WINTER FORMAL ASKINGS
NEWS UC Dorm Overcrowding pg. 6
LIFESTYLES
Impact of Studio Ghibli pg. 18
INVESTIGATIONS
PERSPECTIVES
Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming resources at Tino pg. 20
Tino Student Wishlist pg. 28
ISSUE 3, VOL 64
a look into student askings
investigations
IN THIS ISSUE
news
Kaiser Permanente Strike............ 04 UC Dorm Overcrowding.............. 06
opinions
Tino, how do you feel?............... 08 Is Forgiveness an Option?.......... 10 Local Kitchens Review................ 11
features
Winter Formal Askings................ 14 featuring Misha Bandi and Divvy Atakari, Cade Jordan and Melody
Resources for Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming at Tino........ 20
sports
Athlete of the Month: Olivia Duan.................................. 24 League Winners and CCS Qualifiers............................. 26
perspectives
Tino Student Wishlist................... 28 Winter Formal Letter..................... 29
Lou, Ashvin Logashankar and Saloni Mahajan
postscript
Societal Acceptance of Alcohol.. 16
Letter on Posture......................... 30 Column: Forming my own identity......................................... 31
lifestyles
The Magic of Studio Ghibli.......... 18
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THE PROSPECTOR
STAFF 2020-2021
editors-in-chief Jenny Wu Henry Ma Avi Pandit
photo editors Megumi Ondo Kavya Kaushal Theresa Nguyen
news editor Arnav Vishwakarma
online editors Arnav Vishwakarma Megumi Ondo Kevin Jia Saniya Laungani Dhruv Kerai Jun Kim business manager Dhruv Kerai writers Anand Ashar, Caroline Cheng, Evan Lu, Jolie Han, Lisa Zivanic, Norman Chow, Natalie Chen, Olivia Hwang, Prithika Sundar, Rajasi Laddha, Rishita Shah, Sania Mehta, Soha Roy, Tanvee Sai, Taruna Anil, Vishal Shenoy, Slava Miroshnichenko
opinions editor Raissa Ji features editor Meghana Vinjamury lifestyles editor Katelyn Chu investigations editor Sonia Patil sports editor Arushi Arora perspectives editor Theresa Nguyen postscript editor Kriti Kaushal copy editors Juliet Shearin Joan Thyagarajan Jun Kim
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 in accordance with its advertising policy.
Contact Us: chsprospector@gmail.com The Prospector 10100 Finch Avenue Cupertino, CA 95014
A LETTER FROM THE EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Dear Reader, Coming off of a chaotic 2020, 2021 brought back a slight sense of normalcy. Though the COVID-19 pandemic is still impacting us, we continue to find ways to move forward. Students have been welcomed back to in-person school, and we are preparing for our first school dance in two years. On page 14, Prithika Sundar, Rishita Shah and Meghana Vinjamury feature the students behind successful Winter Formal Askings. While some students have the guts to ask in front of the entire school, Lisa Zivanic encourages those who are unable to muster the courage on page 29. Now that students have been attending school in-person, adequate resources are required for everyone. On page 20, Taruna Anil, Tanvee Sai and Jolie Han explore whether Cupertino High School provides enough resources for transgender and gender non-conforming students. The desperate need for more resources is not unique to Cupertino High School as students attending University of California schools call for more feasible dorm spacing, as investigated by Juliet Shearin on page 6. A new year called for new regulations. On page 8, Caroline Cheng polls the students about their preferences regarding school policies that have changed over the past year. But some societal norms and traditions, like alcohol acceptance, stand the test of time. On page 16, Sonia Patil scrutinizes alcohol consumption and how it is normalized amongst high school and college students. As we approach the end of the year and anticipate winter break, we look forward to cuddling up under a warm blanket, sipping a cup of eggnog, and cranking up the volume of treasured holiday music. We want to thank all of you who have rode along the journey of 2021 with us, and we hope you enjoy the holidays! See you in 2022, Henry Ma, Jenny Wu and Avi Pandit
NEWS
KAISER PERMANENTE EMPLOYEE STRIKE Kaiser Employees go on strike over low wages
ARUSHI ARORA sports editor
A
4 | DESIGNED BY ARNAV VISHWAKARMA
cross the country, Kaiser Permanente employees have been on strike due to the health system’s plan to significantly reduce wages for current employees and lower compensation for new workers. However, according to unions for healthcare professionals, this proposal was troublesome and inconvenient during a shortage crisis for healthcare workers. According to Kaiser Permanente, wages took up most of their costs, so this plan was an effort to reduce the unaffordable price of health-
care and essentially make it more accessible. On Monday, November 13, thousands of workers across the West Coast were planning to strike collectively, ultimately what would have been the largest strike of 2021. This walkout could have disrupted the current recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Averting this crisis, Kaiser Permanente was able to reach a tentative agreement with unions—from nurses to pharmacists to janitors—on a four-year contract, released by the Alliance of Health Care Unions. This consensus includes guaranteed wage increases through 2025 in every region, no
reduction in health benefits, and kept retirement benefits. Said Christian Meisner, senior vice president and human resources officer at Kaiser, “These were challenging negotiations, but this tentative agreement demonstrates the strength of our labor management partnership and the unique success it can achieve.” Yet, for the past two months, Kaiser engineers, who kept upkeep for facilities
such as boilers, refrigeration, air conditioning, and generators, have been on strike due to the fact that their contract had expired in September in an attempt for higher wages as well. Kaiser Permanente has explained that union leadership for these employees was asking for “unreasonable increases” compared to other unions. On the other hand, the health system struck a deal with its pharmacists, avoiding another potential strike that had initially sent thousands of patients to refill prescriptions before possible shutdown. However, no deal with the engineers has been made to this date. Outside of Kaiser’s Santa Clara Medical Center, engineers can still be seen on strike at the entranceway. Kaiser patients have been turned down care or have faced long waits as the company
has failed to agree on a deal or plan with its striking engineers. In San Jose, patient Richard Marsh was turned down at the X-ray department for his swollen foot. Said Marsh, “I’m going over to the emergency department to see if they’ll let me have an X-ray. If not, I’m screwed. I’ve had Kaiser since 1987. I’ve nev-
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KAISER PATIENTS HAVE BEEN TURNED DOWN CARE OR HAVE FACED LONG WAITS AS THE COMPANY HAS FAILED TO AGREE ON A DEAL OR PLAN WITH ITS STRIKING ENGINEERS.
