Issue 5 - March 2024

THE PROSPECTOR

NEWS

Super Bowl Ad Filmed at Cupertino pg. 4

INVESTIGATIONS

The Rising Costs of CHS Social Events pg. 12

SPORTS

Athlete of the Month: Adelyn Su pg. 16

FEATURES

2024 Hall of Fame

Inductees pg. 20

A LETTER TO MY 13-YEAR-OLD SELF

Writer Ira Lele provides guidance to her past self

16: Athlete of the Month: Adelyn Su

THE PROSPECTOR STAFF

2023-2024

editors-in-chief

Shaona Das

Alexander Liu

Katie Kim

news editor

Zain Haseeb

opinions editor

Joyce Lee

investigations editor

Nitya Dhulipala

sports editor

Amrita Brar

features editor

Ira Lele

postscript editor

Scarlett Guy

copy editors

Hailey Ryu

Noah Kang

Jeongwoo Choe

Victoria Hunt

photo editors

Nikhil Krishnaswamy

Brian Kuo

online editors

Victoria Hunt

Benjamin Liu

Katie Mak

Amrita Brar

Noah Kang

Miya Widman

Nikhil Krishnaswamy

Jeongwoo Choe

Yeechen Pang

business manager

Benjamin Liu

writers

Lisa Zivanic, Jolie Han, Sania Mehta, Angie Li, Anoushka

Gokhale, Anika Rao, Andrew Qin, Evan Lu, Rishita Shah, Riya Malik

advisor

Ann Shriver-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,

Have you noticed the flowers blooming around campus? Spring is finally here! After weeks of endless rain, we welcome a new and sunnier beginning. Alongside this seasonal transition, there have been notable changes within the Tino community. In this issue, we address some of these developments and invite you to read about topics that pique your interest!

Cupertino High School received national attention when Hall of Famer Mohammed Gorejstani filmed a Super Bowl advertisement on campus. On page 4, Jolie Han breaks down the filming process and offers an exclusive interview with Gorjestani.

Considering Black History Month, which occurred last month, and the ongoing celebration of Women’s History Month, Yeechen Pang navigates the complicated ethics surrounding companies capitalizing on heritage and awareness months on page 10.

Scarlett Guy, Hailey Ryu and Sania Mehta examine the Rising Costs of CHS Social Events on page 12, investigating the causes and effects of high dance prices and proposing new systems to combat them.

On page 24, Ira Lele writes a letter to her past self, reflecting on her move from Ohio to California and how it influenced her writing growth and development.

We are proud to showcase the hard work of our publication as first-year and junior staffers step into their new roles. Moving forward to Issue 6 and beyond, we are excited to witness staffers grow into their full potential and the future accomplishments of our publication.

Peace,

Alexander Liu, Shaona Das, Katie Kim

SUPER BOWL AD FILMED AT TINO

Behind-the-scenes of the Super Bowl Ad filmed at CHS

JOLIE HAN writer

Through filming a Super Bowl advertisement on campus, alumnus Mohammed Gorjestani made Cupertino High School a “super”-star. Directed by Gorjestani and filmed through a partnership between EvenOdd Studio, a media company in San Francisco, and 72andSunny, a global advertising agency, the video touched the hearts of many as it entwined football with mental health advocacy.

Gorjestani directed two commercials for the program, one of which was filmed in the 106 and 107 classrooms at CHS. Need ing to feature former football star Steve Young, who lived in the Bay Area, Gorjes tani thought the ide al place to shoot was his former high school. The video begins with Na tional Foot ball League players Solomon Thomas and Saquon Barkley reading statements from

students regarding their mental health struggles, such as, “No one cares about me, so why should I

“ THIS IS A REAL PROFESSION, AND IT’S SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN PURSUE JUST LIKE ANY OTHER CAREER.

” MOHAMMED GORJESTANI

care about myself?” or “Even when I’m with my friends, I feel alone.” These raw quotes preface clips of students with Steve Young in a classroom at CHS’s

Planning for the video started in November 2023. Gorjestani, along with other prospective directors, had received a brief earlier on from the NFL and 72andSunny. Gorjestani was selected after sending back a treatment and, with a team of 60, shot both videos across two

weeks of December with locations in New York, Pittsburgh, Las Vegas and the Bay Area.

“[Logistically, filming at Cupertino] was really smooth. The credit for that goes to Wes Morse and the facilities team at Cupertino who were really, really helpful and flexible,” Gorjestani said. “It was a pretty big production, so we needed not just the classroom we were filming in [...] and it was during finals week, but everyone was so gracious and helpful.”

Filming at CHS took around five hours, and the final video was released during the Super Bowl commercial breaks.

Gorjestani hopes that seeing the production can encourage current CHS students to pursue fields in the arts.

“I feel like there’s so much pressure on students to pursue very technical careers,” Gorjestani said. “People don’t take the creative industry very seriously.”

Having attended community college, Gorjestani hopes to inspire students to explore fields they are passionate about, especially in the creative industry, no matter what their current grades or pros-

pects may be.

“I hope [students who] want to do things in the world of storytelling see that it’s a real thing that’s happening,” Gorjestani said. “This is a real profession, and it’s something that you can pursue just like any other career.”

When asked how he would encourage others to begin their first steps in the industry, Gorjestani spoke about the plethora of resources, such as YouTube and TikTok, available for students to try their hand at creative storytelling.

“The best thing to do is to put yourself out there and [...] be really comfortable with making a lot of mistakes,” Gorjestani said. “So much of the process with being a creative professional is to spend a lot of years figuring out your voice and building your skills.”

