a hilarious scene from the school’s fall play, “The Government Inspector”. ASBOOGIE | ASB breaks out into a flash mob at the CADA leadership conference at James Logan High School . FALL-YBALL | The girl’s Varsity volleyball team is honored at Fall Sports Awards Night. 4MOLE | Students like Osker Lu and Farica Carroll are pairing up to go to Winter Formal on Dec. 15.

MADHURI SATHISH copy editor

Starting college at age 15 would be a rather frightening prospect for many, but for junior Prameela Boorada, it is more efficient than remaining in high school for a laid-back senior year. Having transferred here this year from Michigan’s acclaimed International Academy (IA) due to her father’s job as a cricket coach, Boorada is accustomed to an extremely rigorous curriculum and has spent the past two years preparing for the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. Now, as she quickly adapts to the educational climate here, she is driven to challenge herself academically and socially despite her age and recent transfer. Although she is officially a junior, Boorada will graduate with the class of 2012 because at IA, she had already completed 160 credits. Before this year, she attended schools that operate under a one week block schedule, and she took eight classes during both her freshman and sophomore years. As a result, she explained that the schedule here

from treating her as their academic equal. “I feel like some people get so shocked that I’m so young, and at points they keep on alluding to the fact that I’m really younger than them; social-wise, I agree, but other than that, I don’t feel like I’m in any way lesser than them, or that I should be seeing myself as lesser than them,” Boorada said. Although she transferred from an IB school, Boorada said that her classes are still rigorous, but not in the same way. “I feel like this year is difficult in the sense that I have a lot of work. It’s not difficult in the sense that I’m having a lot of new material to tackle, it’s just the amount of work,” Boorada said. Nevertheless, she pushes herself in each of her classes and continues to think analytically. Boorada enjoys not only challenging herself academically, but also exploring her interests through campus clubs. At IA, she was the secretary of Amnesty International, an organization that petitions governments against the abuse of human rights. She was also a member

From IB to AP: Prameela Boorada to graduate with Class of 2012 at age 15 was initially one of the most difficult changes to get used to. “Well, in my school, I guess you could say that it was mainly theory-based. I’m used to longer courses and longer lectures, and suddenly being dropped into this one place where the focus is for such a short time, it doesn’t help me as much,” Boorada said. While Boorada’s ultimate goal is to become a criminal defense attorney, she plans to pursue a degree in Computer Science first because she feels she is not ready to pursue law. “I personally think law is a career where I’ll have to deal with people, and I don’t think I’m mature enough yet. So even if I go into a pre-law as of now, as such a young student, I feel like I wouldn’t be accomplishing a whole lot,” she said. However, Boorada refuses to let her age take precedence over her desire to succeed, and believes that her age should not prevent others

of an Indian dance club. Here, she is currently a member of the Red Cross, Robotics and Tech Clubs, the latter two of which will help her establish a foundation in technological fields. During the past six years, Boorada has attended five different schools and experienced various cultures and lifestyles, from a traditional values curriculum in India to the International Academy’s IB structure in Michigan. Her diverse experiences and drive have given her the ability to acclimate to new environments and explore her interests through any available resources, such as clubs or with the help of her classmates. Because she has experienced many types of schools — small and large, traditional and international, rigorous and more laid-back — she has thoroughly prepared herself for any challenges she might face in the future, and she feels confident that she will be able to efficiently apply her interests when she goes off to college next fall.

NEXT MONTH: DECEMBER Holiday Choir Concert

Thurs and Fri, Dec. 8 and 9 (7 p.m.)

Band Winter Concert

Mon, Dec. 12 (7 p.m.)

Finals Week

Mon- Fri, Dec. 12 -15

TRUTH & WISDOM

Winter Formal

Fri, Dec. 15 (7 p.m.)

End of 1st Semester Fri, Dec. 15

CHRIS CAI

Winter Break Mon, Dec. 19 - Fri, Jan 1

Last week, Congress passed a bill declaring that the tomato sauce on pizza qualifies as a vegetable.

Students supporting the Occupy Wall Street movement at UC Davis by sitting peacefully in the quad prompted chancellor Linda Katehi to call the police to remove them. Officer John Pike pepper sprayed them all in the eyes, sparking outrage throughout the nation.

On Nov. 29, Michael Jackson’s doctor was charged with involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to four years in prison.

Chris Cai

JASON CHEN

A Social Experiment There are three things that I grew up on: rice, chicken soup and most importantly Winnie the Pooh. Call it ridiculous, but that bear taught me the values of kindness, generosity and good will. He made me believe that all it really takes for people to do something good is to just provide them with the opportunity. In a world where selfishness is not uncommon and where materialism seems to dominate much thought, random acts of kindness do not occur all that often. I designed a social experiment in which I would pass a box of candy to a stranger with a note describing an opportunity for him or her to give a gift to another complete stranger. On the other hand, he or she would be completely welcome to take some or all of the candy as well. The purpose of the experiment, which was repeated three times, was not to see if people were fundamentally good or bad, but rather to determine whether they would be receptive to an opportunity to show good will. The three boxes of candy went to random strangers who were instructed to take some candy and pass it on to other strangers. Whether they chose to follow these instructions was entirely up to their own judgment. I wanted to see each of the boxes pass through at least a few hands before being stopped and stripped by some spoil sport. What actually happened was that all three boxes were rapidly emptied of their contents. None of them survived more than two rounds, and one of them was torn apart by a group five seconds after I showed it to them. Although I did not conduct this experiment with everyone in the school, I still feel saddened by the fact that the few random groups I did choose did not exactly respond ideally. This is disappointing, not to mention shocking. But it is the truth. This was not a demonstration of bad behavior, but rather an instance of people passing up the opportunity to show selflessness and restraint. The holiday season is fast approaching, so as you rejoice in the festivities, think twice about ignoring the Salvation Army standing in front of the mall. Don’t miss your chance to make someone else’s day or be kind to others. I do not know how to make people take opportunities to show kindness to strangers, but we can all try to be more aware when these chances present themselves to us. It only takes a tiny bit of self control and a little bit of generosity. Next time, just try to pass the candy on.