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er run into anything like this.” On Thursday, November 16, over ten thousand Bay Area Kaiser union workers joined the sympathy walkout, leaving Kaiser struggling to find reinforcements and back up. The next day, Friday, November 17, over double the number of nurses and health prof e s -
sionals struck in solidarity. In a statement released by Kaiser for further strikes, “care will be provided by physicians and experienced clinical managers and staff, with the support of trained and qualified contingency staff. We will not postpone any urgent or emergency care, or critical medical appointments.” However, equipment across several locations in the Bay Area has been breaking down, leaving current hospital staff with limited supply with their engineers on strike. Said Mark Ceanez, a biomedical engineer at Kaiser Santa Clara, “There’s a lot of equipment that’s breaking down, that’s not being fixed correctly.” To deal with this issue, Kaiser has been flying in engineers from Southern California to fix the equipment. As engineers continue to strike, they remain hopeful for an agreement for their wages. Said Ethan Ruskin, health educator at Kaiser San Jose, “They’re effectively getting a pay cut and housing prices are getting higher in the Bay Area. For a company that made $6 billion in profit during the pandemic to be offering that — they’re not asking for the moon, they’re asking for a fair contract.”
NEWS | 5
UC DORM OVERCROWDING How increasing enrollment has impacted student life
every UC campus. At UC Berkeley, 22% of undergraduates reC Santa Barbara’s mostly ported some level of housing windowless 4,500-person insecurity during the pandemic. Throughout the UC system as a dorm is only the latest indictment of years of overcrowd- whole, more than sixteen thousand students were on various ing in a UC system that has housing waitlists. UC San Diaccepted more students than it ego has eliminated its two-year can feasibly house or housing enroll in classes. guarantee The dormiTHESE PROBLEMS until 2023, tory, designed and ARE NOT UNIQUE TO SANalso partialpartially funded TA BARBARA, THOUGH. ly due to the by billionaire and THERE IS A REAL NEED pandemic. amateur arFOR HOUSING ON ALMOST G i v e n chitect CharEVERY UC CAMPUS. the system lie Munger, strain, it is would innot surprisdeed solve ing that UC Santa Barbara would the university’s housbegin considering extreme soluing crisis that pushed over 900 freshmen tions to its over-enrollment. Howto the dorm waiting ever, although increasing the list last fall. Although housing supply addressMunger’s design has es one of the most faced backlash for its crucial aspects of the lack of windows (94% problem — homelessof dorms would only ness — it leaves others have false windows by the wayside. Enrolling lighted to reflect a in classes has, at many day-night cycle), it UCs, become hyper-comfulfills its keystone petitive. UCSB freshmen promise: more beds often have for a desperately trouble reghousing-strapped istering for 12 credits college town. worth of class These problems are not unique to es, the minimum Santa Barbara, required to remain though. There is a full-time student. a real need for At UCLA, students housing on almost have taken to buyJULIET SHEARIN copy editor
U
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ing and selling their class seats on Facebook. When students cannot enroll in their preferred classes, or in some cases any classes at all, the result is a worse educational experience and students who have to pay for unnecessary additional quarters at university. Over-enrollment also brings increased demand for infrastructure, adding additional expenses for university administrators to cover. It is not surprising the UCSB would opt to cover their costs with a restricted donation from Charlie Munger for a largely-window-
room housing only one student, in some ways the Munger Hall will provide students with more privacy and amenities than other dorms on campus. Not every student will live there, but PHOTO COURTESY OF UC SANTA BARBARA for those that do, it will function like normal college living: cramped, subpar accommodations that students leave when they less dormitory: the University of can (through fifteen exits, not Michigan did so in 2013 to house two as reported elsewhere) and 800 of its graduate students. The use when they need to Munger Graduate Residences sleep or study in solprovide a miniature blueprint for itude. The backlash UCSB’s future. Although some against the building students report disrupted circa- reflects the pattern of dian rhythms opposition to and declinIN SOME WAYS THE new housing ing menconstruction tal health, MUNGER HALL WILL PRO- across Calimany are just VIDE STUDENTS WITH fornia; howgrateful to MORE PRIVACY AND e v e r , have a cen- AMENITIES THAN OTHER there is trally-located DORMS ON CAMPUS no lonroof over their ger any heads. Many denying the UC Santa Barbara students are need for housing on UC unable to say the same thing. campuses. The only next In context, then, UCSB’s step is to decide on solutions, as decision becomes understand- UCSB has controversially done. able. Although it will worsen As demand for college their issues with signing stu- degrees rises year over year, the dents up for classes, its benefits demand for on-campus housing to a housing-strapped university will increase as well. There are no are obvious. The uncomfortable clear solutions: restricting enrolltruth is that colleges require ment, and thus college access, high-density housing. With each
cramps promising students’ career opportunities, but over-enrollment without infrastructure investment throws students in the deep end of a hungry housing market. Extremely high-density housing has already become the norm in cities like Singapore and Nairobi. Whether it will become the future in Santa Barbara or highly-populated parts of the US remains to be seen.
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PHOTO COURTESY OF FORBES
NEWS | 7
OPINIONS
45.6%
tino, how 55.2% do you 46.4% feel? are pleased with California’s new mandated start time no earlier than 8:30 a.m. *According to a survey of 900 students
believe that this policy will significantly impact their after school schedule *According to a survey of 900 students
prefer to have skinny days (all classes) on Monday instead of Wednesday *According to a survey of 900 students
CHS students’ opinions on potential scheduling changes, school policies, and other miscellaneous questions BY CAROLINE CHENG
72.2% do not want a clear backpack policy implemented at CHS
8 | DESIGNED BY RAISSA JI
*According to a survey of 900 students
BRU
1.5% belie
40.9% bel
57.6% bel
*According to a survey
LUN
3.9% belie
35.3% bel
60.8% bel
*According to a surve
TUT
5.8% belie
24.7% beli
69.6% beli
*According to a surve
UNCH
eve 15 minutes is too long
lieve 15 minutes is enough
lieve 15 minutes is not enough
y of 793 students
NCH
eve 45 minutes is too long
lieve 45 minutes is too short
lieve 45 minutes is enough
ey of 900 students
TORIAL
eve 35 minutes is too long
ieve 35 minutes is not enough
ieve 35 minutes is enough
ey of 900 students
41.4% of those who eat school lunch are not satisfied with the lunch options and qualities *According to a survey of 826 students
95.3% are either somewhat or very challenged by CHS’s overal course rigor *According to a survey of 785 students
43.3% experience wifi connection difficulties during class and believes it affects their ability to learn *According to a survey of 785 students
49.7% either read all or some of The Prospector’s articles per new issue *According to a survey of 784 students
do not visit The Prospector’s website to read articles *According to a survey of 781 students
OPINIONS | 9
85%
IS FORGIVENESS
AN OPTION?