After all these years, Gorjestani is proud to have returned back to his high school for the shoot.

Said Gorjestani, “[It] was a really cool experience to be able to come back to my high school about 20 years after I graduated and make something with my favorite player of all time.”

The NFL encourages students to get their school involved with the NFL character playbook program; for more information, visit their website at https://characterplaybook.com

H1B VISA CHANGES

ANDREW QIN writer

On Jan. 31, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services announced a plethora of changes to the H1B visa program.

The H1B is the most common temporary work visa granted in the United States. Recipients of H1B visas typically possess special expertise in technical, professional, and academic fields. As a result, many H1B workers occupy posi-

on their behalf. By making these changes, government officials hope to make the process more equitable.

Said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, “DHS continues to develop and implement regulations that increase efficiency and improve processes for employers and workers navigating the immigration system.”

In addition to format changes, the USCIS plans to increase the cost of H1B registration fees from

tions in the technology, engineering, and scientific industries— fields that are especially prevalent in the Bay Area. Every year, the US government limits the number of H1B visas granted, making the selection process highly competitive.

In the past, applicants have been able to gain an unfair advantage in the selection process by submitting multiple applications with different corporate sponsors. The proposed changes aim to close this loophole by shifting toward a beneficiary-centric process where each applicant is entered into the system once, regardless of the number of registrations submitted

$10 to $215 in March 2025, representing a 2050% price hike. The burden of covering registration fees typically falls on corporate sponsors. The price change will likely affect small to medium-sized businesses, which may struggle to afford the new fees.

While it is too early to speculate the changes the new H1B policies will incur, they will likely contribute to a more equitable, though costly, process than years prior. The Bay Area, a microcosm of various cultures and identities, will likely feel the brunt of its impact in years to come

FUHSD CLIMATE COLLECTIVE

JOYCE LEE

opinions editor

Students, administration and faculty of the Fremont Union High School District united this school year to form the FUHSD Climate Collective, a district-wide initiative to improve sustainability. Although schools have had independent clubs and collaborative motions for advocacy in the past, the Collective is the first district-wide movement of its kind.

The Collective’s vision sparked from the Earth Day Festivals held at each school site last year. Elisa Floyd, a senior at Homestead High School and FUHSD’s current student board representative, is the Collective’s student lead.

“Our team is composed of teachers, students and district leadership, so there are a lot of different people, but I’m there to make sure that the students are driving this initiative,” Floyd said. “And that’s the whole idea of this team [...] it’s really driven by what students need at school, and then figuring out how to maximize the potential we have as a school district to educate people about climate change and decrease our environmental impact.”

The Collective began with Floyd’s own recycling and waste reduction initiative at Homestead High

A team formed by students, faculty, and administrators in Fremont Union High School District discuss their ways of tackling climate change

School. As Floyd communicated with students from other FUHSD schools, she realized that many other student climate activists faced similar challenges.

“There wasn’t any longevity to what we were doing,” Floyd said. “And it felt frustrating, because [...] whenever it came down to [making long-term changes], and we tried to meet with admin, adults or teachers, the response we would get would be that they want to support us, but there isn’t

the funding or bandwidth or time. [...] And I realized — why don’t we team up?”

Floyd first created a district-wide committee of students called the Student Sustainability Commission, which met monthly with the director of facilities to focus on improving sustainability in rallies through the Associated Student Body. However, without teacher or admin involvement, the commission was limited in changes it could make. So when Floyd

was appointed as FUHSD’s Student Board Representative for the 2023–2024 school year, she used her platform to push for official commitment from the district’s superintendent, Graham Clark, and to onboard more faculty and teachers onto the district team.

Said Floyd, “I would split our team into two main goals, which are one, increasing environmental literacy — so that’s education — and two, reducing our environmental impact, because we have a lot of facilities, and we emit a lot of carbon.”

Starting in January of 2024, Collective representatives from each school spearheaded a recycling campaign to manage proper paper recycling for all 500 FUHSD classrooms. Junior Purva Marfatia is one of Cupertino High School’s three student representatives on the Collective.

“Historically, Tino specifically and a few other FUHSD schools have not been doing great with recycling properly — as in, you’ll often walk around and see that there’s trash in recycling bins, or that the trash isn’t properly sorted,” Marfatia said. “So our main goal with the recycling program was to first of all, regularize it a little bit.”

As the recycling provider for CHS could only take recycling that did

not exceed 8% of contamination, this was a large contributing factor to CHS’s high waste production, as bins were not taken out frequently enough to avoid contamination.

“So we started saying, we need the manpower to take out these bins [...],” Marfatia said. “We do have a community of 2000 people that actively go here every single weekday. We can have them volunteer. [...] We partnered with Key Club, Octagon and [California Scholarship Federation], and we’ve gotten over half of our classrooms filled up, which is really good for one month.”

“ YOU’LL OFTEN WALK AROUND AND SEE THAT THERE’S TRASH IN RECYCLING BINS, OR THAT THE TRASH ISN’T PROPERLY SORTED. ”

PURVA MARFATIA

Each FUHSD school also has a teacher representative. Carley Stavis, the CHS representative, works with students and district administrators to develop ideas for the upcoming student project showcase and advocate for changes in school curricula.

“We want to show the things that are true [in] academic curriculum, for example, choosing a book like Braiding Sweetgrass in our honors classes,” Stavis said. “It’s not explicitly about [environmental conservation], but there are so many aspects of learning about the environment and climate, and being in touch with the Earth, that are a part of that.”

The Collective is currently planning to host a district-wide Earth Day Festival at the Computer History Museum on April 11, where they plan to showcase student projects from all the FUHSD schools and host prominent guest speakers in the climate activism field.

“We’re really looking for a big attendance at the event, and our hope is that students and teachers, whether you’re active in climate activism [...] that you can come to the event and realize how solutions that you see overlap with your own interests,” Floyd said. “[...] The hope is that you can have a fun night of exploring and figuring out that there is a very unique way you can contribute. And there’s not just one idea of a solution to climate change”

ARE COLLEGE DEGREES BECOMING LESS IMPORTANT?

Examining the practicality of college degrees in an ever-changing job market

the traditional narrative of a higher education being the ultimate ticket to a secure future is no

College tuition has been rising quicker than income in recent years — US News in September 2023 revealed that tuition and fees at private national universities have increased by 132%, or $42,200, in the past 20 years. Additionally, within the same time frame, the student loan debt ballooned from $500 bilto $1.75 trillion. Such debts force students to delay important decisions in their life such as chasing a house getting married. Despite holda degree, many dividuals struggle to find a secure job. According to Statista, the unemployment rate of college graduates of non-technical majors was 11.15% for Arts, 9.4% for Humanities and Liberal Arts and 8.9% for Social Sci-

There are also industries that do not require a degree. Trade professions such as electrician, technician, building engineer and mechanics require less education, yet are paid above the national average wage. According to Yahoo Finance, the average salary of bachelor’s degree holders in the US was $67,786 in 2024, which is lower than the annual salaries of some trade professionals, such as elevator mechanics, who have a median annual salary of $97,860 and real estate agents, who earn around $96,816.

Additionally, with the increasing use of social media among Gen Z, content creation as a career option has also become popular. Thus, people with clear career plans for pursuing certain professions do not necessarily have to go to college when they could be gaining more experiences in certain fields.

unemployment rates, others, such as STEM and healthcare, continue to experience strong demand for skilled professionals. Additionally, obtaining internships, gaining practical experience and networking can significantly improve job prospects for college graduates, regardless of their major.

Obtaining a college degree demonstrates to employers that an individual is capable of setting goals, managing time effectively and finishing work through to completion. These attributes are not only desirable in the workplace but also serve as indicators for one’s potential.

“AS STANDARDS FOR JOB APPLICANTS ARE HIGHER THAN EVER BEFORE, SIMPLY HAVING A DEGREE IS THE BARE MINIMUM IN GETTING A PROMISING JOB. ”

JEONGWOO CHOE

Nevertheless, for the average person, holding a college degree still has many merits. As standards for job applicants are higher than ever before, simply having a degree is the bare minimum in getting a promising job.

It is important to note that not all degrees are valued equally, and this often contributes to high unemployment rates among college graduates in certain majors. While some fields may have higher

Also, as aforementioned, The Hamilton Project revealed that a college education has a significantly higher average return on investment of 15% compared to stock and housing investments, which have an ROI of 6.8% and 0.4% respectively, making many college degrees the most profitable long term investment one can make. Thus, despite the oversaturation of college degrees within the job market, the value of a college degree remains valuable

15% return on investment on average for a college degree, compared to 6.8% and 0.4% for stocks and housing, respectively

132%

for college education in the past 20 years 11.15% unemployment

rate for college graduates with an arts degree

CORPORATIONS SHOULD AWARENESS

YEECHEN PANG

multimedia editor

In the past two decades, large corporations have capitalized off of heritage and awareness months to reap profits. The commodification of these months, which were originally dedicated to cultural legacies and historical milestones, not only diminishes their significance, but erases the voices and experiences of the communities they are meant to honor.

Each month is dedicated to a cause and was created to commemorate the struggles and triumphs the marginalized group faced. For example, Black History Month, founded in 1976, trac-

Analyzing the detrimental effects of

roots back to the efforts of historian Carter G. Woodson, who sought to include African American history in the broader narrative of American history. Similarly, Women’s History Month came from the women’s suffrage movement and International Women’s Day, commemorating the contributions and struggles of women throughout history every March since 1987. Recently, there have been many instances where corporations capitalized on these months without making meaningful contributions to the communities they claim to support. For example, during pride month, AT&T released rainbow-themed commodities to appeal to the LGBTQ+ community, but simultaneously donated nearly $2.75 million to anti-LGBTQ+ politicians. Specifically, $204,000 was recently donated to state politicians in Utah, Florida, South Carolina, Alabama, Arizona, Texas, Indiana, Oklahoma and Tennessee who aimed to enact anti-LGBTQ legislation. Women’s History Month has seen a surge of corporate involvement, with some companies seeking to capitalize off of feminist ideals, potentially overshadowing the true purpose of the month. This phenomenon is known as “femvertising,” which uses feminist principles in advertisements to

“

“NOT ONLY DIMINISHES THEIR SIGNIFICANCE, BUT ERASES THE VOICES AND EXPERIENCES OF THE COMMUNITIES THEY ARE MEANT TO HONOR.”

STOP PROFITING FROM MONTHS

corporate performative activism

appeal to consumers. While companies claim they care about marginalized communities to the general public, they do not address the root cause of inequality within their own orga nizations. One such organization would be State Street Global Advisors. While they had their campaign “Fearless Girl” which had made global headlines that promoted girl power, State Street also paid $5 million to settle allegations that female and black executives were paid less than their white male counterparts.

as they perpetuate systemic injustices.