Why celebrities and fans alike should learn from the Astroworld Festival tragedy NORMAN CHOW writer
W
ith the recent tragedy at Travis Scott’s concert in Houston, Texas, where eight lives were lost, a swarm of online discussion blamed the artist for the incident. Because of this, debates over the idea of forgiveness have spread throughout social media. Scott has made his brand around inciting crazy behavior in his fans during his performances, which was the cause of the casualties. Nearly 40 minutes after the Houston police identified the concert as unsafe, Scott continued performing despite ambulances attempting to navigate through the enormous crowds at the show. After the tragedy, Scott took his apology to social media and has offered to pay the funeral costs of those who died during the event. H e has also refunded all pay ments for the c o ncert tickets and partnered w i t h
a therapy program for those concert attendees. Although Scott has apologized and taken measures to show his remorse, the public still finds it hard to forgive him. In recent years, the idea of “cancel culture” has been highly prevalent. When celebrities are exposed for some wrongdoing, the public often attempts to boycott their work so the celebrity cannot benefit financially and socially from their elevated status. Howe v e r, this mentality is unproductive and, in the end, amounts to very little in correcting what the person has done. Rarely does society use these incidents as a means of learning and correcting mistakes, and more often, we forget what happens, and we are bound to repeat the same mistakes in the future. The best way forward is to hold artists to a higher standard. B y having supporters who expect celebrities to behave in a certain way and prioritize their fans’ wellbeing, artists like Tr a v i s Scott can e n sure the safety of those who a t tend. And what if they still mess up? Instead of boycotting their work to forget about the incident af-
ter some time, fans should teach their idols to learn from their mistakes. People are prone to errors, even the famous. When celebrities, like Scott, do terrible things, there is always a way forward: they should be taught that they have done wrong. Only when someone learns from their mistakes and shows that they have genuinely changed can we forgive them. Boycotting their work does nothing to fix past wrongdoings and doesn’t teach them to improve from their mistakes. The easiest way to move forward from a catastrophic event such as the Astroworld concert is to begin holding the artist to a higher standard. When artists commit wrongdoings, we should teach them never to repeat the same mistakes and move forward. Forgiving someone in a situation where people have lost their lives is always difficult, and it isn’t always possible. But we can always move forward and set future standards so that the same mistakes never happen again
Staffer Evan Lu breaks down his experience at Local Kitchens Cupertino
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EVAN LU
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in the unusual and interesting flavors like the Matchadoodle and Secret Breakfast flavors. I treated myself to the Blue Bottle Vietnamese Coffee Ice Cream and I would recommend it to others who are looking for something unique. The coffee flavor was not too overpowering and I was surprised to find it at an acceptable sweetness level. My ice cream was still frozen and cold when it got delivered, which I was happy about since I have had cases where it melted from other stores. Overall, it was an amazing experience. I definitely enjoyed having multiple cuisines under one roof and eating at local restaurants to support small businesses in my community. I definitely will recommend Local Kitchens to my friends and family members
OPINIONS | 15
recently visited Local Kitchens and had available there. I decided to order had a splendid experience there. They the Melt Burger and I was glad that I have partnered with did. I had previously many different local THE ORDERING ordered that burger restaurants, such as before at a partner The Melt, Asian Box, PROCESS WAS EASY location and I was and Curry Up Now to AND UNCOMPLICAT- surprised to see it provide different cuitaste exactly how I sines under one roof. ED [...] THERE WERE remembered it to be. It allowed me to order SO MANY DIFFER- I got my food pretty a variety of different ENT FOODS TO TRY, I fast and it was still hot foods I wanted withwhen I arrived home out having to drive to COULDN’T DECIDE! to eat it. It wasn’t different stores. The too oily or heavy like ordering process was some other burgers I easy and uncomplicated. The only prob- had, so I found it to be suitable for my lem was that there were so many taste. Compared to some other restaudifferent foods rants nearby, it got my food ready very to try, I couldn’t quickly. All their foods are made d e c i d e ! fresh on-site when ordered The first and I had the opportutime I was nity to watch my burger there, I went be made in front of me. in-store and A few days later, I debought my cided to try out their delivery food using service as they had a variety the kiosk of ice cream flavors from Humthat they phry Slocombe. I was interested
12 | DESIGNED BY RAJASI LADDHA AND MEGHANA VINJAMURY
FEATURES
FEATURES | 13
MEGHANA VINJAMURY, RISHITA SHAH, AND PRITHIKA SUNDAR co-features editor and writers
Misha Bandi + Divvy Atakari Senior Misha Bandi based her winter formal asking on food places that senior Divvy Atakari enjoys eating at. Taco Bell stood out to her and her pun for the poster was “Let’s taco bout wf” and she bought him some Taco Bell to top it off. Said Bandi, “And then just for fun I used one of the bad puns [we thought of] on another poster with his last name, Atakari ‘I’ll attack-ari you if you say no’ this one was not related to the theme but just because.” To create the post some of Bandi’s friends bought supplies including posters and sharpies. “We also raided the De Anza Taco Bell sauce supply to make the word ‘taco’ on the poster out of the sauce packets” said Bandi. The entire process took about 2 hours to put everything together and finish the posters. As for plans for Winter Formal, Bandi has a soccer game at 6 pm the night of the dance. “The same thing happened sophomore year! He came to my game and then to my house after. We got ready together and met our friends for dinner before going, so a similar thing might happen this year.” In terms of outfits, Bandi and Atakari plan
14 | THE PROSPECTOR
to match colors and Atakari plans to buy the corsage.
Cade Jordan + Melody Lou To kick off winter formal askings, senior Cade Jordan lined up an incredible performance to ask senior Melody Lou to the dance. The performance started off with a dance from several of the ASB and council members and incorporated a poster at the end. Jordan decided to make the theme of his asking a mix between paper cranes and Stardew Valley, a game which Jordan and Lou enjoy playing together. During the five days leading up to the main asking, Jordan gave a paper crane to Lou every day. These cranes had the words, “Will you go to Winter Formal with me?” written on them. Jordan said, “At the final asking I had everyone hold out a paper crane as I gave her the final one,” along with a poster that said “Stardew you want to go to WF w/ me?” In preparation for the asking, Jordan spent a couple of hours on making the poster and a couple of hours in making the cranes, saving time with the help of his friends. Jordan asked Lou to the dance because he really likes how energetic she is and he has a lot of fun when he spends time with her, such as going to Main Street to grab food and going to popular viewpoints with their friends. Jordan mentioned, “I think in previous years it’s pretty normal for people to go with close friends as dates to formals.” Jordan felt that it was easier for him to gain courage to ask the other person since he has experience asking people to do formal dances. He said, “Melody is a really close friend so it was really easy and not awkward at all. I was definitely very anxious and nervous about the asking just because it was so public and in front of a lot of the school right after the flash-mob.” But when it was time for the asking, everything was planned out beforehand, which helped the performance go smoothly. At the dance, Jordan plans to match his tie with the color of Lou’s dress, as well as having a friend make their corsage and boutonniere. With Jordan having a role in the Spirit Commision, he will need to arrive at the venue early to set up, restricting pre-formal plans, but the pair plan to have a lot of fun at the formal.