Heritage and ness

months are meant to raise aware- ness about the adversities the marginalized peo ple faced and celebrate them. Instead of celebrating with these communities, many exploitative companies take advantage of them.

with the goals of the month, it misguides consumers and tarnishes the month’s reputation. When consumers accept these ads, it reduces the real work being done. Unaffected groups benefit from these campaigns without taking meaningful action, perpetuating the suffering of the victims

The trend of exploiting marginalized communities not only

The difference between external and internal practices erodes the sense of trust people have. Trust is essential for genuine support towards marginalized groups and should extend beyond surface level actions during heritage and awareness months. It requires commitment to implementing inclusive hiring practices, and fostering an environment of respect and inclusion year-round.

While some may argue that these corporations are helping these communities by spreading awareness of

Such incidents are harmful

the topic, the superficial gestures corporations make are intended to boost profits rather than to address current issues. Exploiting heritage and awareness months alter their true meaning. By capitalizing off of these ideals, companies shape the perception people have on the subject. If the corporation’s marketing does not align with the

diminishes the meanings of the months, but also perpetuates institutional biases. Identifying performative activism and holding companies accountable is crucial. Not only can pushing for transparency in companies help prevent the exploitation of marginalized communities, but it can also ensure the voices and experiences of these communities are heard and respected

THE RISING COSTS OF CHS SOCIAL EVENTS

Examining the causes and impacts of high dance prices

ASB Perspective

The Associated Student Body’s Perspective on Rising Ticket Prices

SANIA MEHTA writer

At Cupertino High School, planning major student events like Junior Prom and Winter Formal is becoming exorbitantly expensive. Over the last two years, costs have surged for venues, catering services and other vendors used for these social functions. This rapid price inflation poses formidable obstacles for the student planners tasked with arranging such celebrations on tight budgets.

Akash Rao, 2025 class council president, explained that Junior Prom has always been one of the biggest events of the year, but costs have skyrocketed recently.

Unlike previous years, where pricing formulas may have remained consistent, the 2025 prom committee independently adjusted ticketing based on current elevated quotes from venues, caterers, decorators and other vendors.

After researching Junior Prom venue options, the cheapest quote 2025 Class Council received was over $25,000 just for the rental. Adding decorations, catering, DJ services and other activities increased the total prom budget to

fees to our students for things like transportation or a prom venue. If the community was opposed to these price increases, we could look at more affordable options like hosting prom in the gym. But our goal is still to provide a really memorable experience for students while working within tight budget constraints.”

“

“Finding an affordable venue this year was a struggle as problems with inflation and Covid have really hurt the entertainment industry,” Rao said. “For example, the San Jose Museum of Art for the class of 2023 was much cheaper than it was this year.”

Other schools like Lynbrook High are also definitely feeling the effects, but CHS decided to go with a less expensive venue than LHS to ensure they could raise enough money without opening ticket sales to other grades, Rao said.

One consequence of rising expenses has been incrementally increasing prom ticket prices annually. ASB student tickets have jumped from $55 in 2022 to $65 in 2023 to $75 this year. For nonASB students, prices have risen from $65 in 2022 to $75 in 2023 to $95 in 2024 for the most expensive pricing tier.

FINDING AN AFFORDABLE VENUE THIS YEAR WAS A STRUGGLE AS PROBLEMS WITH INFLATION AND COVID REALLY HURT THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY

AKASH RAO

He added, “The students on ASB work extremely hard fundraising and seeking cost-saving compromises wherever possible to keep events affordable. But inflation has made that much more difficult in recent years.”

”

over $40,000.

For the first time this year, a dynamic ticket pricing model was implemented to help offset the costs. The first 75 prom tickets were sold for $65 ASB and $75 non-ASB each. After reaching that checkpoint, the next 75 tickets were priced at $75 ASB and $85 non-ASB. Any remaining tickets rose to $85 ASB and $95 non-ASB each.

According to Rao, the goal is to incentivize students to purchase tickets early while also covering the huge venue and vendor costs.

Assistant Principal George Bechara weighed in, “We’ve had to pass on some of the increased

In terms of Winter Formal, which had around 450 attendees this year, Bechara noted “Some of the decline in attendance may have been due to the higher venue costs making tickets more expensive. But we also have a smaller overall enrollment, so the potential attendee numbers are lower as well because the student body is shrinking.”

With costs expected to stay high, ASB and individual Class Councils will continue to search for innovative solutions to keep student activities affordable for all students, even if it means making tough decisions about venues or scaling back on certain amenities.

“It’s a balancing act for sure,” Bechara said. “But these events are such an important part of the high school experience. We’ll do everything possible to make them financially viable while creating memorable nights for our students”

Student Perspective

Examining the Impact of Rising Ticket Prices on Student Participation

HAILEY RYU

copy editor

When this school year’s Winter Formal and Junior Prom details were released, Cupertino High School’s student body expressed great disappointment in the high costs of attendance. With prices ranging from $65 to $95, many were unable to afford tickets.

Many students have expressed their concerns with expensive ticket prices. According to a survey conducted on CHS students, 83.3% of students have an opinion on ticket prices and 75% of students think ticket prices should be cheaper. Some students expressed that ticket prices are “too expensive” and that ticket prices rise too quickly given that the cheapest prices are sold only during the first week of sales.

Following the end of the COVID-19 pandemic in May of 2023, the demand for event venues and event services increased. People were embracing the lifting of lockdown measures and started planning events such as proms, weddings and parties.

In 2021, Winter Formal tickets started at $50 for those who had an ASB card and reached up to $80. For this year’s Winter Formal, the cheapest price was $65 for those who had an ASB card and the most expensive price was $100.

Within two years, the difference between prices amidst the

COVID-19 pandemic and after the pandemic is around $20.

The pandemic is not the only reason ticket prices have increased; inflation, also caused by the pandemic, is also a major factor. Because of inflation, the prices of venues, catering, and other miscellaneous items that go into planning dances increased as well. In 2018, Winter Formal tickets started at $40 for those with an

of increasing at the same rate as inflation. Additionally, the extravagance once seen at dances years ago is now gone, with certain features being removed all while ticket prices still increase.”

I DO THINK THAT PRICES ARE INCREASING FAR PAST INFLATION TO AN UNREASONABLE AMOUNT INSTEAD OF INCREASING AT THE SAME RATE AS INFLATION.

“ ” STUDENT

ASB card and the most expensive price was $65.

According to a survey, 62.5% of students are aware that inflation is the main cause of increased ticket prices and 75% think it is reasonable that ticket prices have increased. 66.7% of students stated that increased prices in tickets have affected their participation in such events.

One student said, “While [...] I understand ticket prices [are] increasing due to inflation, I do think that prices are increasing far past inflation to an unreasonable amount instead

Another student said, “I think if I knew where my money was going and how much the venue [cost] and the food catering etc. I’d feel better knowing what I’m putting my money towards, but since I don’t know, I’m left to believe that the tickets are pricey for no reason.”

Although there are mixed opinions from students about increased ticket prices, there are solutions that the school is implementing – such as the newly created equity fund – in order for more students to attend these pivotal high school events

Has increased ticket prices for school dances affected your participation?

*According to a survey of 24 CHS students

Equity Fund

ASB’s Current Solution to these Rising Prices

SCARLETT GUY | VICTORIA HUNT

postscript editor | copy editor

A typical high school experience often includes going to football games, attending rallies and dressing up for school dances. While rallies are free and football games are only around five dollars or less, events like prom and winter formal can cost up to 90 dollars.

Cupertino High School’s Associated Student Body equity fund has previously assisted students in funding school materials and other necessities but has now expanded to allow students to have the proper funds to purchase dance tickets. Through the Equity Fund, it has become easier and more accessible for students to request the cost of their dance tickets to be waived.

“Even though the process is simple, it doesn’t necessarily mean that folks can request anything and everything. There’s still a process because there’s never going to be an unlimited amount of funds,” said George Bechara,

one of CHS’s assistant principals and district-wide coordinator for the intra-district council.

Kartik Pidaparthi, ASB Treasurer, explained the process behind how to cover costs through the Eq- uity Fund.

“For school materials, you mostly would talk to your teacher, and then the teacher would handle most of the work. For dances and things, you’d talk to Mrs. Win in the financial office and she’ll guide you through the process,” said Pidaparthi.

Because of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for event venues and services has increased substantially, as well as with the large increase in inflation over the years. The goal of expanding Cupertino High School’s Equity Fund to include the costs of school dances and proms was to negate these costs that students might not be able to cover while giving them the

opportunity

to experience pivotal high school events and dances.

“At the start of the year, the equity fund has around ten thousand dollars in it. This covers everything– so if a student would like to have their ASB card plus yearbook fund covered, that’s what the equity fund is for. If a student wants their winter formal or prom ticket covered, that’s what it’s there for. It can also cover things like athletic equipment and anything else that students would need,” said Pidaparthi.

Currently, any student can request it, but that doesn’t mean that their request will be granted. The primary goal in expanding the equity fund this year was to lessen the stigma behind asking for money.

The new method of accessing is being tested this year, and it is still unclear whether or not it will affect other commissions and other ASB-related events.

The new method of accessing is being tested this year, and it is still unclear whether or not it will affect other commissions and other ASB-related events

ADELYN THE MONTH: ATHLETE OF

Spotlighting freshman Adelyn Su’s dance journey

SU

VICTORIA HUNT

While she is only a freshman, Adelyn Su already has an abundance of accomplishments behind her name.

Su has been dancing for 11 years and started at the age of 3 because she was inspired by the girls she would see dancing at her local studio.

Su dances up to 30 hours a week and seven days a week, whether it be in classes, rehearsals, conventions, or her own practice. While she previously trained at Jun Lun Performing Arts in San Jose, two years ago she switched to Dance Academy USA.

Despite her young age, she has already achieved a number of impressive feats, ranging from scholarships at conventions to dancing for touring companies. Regardless of her success, Su dances out of enjoyment and love.

“When I dance, I put a lot of emotion and authenticity in it and I get so caught up in it to the point where the music takes me away and I forget that I’m actually dancing,” Su said.

One of her most impressive achievements is receiving the Regional Icon Award at Hollywood Connection, a prestigious competition. Despite being the youngest in her age category, 14-18, she was presented with this honor.

Said Su, “I was really shocked, and I wasn’t expecting it at all. I wasn’t even expecting to be called back for the runner-up scholarship. It was my first year in the senior room and I was up against the seniors at my studio and people who were eighteen years old. When I heard my name called out it felt like I was dreaming.”

A typical convention includes

two days of master classes from world-class teachers and an audition. These classes are extremely fast-paced, requiring the ability to pick up choreography quickly and perform on the spot. While many dancers struggle in the environment of a convention, it’s where Su thrives. NUVO breakout artist, Jump VIP winner, and New York City Dance Alliance outstanding dancer are just a few of the scholarships she has received this past year.

“Conventions are really special because I get to take classes from famous choreographers

“ WHEN I DANCE, I PUT A LOT OF EMOTION AND AUTHENTICITY INTO IT [...] THE MUSIC TAKES ME AWAY AND I FORGET THAT I’M ACTUALLY DANCING.