Ashvin Logashankar + Saloni Mahajan “I didn’t know he was going to ask me, so I was sufficiently shocked in that moment,” senior Saloni Mahajan said about her 2021 winter formal asking. Senior Ashvin Logashankar asked Mahajan to the winter formal with flowers and a sign, which included a play on her name: “Don’t be saLONELY. Be w/ me at WF.” When asked about the process of the asking, Mahajan added that Logashankar thought of creating the poster for a few weeks and spent the night before the ask creating the posters and decorations with the help of their friends. The ask caught Mahajan by surprise since she was not expecting such a big proposal. She was overcome with joy during the ask due to how beautiful it was. Mahajan stated, “I don’t think he was particu-
close through mutual friends and joint activities, the couple dated for about a month and decided to attend winter formal together. At the winter formal, Mahajan and Logashankar plan on color coordinating outfits and having a great time together!
FEATURES | 15
larly nervous considering we were already going together.” After becoming
LIFESTYLES
ON THE SOCIETAL ACCEPTANCE OF ALCOHOL The hypocrisy surrounding general perceptions of alcohol consumption
marginalized racial groups are also often more stigmatized when it comes lcohol is everywhere you to alcohol consumption, yet in this look: advertisements, movies, case, it is not society’s hypocritical restaurants, business meettreatment but racial disparities that ings and even Chuck E. Cheese. cause such problems. “Whites and Compared to other drugs, such as Native Americans have a greater risk opioids or psychedelics, it carries for alcohol use disorders relative to very little stigma. According to the other ethnic groups. However, once 2019 National Survey on Drug Use alcohol dependence occurs, Blacks and Health, 85.6% of those above and Hispanics experience higher legal drinking age reported drinking rates than Whites of recurrent or peralcohol in the past year and 54.9% in sistent dependence,” says an article the last month. In our own lives, the by the National Institute on Alcohol social pressure to drink comes not Abuse and Alcoholism. Discriminaonly from peers but sometimes also tion, economic and neighborhood from family. It is often seen as an eledisadvantage, and unemployment ment for relaxation and adding enjoyare linked to common causes of ment to social occasions. Alcohol Use Disorders (AUD). Yet while alcohol consumpIN CERTAIN ATMOSPHERES, Higher rates of minority population is common and even encourDRINKING MORE IS ENCOUR- tions than white populations sufaged in many social settings, AGED [...] HOWEVER, ONCE fer from each. society can be hypocritical in its While it is essential to acACTS OF VIOLENCE, CARELESStreatment of people from specifknowledge that acts under the NESS OR ILL-JUDGEMENT OCic backgrounds and those who influence are incredibly harmful over-consume. CUR DUE TO INTOXICATION, to the safety and well being of Drinking comes with its own MANY AUTOMATICALLY START others, people should also focus set of taboos and social norms. TO SHAME. some attention on the dangers of Binge-drinking is the norm at a the overall promotion of drinking frat party, but not at a fine dining as a whole as well. In more exrestaurant. Unspoken markers es or yell “shot, shot, shot” in a com- treme cases of binge-drinking, where associated with different drinks can petition of downing the most shots of alcoholism and addiction come into reinforce stereotypes, such as a man hard liquor. However, once acts of vi- play, more consequences arise such jokingly ordering a Shirley Temple or olence, carelessness or ill-judgment as potential verbal or physical abuse, Cosmopolitan, a stereotypically femoccur due to intoxication, many au- health issues and more. In many casinine drink. While there is nothing tomatically start to shame the person es, alcoholics have lower social stawrong with ordering such drinks, dofor their drunk actions. So poses the tus and suffer from the discourageing so in a mocking way is degrading question: when does the line become ment of others. towards women. In fact, there are difblurred from acceptable alcohol conThough it is reasonable to hold ferent views towards alcohol consumsumption to shameful alcoholism and negative views towards those who ers based on their class. While one does our culture push people over act recklessly while drunk, the overmay not question a wealthy-looking the line only to blame them? all promotion of drinking and the unadult getting Another issue is how derlying hypocrisies behind it should not go unnoticed. In many ways, society punishes the people who suffer consequences from the same drink it promotes SONIA PATIL
A
investigations editor
drunk on a few glasses of wine, other ideas come to mind seeing a poorer-looking person stumble down the street with a bottle of cheap vodka. Alcoholism is further stigmatized, with hypocrisy in society’s response to the consequences of drinking itself. While drinking is often promoted in social culture, sudden alarm and harsh attitudes can be directed towards those facing alcohol addiction or even occasional binge-drinking. In certain atmospheres, drinking more is encouraged and seen as one standard for a person’s level of toughness or endurance. One example is at parties when people have keg challeng-
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LIFESTYLES | 17
THE MAGIC OF A look into the art style, soundtracks and
THERESA NGUYEN perspectives editor/photo editor
I
t’s the home away from home. With its whimsical characters and captivating animations, Studio Ghibli has become a universal icon of comfort. Its unique aesthetic and portrayal of the beauty in life’s simplest moments have made it a one-of-a-kind studio dedicated to shedding light and positivity in today’s world. Studio Ghibli was founded on June 15, 1985, by a group of directors and producers, one of the most notable being Hayao Miyazaki. Miyazaki chose the name “Ghibli,” an Italian word for a hot Saharan wind, to represent the studio’s goal of bringing new, refreshing takes on Japan’s animation industry. The studio’s other main objective is to delve into the human soul and portray its complexity through relatable stories. With so many different working parts, Studio Ghibli’s ability to bring out the best in its productions while showcasing the many intricacies of life is what makes its animations so memorable, able to switch from heartwarming to heart-wrenching in mere seconds. The three aspects of Studio
18 | DESIGNED BY KATELYN CHU
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Ghibli that make it so renowned are its art style, soundtracks, and subtle but powerful messages. Part of why the studio’s art style is so memorable is the first impressions it creates. Upon starting a Ghibli film, viewers are introduced to dreamy landscapes and detailed depictions of daily life. Depending on what the movie is centered upon, this can range from the crowded streets of a bustling city to the vast plains and skies of the countryside, showcasing the studio’s impeccable ability to incorporate the little details of a multitude of settings. Miyazaki conveys an extensive range of emotion through naturistic aesthetics and soft colors, which complement the scene’s mood and entice the viewer at first glance. In addition to its carefully crafted art design, Studio Ghibli is notable for its melodic soundtracks, most of which are composed by Joe Hisaishi. Hisaishi’s use of piano and violin creates simple yet expressive melodies that help the viewer fully immerse themselves into each character’s world. Each film’s soundtrack holds deep emotion, capable of bringing a sense of comforting
nostalgia – even if they can’t fully relate to the character’s circumstances – that bridges the film’s visuals to the viewer’s memories. Despite illustrating alternate universes and scenes that seem out of touch with the real world, each Studio Ghibli film holds a powerful, timeless message. Whether it be highlighting the importance of nature or encouraging people to keep moving forward, Studio Ghibli is renowned for its ability to weave thoughtful messages and themes about the complexities of life with its stunning visuals and music, leaving its viewers with a chance to ponder over the film’s meaning and their own lives. In one of Ghibli’s films, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Kiki is a 13-year-old witch learning how to fly her broomstick. After
F STUDIO GHIBLI messaging of the renowned animation studio creating a flying courier service, she slowly loses her abilities as a witch to self-doubt. In the end, she must overcome her insecurities to save a friend, ultimately conquering her fears. While the film could be read as commentary on growing up and its hardships, it could also be interpreted as the importance of finding one’s true inspiration. Regardless, each Ghibli film is a stepping stone to a different world, taking its viewer on a mystical journ e y and providing an escape from reality.