ADELYN SU

”

I would normally never be able to take from and meet new people,” Su said.

Another significant achievement is being on a touring company with another competition and convention, Hollywood Vibe. In order to make it onto this team, Su had to undergo multiple stages of auditions at Hollywood Vibe nationals in Los Angeles.

“The day results were supposed to come out, I remember refreshing their page over and over again and panicking so much because my name started with an A, so if I wasn’t the first one that meant I didn’t make it,” Su said.

Even with her success, Su’s dance journey has not always been easy. In addition to patellar tendonitis, she also suffered from quadriceps tendonitis in her right knee at the same time.

“I went through a lot of physical therapists to find one that specializes in dance and once I did they helped me and understood things a normal physical therapist wouldn’t get,” Su said.

However despite her success, just like many athletes, she faces significant pressure within herself and from others.

“The most challenging part of dance is the high expectations. When you win you have the pressure to keep winning and if you don’t, you feel like you’re disappointing a lot of people — including yourself — causing a cycle of stress. The higher the highs are, the lower the lows you experience,” Su said.

In the future, Su hopes to attend the University of Southern California Glorya Kaufman School of Dance. She would love to major in dance and join a dance company in Los Angeles. Eventually, Su dreams of going back to her home studio to choreograph solos and teach the next generation of dancers

THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF COMMUNITY IN SPORTS

Exploring the benefits of camaraderie within sports teams

AMRITA BRAR | MIYA WIDMAN sports editor, social media editor

In the world of sports, success is fueled not only by cheering crowds, but through the support provided by the tight-knit relationships within teams. For many high school students struggling to find their footing, the community formed between teammates can serve as a source of companionship and an outlet for self-expression.

Joining a team sport is one of the quickest and easiest ways for athletes to bond, get involved and make new friends on campus—particularly for students that have transferred from different high schools or underclassmen that are brand-new to the environment. For senior and captain of the girls varsity soccer team Sara El Moznine, the shared passion found in joining a sports team shed a beacon of light in her life amidst the uncertainty of living through a pandemic.

“I started on the girls varsity team as a freshman but

my freshman year we were online, so I didn’t really get the chance to meet a lot of people and most of the people I did know were from soccer,” El Moznine said. “It impacted my high school experience a lot because that was the first group that I became a part of.”

For countless students grappling with isolation or anxiety — both of which were prevalent and widespread sentiments throughout the reign of the COVID-19 pandemic — the positive, community-building aspects of team sports have provided a safe space to meet and learn from other like-minded individuals.

“Our team this last season was re -

ally close. We’re all friends, we all hang out. I think knowing that your friends will back you up when you’re out there playing and that they’re working for you and you’re working for them, too, it changes how much effort you want to put into the game,” El Moznine said. Maintaining a strong camaraderie amongst teammates not only drastically affects their success as a team, but has an immense impact on the way one’s four years of high school are shaped by opening up doors to a plethora of new opportunities and relationships.

For junior Jasper Khoo, one of the most meaningful rewards acquired from his experience on the boys varsity basketball team has been the lessons learned through advice given by upperclassmen on the team, not only regarding basketball but navigating life in general.

Said Khoo, “One of our seniors always says, ‘You’re only as strong as your weakest link.’ So everyone has to play that part for the team to succeed.”

This connection between students regardless of grade level, social circle and background is a bond difficult to achieve without extracurriculars such as after-school sports — activities that heavily rely on working together and mutually trusting one another,

a feeling vital to helping students feel integrated in the campus community.

“For someone struggling to fit in, joining a sport can really encourage team bonding and strengthen their feeling of belonging,” Khoo said. “It could also carry over to other aspects of their life.”

According to freshman Eva Chen, her time on the varsity cheerleading team has played a large factor in helping her smoothly transition into high school.

“I went to practice pretty much every day of summer, which allowed me to feel less alone when school started,” Chen said. “There’s always people I can talk to, especially upperclassmen.”

A large aspect of community

is maintaining trust and a team mindset, acknowledging that mistakes are a part of growth rather than a source of blame and resentment.

Said Chen, “It’s never just one person’s fault. I think learn - ing how to for -

“FOR SOMEONE STRUGGLING TO FIT IN, JOINING

A SPORT CAN REALLY ENCOURAGE TEAM BONDING AND STRENGTHEN THEIR FEELING OF BELONGING.

JASPER KHOO

”give and move on is vital for the strength of a team.”

Pre-game routines also play a significant role in strengthening a

team’s bond. “Before every game, we blast a song called ‘Love’ by Keyshia Cole in the locker room to help us get into the right mindset before our games,” Khoo said.

Said Chen, “We play music and have dance parties before we go on stage. We also have team breaks, which we came up with during our first practice, so it’s really cool to be able to have traditions that are special to us.”

Time and time again, sports have proved to unite players and athletes — no matter their grade or skill level — together through the shared experience of working as a unit towards a common goal. By experiencing losses, successes and lasting memories alongside one’s teammates, unique connections are formed

WRAP UP: 2023-2024 WINTER SPORTS SUMMARY

• GIRLS BASKETBALL: 4-17 | MVP: Jessica Shaffer

• GIRLS SOCCER: 3-13-4 | MVP: Maya Ranjan

• BOYS BASKETBALL: 25-2 | MVP: Soham Nighojkar

• BOYS SOCCER: 10-6-2 | MVP: Andrew Qin

LISA ZIVANIC writer

• GOLDEN SPURS NATIONALS AWARDS: 2nd in Hip Hop | 2nd in Character/Novelty | 4th in Jazz | 4th in Lyrical | 2nd in overall points total within the XS team category

• CUPERTINO CHEER NATIONALS TITLES: Scholastic Champion Team

Angie Li features editor

H A L L O F

A look into the lives of the newly recognized Hall of Famers

Philip Chang : As a student leader, Philip Chang changed the course of school spirit and community. As a doctor, Chang continues to change lives by treating patients and training medical students.