Even though the studio originated in Japan, its impact has stretched far past the country’s coastlines. Given its high prestige, evident by awards like “Best Feature Film” at the 2002 Berlin International Film Festival – won by Spirited Away – and four consecutive Academy Award nominations for “Best Animated Feature Film”, Studio Ghibli has influenced many American animations. Some American favorites that Ghibli’s designs have influenced include Gravity Falls, Adventure Time, Toy Story 3 and even The Simpsons. In Toy Story 3, there are brief appearances of a Totoro plush toy, alluding to the friendship between Pixar and Studio Ghibli. Another reference to My Neighb o r
Totoro is present in T h e Simpsons during scenes that por-
LIFESTYLES | 19
PHOTOS COURTESY OF GOOGLE
tray a character similar to ‘Cat Bus’. Looking back on Studio Ghibli’s accomplishments, it’s safe to say that the studio’s films and animations have impacted people worldwide. However, in recent years, rumors concerning the studio’s shutdown have plagued the media. Back in 2014, after Miyazaki’s retirement, the studio suspended production, throwing many fans into a frenzy. Nevertheless, three years later, Miyazaki came out of retirement to release another feature film. After its release, he retired yet again. Now, at the age of 80, Miyazaki has come out of retirement once more to create his final Studio Ghibli film, How Do You Live?, rumored to be coming out in 2023. Based on the 1937 novel by Yoshino Genzaburo, which depicts the spiritual and emotional journey of 15-year-old Junichi Honda and his uncle, fellow producer Toshio Suzuki has claimed that it will be “fantasy on a grand scale.” Given Ghibli’s track record, there’s no doubt that this film will be just as spellbinding as its predecessors, and with a miracle or two, it might be the start of many more great films to come
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INVESTIGATIONS
Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Resources at Tino
Student’s Perspective
Transgender students from Cupertino High share their thoughts on some of the resources provided TANVEE SAI writer
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upertino High School’s community of transgender and genderqueer students continue to be marginalized despite efforts from the school. CHS provides support and visibility for these individuals to a certain extent, but many of them have mixed feelings about the available resources. Conversations about resources provided for transgender students tend to focus largely on bathrooms. Nonbinary Cupertino High School junior Wilson (he/they) frequently uses the bathroom in the Wagon Wheel because it feels less othering than alternative bathroom options. “Everybody uses it so it’s more likely for people to go in there,” said Wilson. They also feel uncomfortable using the men’s restroom without a friend. If they are on their period, they would rather use the women’s restroom, due to a fear of discrimination in the men’s room. Xaander Furey (they/them), a nonbinary junior at CHS, is able to use the gender neutral bathroom provided for cafeteria staff, but they also recognize that not everyone has that opportunity. “I think having gender neutral bathrooms [on campus] would be nice. And then having period products in all the bathrooms, not just the women’s,” said Furey. Though both Furey and Wilson feel there are not enough resources for transgender students on campus, other students believe that CHS provides adequate support for transgender and gender non-conforming students. “Apart from a locker room for nonbinary or gender non-conforming students,
then yeah, [CHS provides appro- ber of the volleyball team for some priate resources] because I have time, and eventually quit partially seen a couple gender neutral bath- because of the dysphoria they felt rooms on campus,” said an anon- while playing under their assigned ymous transgender female student gender at birth. They also experienced trouble (she/her). She also thinks that CHS pro- with where to change at games vides a reasonably safe environ- and had to find solutions for themment for transgender students. self. “I put my jersey under my shirt “Any nervousness I have had about because I don’t want to, like have using the restrooms, it’s because to deal with going into the women’s my mind assumed the worst and restroom,” said the student. Despite these setbacks, thought that if there are people inside and saw me I wouldn’t pass as many students have had positive female and they’d harass me for it, experiences with the Gender and but I’ve yet to experience that and Sexuality Alliance, and feel like it hope that I do not,” said the anony- provides a safe space on campus. “GSA gave me a space to spend mous student. After coming out, she did time with other LGBTQ+ people. not know how to ensure that she And it gave me a community and I was referred to properly at CHS, so didn’t feel odd and weird, I guess. she reached out directly to Princi- So it kind of was more welcoming,” pal Kami Tomberlain, who directed said an anonymous student. Said another her to a schoolanonymous student, based therapist. In “[GSA] helped me the end, she was HAVING PERIOD able to change PRODUCTS IN ALL THE feel like I wasn’t alone. her name and BATHROOMS, NOT JUST [...] they are providing you with kind of like a pronouns in the THE WOMEN’S. safe space.” school records. XAANDER FUREY Although Other students CHS is a somewhat have had more supportive and inclunegative experiences. Furey witnesses the use sive environment for transgender of slurs on campus about twice a and genderqueer students, some month, as well as being constant- students feel that what is being ly misgendered by staff members, shown right now is the bare miniand they do not feel like the school mum. Transgender and gendertakes much action on their com- queer students still continue to plaints. “I think [the school] just struggle with the lack of resources need[s] to enforce safety. Like, if provided to them, but CHS’s past someone’s getting harassed, they strides to supporting their transneed to call it out instead of wait- gender and genderqueer commuing for someone to get mad. [...] It nities paint a more hopeful picture should be the staff dealing with it, of what their future efforts will be not students,” Furey said. Another anonymous nonbinary student (they/them) was a mem-
INVESTIGATIONS
Teacher’s Perspective
Mx. Hsu, a gender non conforming teacher and alumni on campus, shares changes and experiences TARUNA ANIL writer
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upertino High School has seen many changes in the environment, available resources and education for transgender or genderqueer students and staff on campus. The efforts, productive or unproductive, have been evident throughout the years and a point of discussion for many. One significant resource CHS provides for students is the gender-neutral bathrooms in the CHS Wagon Wheel. Though the restrooms are inclusive to all genders, those who wish to use it have faced constant difficulties accessing them. Esther Hsu (they/them), a gender non-conforming English teacher at CHS, notes how the inaccessibility to the restroom communicates a more profound message of what needs to be changed at Tino. “I know that we’re trying, but where we are now is not where I’d like to see us. I know we have gender-neutral bathrooms for students, for example, in the Wagon Wheel, but that door is always locked for some reason. There are times where I have students coming into my room and being like, ‘Hey, can you contact somebody to get that unlocked?’” Hsu added. “We [need to] follow through on these resources, because [not having] those things available is really [harming] a lot of our students.” While speaking about transitioning from being a high school student, college student, and eventually staff member, Hsu highlighted the difference in resources available to them as the years went
by. As a college student at UC Davis and San Jose State University, they noticed that more resources were available to them in those environments than at CHS. “Before I came out, and even after I came out [on Cupertino campus], I didn’t know of any resources that were available for students,” Hsu observes. “The only resources I knew that was available [were] counseling and therapy.” Contrasting their experience at CHS, they said, “I definitely knew about a lot I KNOW THAT more WE’RE TRYING, BUT r e -
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sources [in college], because there was an LGBTQIA resource center that I would frequent quite often. And that center was able to inform me of all of these different resources that we had at UC Davis and even at SJSU.” As a teacher, Hsu is not aware of any specific resources available to LGBTQ+ staff members that would provide extra support and safety. Said Hsu, “I think that the most important thing right now that I can think of is educating staff members on campus [...] I think the lack of education for teachers is something that is very much needed. In terms of specific resources, I can’t think of anything besides that.” Teachers are currently included under the umbrella of Title IX, which
was passed by the Department of Education. This amendment prohibits discrimination against any person on the basis of sex, sexual orientation and gender identity. However, school districts do not have an obligation to provide LGBTQ+ resources to teachers. GLSEN, an organization dedicated to protecting LGBTQ+ students, lists a multitude of possible resources for staff, including trans-inclusive health benefits, gender diversity training, protocols for reporting discrimination, and more. After returning to CHS as a staff member, the changes CHS has made to be more inclusive to LGBTQ+ students became apparent to Hsu. “I think [a change] is Sex Ed, [the curriculum is] trying to be more inclusive,” Hsu began. “Something that I was really surprised about was with homecoming court. When I was here on campus, we would call them homecoming kings and queens. And it was very binary. I was surprised to see that they changed it to royalty instead, and that was something I wasn’t aware that they changed.” While Hsu appreciates the long way CHS has come, they still believe that these actions must be taken further for both students and staff. “I feel like a lot of our staff members and our students are ill-equipped with being an ally for transgender [and gender] non-conforming students. And so, [definitely] a lot of education is needed. I feel like a lot of it is like ignorance on campus about this, and also just [people] not thinking before they talk, things like that.”
JOLIE HAN writer
Bathroom Resources Cupertino High offers two gender-neutral bathrooms in the wagon wheel that anyone can use regardless of gender identity or expression
Name Changes Through FUHSD, any student can change their name and gender on non-state-related school documents an unlimited amount of times without needing parental approval. However, the change will not affect any federal procedures and parents will be able to see the changed name on Infinite Campus/Schoology
Safe Spaces Cupertino High offers GSA(Gender Sexuality Alliance), a club that provides a safe space for all LGBT+ students at school and helps them feel that they belong. Meetings are every Monday in Ms. Ray’s room(213), and club meetings are split half-half between being social and activism-based The Trevor Project is a suicide prevention organization for members of the LGBT+ community between ages 13 and 24. Resources, safe online chats with other members of the LGBT+ community, and 24/7 hotlines are offered through its site, thetrevorproject.org A drop-in center in the area is Youth Space, a place to connect with other LGBT+ people living in Santa Clara County. Both in-person groups and online(video chat) groups are offered
Additional Resources Point of Pride offers free binders and femme shapewear to anyone around the world who is unable to obtain them, whether for safety or financial reasons. Anyone older than 13 can request through pointofpride.org Gender Spectrum’s website contains articles dedicated to helping people of all ages understand gender. Online consulting and groups are also offered; for more information, visit genderspectrum.org If harassed/mistreated by peers or administration, reporting to the U.S. Department of Education is always an option. This can be done by filing a report through the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, which “carefully reviews allegations from anyone regardless of gender identity or sexuality.” Title IX also provides protection for all, including LGBTQ+, students who experience sexual violence or assault
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SPORTS
OLIVIA DUAN PHOTO | AMERICAN JUNIOR GOLF ASSOCIATION
ATHLETE OF THE MONTH Olivia Duan: 69th in the American Junior Golf Association and in the 2021 AJGA Junior All-Star Team
better, and I just improved little by lit- swimming, playing the piano, and tle over time.” Since then, Duan has playing the flute. The previous summer was quite hen it comes to Cupertino taken her golfing career by storm. High School’s rising stars, She is ranked 69th in the American the milestone in her golfing career. Junior Golf As- Said Duan, “I was playing a really big sociation and tournament, and I almost won. I think sophomore Olis a part of the that was the time where I gained a lot ivia Duan and WHENEVER YOU START, 2021 AJGA of confidence, and my rankings have her impressive THERE’S ALWAYS STRUGJunior All-Star been going up since then.” golfing career GLES BECAUSE EVERYONE Team. With the sport’s popularity waning, certainly come ELSE IS SO EXPERIENCED— With expethe dedication and efforts of golfers to mind. She SO I THINK IT JUST TAKES rience playing are often overlooked. Said Duan, “I was introduced EXPERIENCE. both individu- think a lot of people just don’t know to the sport OLIVIA DUAN ally and with the female side of golf, so they think through a family a team, Duan that golf is only a men’s sport, and friend who was m e n t i o n e d , there used to be an acronym called accepted into “Golf is mostly an individual sport so Gentlemen Only Ladies Forbidden. A Harvard for playing golf. Inspired by her path, Duan took on the sport and being in a team—it just makes it so lot of people also think golf is easy, different. It’s more fun playing with a so it’s