CLASS OF

2003

Hilary Swanson

At school, Chang took on many leadership roles: class president, drum major and co-captain of the tennis team. His interest in student leadership came from his understanding that he could bring change to school.

Said Chang, “I did it to be able to shape culture and build a foundation for future generations of students to lean on.”

Despite his many leadership roles, it did not always come naturally to Chang. As a shyer person, he had to be proactive and get out of his own shell. What helped push him outside his comfort zone were the gratifying results of seeing his hard work pay off as he helped people enjoy school and events. Those gratifying moments of helping others stuck with Chang as his inspiration for pursuing medicine and education.

Said Chang, “seeing all the teachers I had in [school and] how they touch and change students’ lives was a gratifying thing that I wanted to add in my career.”

As a very involved member of Tino, Chang encourages students to follow and just ‘say yes’ to more things.

“You should try to do what you love and do what you can when you have that opportunity,” said Chang. “Say yes to not just the school extracurriculars, but also prom, dances and the fun things. Life is full of opportunities and if you don’t take them when you can, you miss out.”

: As a longtime lover of books, Hilary Swanson is a New York Times bestselling author. After working as an editor in publishing, she settled as an independent ghostwriter in 2021.

As a ghostwriter, Swanson’s job is to help notable people new to writing write the best book they can. Through conversations and collaborations, Swanson helps these people pull out the content that would be most impactful for readers.

Said Swanson, “I see myself as someone who [does] a public service for the greater reading audience [by] making sure that the book can be as good as it can possibly be, while still being true to that person’s voice.”

Many of Swanson’s works focus on diversity and underrepresented communities because, unlike the many stories she saw in publishing, she wanted to amplify the voices of marginalized communities.

Although writing about these topics can be difficult and uncomfortable, Swanson perseveres because she knows that telling these stories will help others feel less alone.

Having pursued a literature career while coming from a tech-oriented area, Swanson encourages students to keep an open mind about their futures.

CLASS OF

2004

“I was able to take my love of books and make a whole life out of it,” said Swanson. “You don’t have to be so narrowly focused because you’re rarely going to pick something and have your life just say, ‘here you go, as you expected.’”

Photos courtesy of Alicia Chendra

F A M E R S

Justin Karp : From covering high school sports to the Olympics, Justin Karp took his love of sports beyond the classroom and to NBC Universal. Karp now works as the Vice President of Social Media, covering major sports at an Emmy award-winning level.

Karp’s love for sports developed as a kid, loving the environment when it brought people together. First working as a writer in digital journalism, he worked to develop and understand how social media could be an asset in journalism as it became more prominent.

Said Karp, “we realized it was about listening to [people], building community [...] and understanding that these platforms are an opportunity to bring people together around the things they’re passionate about.”

Having pursued a career in a field he loves, Karp maintains his love for sports by separating his personal love for sports from the goals of his work.

“I remove myself from the situation and try to direct that energy to what our audience cares about and what the viewer [and] readers [will] care about,” said Karp. “It’s not about me doing this job because I’m a fan of sports, it’s [that] I’m doing this job because it makes other people fans of sports.”

With all of Karp’s accolades, he encourages students to never be afraid to ask why.

“Nobody ever grew and nothing ever progressed without somebody asking why,” said Karp. “We should challenge society, convention and [how] everything has always been done. That’s the most important part of how [students will] grow as people and change the world around them.”

Alya Omar

CLASS OF

CLASS OF

2007 2013

: Once an athlete, performer, rally commissioner, homecoming queen and ASB president in school, Alya Omar continues to make her mark worldwide.

Growing up in an immigrant family from Egypt, Omar developed an early appreciation for traveling and learning about the different cultures and circumstances of others. Her interest in international development landed her in South Africa, working in a township in Longa to provide food and work experience for those who needed it. While there, Omar helped fundraise and get partnerships to establish a restaurant. Although she was not there to see the restaurant officially open, today the Sun Diner exists to give people job opportunities and access to food.

Back home in California, Omar found work at the Clinton Health Access Initiative.

It was similar to the work I had done in South Africa,” said Omar. “But instead of [getting] people equitable access to nutritional foods and employment, it was [providing] people access to tests, drugs and care for HIV in many different countries.”

Having dedicated her life to helping others and taking care of others, Omar encourages students to do the same.

“Where and when you can, the most important thing is to help other people and be a citizen of your own community,” said Omar. “[It] doesn’t necessarily have to be in your career, but creating a wider scope of what your value should be, and what kind of impact you have on the world, is really important.”

STUDENT TEACHERS

In-depth interviews with student teachers discussing

CRYSTAL CIFUENTES

Crystal Cifuentes, a former student teacher, expresses her growth as a teacher, from her initial spark of inspiration to various experiences in the classroom.

when her English teacher made her feel valued and recognized. Cifuentes’ relationship with this teacher changed the way that she viewed herself and others, giving her a new perspective on her future career. Because of the significant impact this teacher had on her character, Cifuentes realized that she wanted to become an educator to provide the same guidance to students.

ing three periods of Literature and Writing and two periods of Voices of Modern Culture. One of her goals for teaching is to plan lessons that are engaging for students. She constantly tries to think outside of the box and create lectures that have different ways for students to be able to demonstrate their learning.