definitely hard to convince peofell in love. Said Duan, “Whenever you start, team because you feel like you can ple and tell them about the sport.” there’s always struggles because ev- support each other and you can com- Despite this, Duan takes pride in her with sport and continues eryone else is so experienced—so I pete other teams to grow as a golfer. think it just takes experience.” Duan Said Duan, “I think particularly remembers her first tour- as well.” I THINK IT IS A LOT OF Many diffiit is a lot of fun, and nament shaping her growth. FUN, AND IT HELPS YOU it helps you manSaid Duan, “I was really culties come MANAGE YOUR EMOTIONS with playage your emotions confident, and it was a BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY because obviously really small ing a sport THERE’S A LOT OF STRESS- there’s a lot of stresscompetitivetournament— FUL TIMES. ful times.” so I felt like I ly. Although OLIVIA DUAN Duan finds it Duan is working should win— enthusiastically tobut I didn’t know challenging to balance wards her goals. By how tough the competition really was. So after her academic and social life with her the end of next summer, she wants to my tournament, obvi- athletic career, she works out ways to win an AJGA Tournament. After high school, she intends to play Division I ously I was upset, but I manage her time efficiently. “In the car, when I go somewhere, college golf and hopes to be recruitfelt like I had just tried it out. The next time was I just try to do homework or read ed by the end of next year. something. I just try to squeeze in as much time in between.” said Duan. Outside of golf, Duan spends her time
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SPORTS | 25
LEAGUE WINNERS & CCS QUALIFIERS Varsity Football and Varsity Girls Volleyball’s successful seasons
KRITI KAUSHAL AND KAVYA KAUSHAL the season where the team members postscript editor and photo editor thought they were going to lose badupertino High School has ly against Homestead, a historically shown impressive athletic per- superior team who were in an upper formance in the 2021-22 sea- league, but ended up winning 3-0 . “It son with the Varsity Football team and was nice getting to start the season Varsity Girls Volleyball team topping off so well on a positive note,” said their respective leagues after suc- Chen. Coach Xiaofeng Foret (Coach cessful playoff runs. These achievements are especially remarkable con- Feng), the Varsity Girls Volleyball is proud sidering how long it has been since c o a c h , f t h e both teams have performed this well. o The volleyball team had an overall 21-11 record, with a 10-2 performance against the league teams tying them as league champions in the Santa Clara Valley El Camino League. After facing challenges last season, including occasional player absences, due to an unprecedented overlap between school and club seasons, and canceled games, the team exceeded all their self-set expectations. Sophomore Alyssa Chen is one of the youngest players on the varsity volleyball team. When asked about her favorite moment this season, Chen recalls the first game of
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team’s perseverance throughout their rigorous practice and game schedule with the added logistical burden of COVID protocols. She credits her team’s success to the teamwork they have demonstrated through the past months. Said Feng, “All the girls did a fantastic job. It was really, really hard, and they worked harder. We all worked as a team, which is more important than how much we won and lost.” Coach Feng hopes to continue this collaborative mindset in the coming seasons. “We don’t need any star players. We have to play together. We need to practice hard together.” The team’s main libero, a backrow defensive specialist, Angelina Kondo won the outstanding junior award for the El Camino league. Her impressive performance helped them move up leagues, a change that will affect who the team plays next year. Reflecting on the season, said Kondo, “On games where we truly played as a team, we saw through that we played well regardless of the end result. I don’t think there was one specific moment rather multiple moments that made the season special—it was fun and helped to
cheer each other on. We’re going to just keep working hard, improving our skills and becoming players that rely on each other while helping each other be better players.” With similar success, the Cuper-
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tino Football team finished with a regular-season record of 9-1, tying for first place alongside Gunn High School and Los Altos High School in the El Camino Football League. Individual players also racked up personal distinctions while representing Cupertino with quarterback Jayden Hall leading the league in passing (1393 yards), wide receiver Harry Singh leading the league in receiving (576 yards), and defensive end Vithiyashankar Thulasinthan leading the league in sacks (5.5). Longtime CHS football coach Chris Oswald attributes much of the team’s success to the commitment of players who worked hard during spring,
summer and the regular season to physically and mentally condition themselves. “They would challenge themselves in workouts,” said Oswald. “For example, they’d be doing their sprints and they’d be looking left and looking right to see if they won. So they were competing against each other even when there were no games on the horizon.” Oswald sees this as a distinct difference in comparison to previous CHS football teams. “A lot of guys in the past would have other commitments and tell me that they had to attend summer school and other things. However, in this team, the real core of the team was here every day and they challenged each other to become better.” Senior Harry Singh also saw the united team atmosphere as an important component of the team’s success. “Everyone was a lot closer and everyone actually liked playing,” said Singh. “I’ve been on varsity since my sophomore year and [in previous years] many people were focused on proving themselves to be the best on the team rather than trying to contribute to being the best in
the league. And [being the best in the league] is what everyone worked towards this year.” Although players are often directly associated with the success of a team, Coach Oswald also commends his coaching staff for showing up and providing insight to develop each player’s strengths, to improve the team as a whole. In a year where COVID-19 hurt many football programs that did not have enough players or staff to complete their rosters, Cupertino Football received dozens of hours of help from volunteers who consistently showed up and brought both energy and experience. Said Oswald, “I was blessed to have six or seven coaches that showed up every day and were committed to these kids and I think that’s the motivation the kids needed. As a result, the COVID season was a good season: we played great. And I think that season really opened our eyes to what we could be which carried forth this season.” Despite an early loss to Saint Francis in the first round of CCS playoffs, both Coach Oswald and Singh are proud of their team’s success and efforts leading up to the postseason.
SPORTS | 29
PERSPECTIVES
What Cupertino students want for Christmas this year KATELYN CHU
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lifestyles editor
s t n e d u st o n i t r a de
,
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jection; don
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ch a ing out on su s is m f o r a fe , ou up inside erbated your y LISA ZIVANIC c a g x n e ti a s e a h ’s r It a e of ye dance. atwriter now, this tim a date to the one in coordin ry g e in v v e a , h b o l; o m o Ask them! I k h sch ot help ee a flash aspect of hig als, you cann posals. You s s o ro p p l ro a p rm m monumental fo o r te al classro elaborate win s. n in the casu e v E . g watching the n ugh your vein ri ro e e ive the th h s c n le ru p y o s e dp alou oes not rece d je f d o n a g d lin e e z fe ri e ed colors, an ile whilst the not as glamo I already hav m is y, s t rr d a o n th a “S e , h n rd tc o a a e but w awkw ide, th is the other s rejection. The ry re a e c th s n d e n a th t rk u B d, da ? The n: the dreade you ask them ance.” o d D . e e th id c to e g d same attentio in , as to o rry, I’m not g , it is difficult their reaction s o t e ic ti “S d ili r, re ib o s p ” s o te to a p ad e two ct you eing able d between th ot gonna reje lties of not b n u ic re iff a d y e e h th T At a crossroa is e le scenario. : yes. Despit ible scenario ib s le s s p s o o p im p t s t s e is rs b r o e e w answ ag” is the rt, but th smile after im e scariest pa , that “sorry… to th is is in it g n s e o a b ti c u ry je o a Y c re s . The great!” the way ke fun of you “That sounds uld not get in o r h o s !” e u c o n y ile and then ma h s it f w oment o ’d love to go al awkward m ti n te the yes, the “I o p e n o y yes, and w! ining them sa m. So go! No is c ti s No ta s c e d n option): Ye le b a ir s of that joy a e d t s ircle mo al with me? (c rm fo r te in w no way to to go to and there is s k c u s It Do you want y. ne a een there do rry, it’ll be ok b o s s ll’ o u s b it m P I’ w w o ): Aw ou t you kn d after asking loss, since y t side, at leas ir h e g ri th b ’s e it th , P.S. (Only rea o n ls o ut how e okay. A e situation. B st you know a ds, and it’ll b le n t ie a fr sugarcoat th f w o o N p u re anyway. ve your gro you now befo y’s Anatomy ld re G to that. You ha y g e in h th t tc s a a , binge-w ms. At le ’re still wanted to cry pagne Proble dancing, you f m a o h g C in g k n a ti e ri p lt w Mean g. And s Taylor Swift fe the dance in while dancin d to n a te h a r d u a o y aty have they dropped tes and iends! Did C fr r u o y ith the mathle h w it e w c t n s a ju d , e g th e in go and in the wis he still went to , s k t c u lu b , d o o N o g ? Girls ng queen. So !” won spring fli u better work o “Y l, u a P u R words of Sincerely, Lisa Zivanic
A le
POSTSCRIPT
Hey you! Yea you! The one reading this postscript. I’m not one to point it out but… Fix your posture! I bet you uncomfortably straightened your back just now. Well if you didn’t have to, good job! You’re better than 80% of Americans as the National Institute of Health reports that over 80% of Americans have poor posture. Poor posture is not an easy habit to break. Trust me. I’m slouching in my chair right now writing this, but keeping up this bad habit could lead to back pain, headaches, indigestion, or even poor circulation! None of these are good side effects for only a short period of comfort.
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Be honest, have you slouched since you began reading this article? Straighten your back and try to keep this posture for the remainder of the piece. If you ever find yourself drooping over in boredom, here are some techniques you can use to catch yourself. First, relax your shoulders and straighten up your back. This is known as the “doll technique” and is used by models, dancers, and singers. Try to use this trick throughout your day and try to implement it when you’re walking, sitting, or even standing. Another effective technique is to avoid “text neck.” Text neck is when your neck is leaning for a long period of time, typically when you look at your phone without regarding the time. To avoid this, take a moment to stretch your neck by stretching to the right, to the left, back, and then forward. It is important to do this once in a while because “text neck” can put a massive strain on your spine which causes its own multitude of problems. Well look, you made it! How is your back holding up? If trying to keep your posture straight was a struggle, you should focus on your friend that holds you up every day. Keeping your posture straight will benefit you in the long run and will overall make you look professional. So before you go, take care of your back so it can take care of you. And help your friends by reminding them to fix their posture, they’ll thank you in the long run.
Sincerely, Slava Miroshnichenko WRITTEN BY VYACHESLAV MIROSHNICHENKO ILLUSTRATION | JEFF KINNEY, “DIARY OF A WIMPY KID”
Forming my own identity Unveiling the reality of a younger sibling living in a pre-written path. RAJASI LADDHA features editor
My early childhood was filled with afternoons in Collins Elementary
FORMING MY OWN IDENTITY RAJASI LADDHA School under the blistering sun potting plants with the Garden Club, eating Otter Pops during the walk-a-thons and solving accursed math timetable sheets after lunch. As my second-grade teacher handed me my bright yellow timetable quiz, my eyes flitted around to see if anyone received the same colored sheet as I did. Across the classroom, I spotted a few green sheets on my friends’ desks and my heart plummeted. I hoped no one would notice that I was handed the lower level yellow sheet and that I failed to move on to the green sheet for the third week in a row. My friends needed to believe that I was smart, just like them with their lovely green timetable sheets. I blamed myself for not being intelligent enough, not being more like my idol -- my older sibling who I imagined would have been able to clear each sheet on the first try. At the time, I was only seven years old. Growing up in the Bay Area, I had to learn to accept the constant academic pressure as my cruel reality early on, much like many who were raised in Silicon Valley. Moreover, as a younger sibling, I also grew up listening to my parents telling me that I should follow in my older sibling’s footsteps since they were doing so well. So I took my parent’s advice
more than my sibling had while formand ventured in those footsteps, living ing my own identity based on who I under the heavy weight of the shadow was not another version of my sibling. my sibling’s figure ahead cast on me. My inferiority complex worsened as I I joined the same clubs they had used whatever means I could to be in the past and took up similar better than my sibling in the eyes of hobbies. Essentially, I tried to bemy parents, whether it was sleeping come a mini version of my sibling. just four hours a night to study a litHowever, we were not the same tle more or developing calluses from person and I was not able to perhours of dance practice. form at their academic standard. The constant comparison coupled In an attempt to encourage me, with internal and external pressure my parents fed me tales of my sibling’s culminated in self-doubt, low self-esaccomplishments in school: their work teem and mental health issues. I felt ethic, grades, time management skills as if I was back in my second-grade and more. I started to develop an infeclassroom, anxiously comparing myriority complex towards my sibling. self to my peers and the image of my As a few years passed by, I transelder sibling I created in my mind. ferred to a private school where the I am still learning how to accept myacademic pressure nearly doubled. self and how to manage a good relaIt was the first time my path diverged tionship with my sibling to this day. So from my sibling’s, but the added stress are many other younger siblings, as meant my grades plummeted below my story is a common narwhere my sibling’s rative, especially grades had ever in the Bay been. The weight of I WAS NOT Area. I my sibling’s shad- ANOTHER VERSION hope ow came crashing OF MY SIBLING. that down on me again, RAJASI LADDHA and this time it was heavier than ever. someday all of This cycle repeated many times in us can heal the next few years as I attempted to our inner secshed their shadow by doing someond-grade thing different, whether it was doing self and classical dance instead of Bollywood grow as or joining clubs they never did in o u r school, only to burn out over and over o w n again. I chased after that high bar they indiset for me, the pathway they paved before me; striving to be more perfect, to get better grades as long as I could at least touch that bar. The academic stress of private school and its highly competitive atmosphere increased the vidumental baggage I carried. I was bendals ing over backward trying to achieve
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