“I think the best thing about

Cifuentes struggled to enjoy school until her freshman year,

After graduating high school, Cifuentes attended community college while she finalized what career she wanted to pursue. After deciding she wanted to work with children, she transferred to San Jose State University. There, she got her bachelor’s degree and completed a year-and-ahalf program to get English credentials.

Cifuentes began as a CHS student teacher with Zach Jacobs in the 2023 spring semester. She taught American Literature Honors and Sheltered Literature and Writing, planning and implementing lessons.

From Monday through Friday, Cifuentes was on campus until 3 p.m., and afterwards, she drove back to SJSU where she attended class. She then went home to not only finish her collegiate work but also her lesson planning and grading .

Cifuentes was a student teacher until fall 2023. This year, she is covering for Olga Hazeghi as a long-term substitute, teach-

“ SO MANY COVERSATIONS, SO MANY DIFFERENT PERSONALITIES -- IT’S AMAZING TO SEE SO MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE GROW.

” CRYSTAL CIFUENTES

this job is that you get to meet so many great, inspiring students. Not only do I get to help teach these students, but everyday they teach me something new,” Cifuentes said. “I think those are experiences that you just can’t replace with anything else. So many conversations, so many different personalities. It’s just amazing to see so many different people grow”

KATIE MAK

online editor

AT CUPERTINO HS

their paths to teaching and experiences within the craft

JESSICA CHOI

As an English teacher, Cupertino High School alumnus Jessica Choi shares her journey of discovering her passion for teaching and the ups and downs she experienced during her one year of student teaching.

Growing up, Choi never considered pursuing teaching, aiming to pursue law after excelling in Mock Trial. However, in a meeting, one of Choi’s teachers encouraged her to pursue education leadership.

From then on, Choi started teaching more, from coaching badminton to tutoring Japanese students. Through these pursuits, Choi recognized her capabilities in teaching and could envision herself pursuing it as a career.

After graduating from CHS, Choi attended De Anza College for two years, and transferred to UCLA for one year. In December 2023, Choi graduated from San Jose State University for a one and a half year program, receiving a Master of Arts in Teaching for English and Social Studies.

Choi’s student teaching program began in Nov. 2022 when SJSU reached out to the Fremont Union High School District to initiate her teaching process. She started working with Kevin Morgan to observe and assist with teaching his literature/writ-

ing classes. Choi balanced her job as a teacher on top of studying at SJSU in the evenings.

When she first began student-teaching, Choi experienced various difficulties. Having graduated a year early from college, she was the youngest teacher and relatively close in age to CHS students. Additionally, because Choi had coached Mock Trial, many students referred to her by her first name and viewed her as more of a mentor than a teacher. Choi’s brother and friends existed on-campus as well, making it hard to re-establish herself as a teacher.

Said Choi, “I’m a very shy and introverted person, so going up and speaking and hoping that [students] were listening to me was a little bit difficult in the beginning, but I slowly overcame that over time.”

Choi has tried out innovative methods of teaching, making the curriculum more accessible and fun for students.

As an alumnus, Choi connects and relates to CHS students. Having taken similar assessments and read the same books as them, Choi is familiar with the classes and requirements, understanding the expectations placed on students. Her recent experience at CHS allows her to sympathize with students and support them efficiently. Additionally, she is also

involved outside of the classroom, continuing to support the Mock Trial and badminton teams when required.

“My favorite thing about this job is watching the students grow honestly, not just as students in terms of English and [their] skills in terms of essays, but as people. It’s very interesting to see how they turn out and also how they change in the class,” Choi said

A LETTER TO MY 13 YEAR OLD SELF

IRA LELE features editor

Dear thirteen-year-old self,

Take a second to clear your thoughts before reading this. By now, you most likely have fallen into a motion of waiting, for that one moment you will finally crack.

As you and our parents move to California from Ohio, you will cross snakelike canyons and the most delicate crane arches. It will take five days and 2,564 miles, which is 45 hours and 38 minutes — and while you will savor it, you will also be pensive and worried.

I understand that while you are embracing this change very well, you expect to finally undergo a major breakdown, whether on the car ride here or in our new home. I’m here to tell you that time never comes. You’ll be emotionally fatigued, but you’ll hold up and find out you are much stronger and adaptable than you thought.

There might not be any cardinals or blue jays but within the fields of poppies, there are plenty of places and ideas to explore. Coming out of the bubble of the Midwest, you will be surrounded by different people and perspectives that will help you gain a whole new worldview. You’ll realize you can travel and move anywhere while still being comfortable with who you are.

In the time spent in your new home, you got out of the writer’s block you currently have. The shift caused you to be tired emotionally, so just take care of yourself for now and your creativity will come back. Trust me, you will write much more poetry and so many more articles in the next couple of years that your writing style will adapt and grow into something beautiful in its own right.

You never know what you can gain from new experiences unless you try them out so don’t be your worst enemy. Let go of your expectations and do your best not to overthink; patience, understanding and compassion towards yourself will take you much farther than anything else these next few years.

Just enjoy the little things along the way and stay in the present. As Laufey says in her song To My Thirteen-Year-Old Self, “Keep on going with your silly dream, Life is prettier than it may seem.”

Love, Ira

METHODS TO PROD

BRIAN KUO | NIKHIL KRISHNASWAMY | ALEXANDER LIU photo editor, photo editor, editor-in-chief

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