Issue 6 - April 2024

THE PROSPECTOR

NEWS

TikTok Ban? pg. 4

INVESTIGATIONS

Cupertino Over the Years p. 12

SPORTS

Tino’s New Diving Team Featuring Alisha Luc and Sydney Tran pg. 16

THE INFANTILIZATION OF FORMER CHILD STARS

Exploring the infantilization of child stars like Olivia Rodrigo and K-pop idols

FEATURES

Tino Published Creative Writers pg. 20

THE PROSPECTOR STAFF

2023-2024

editors-in-chief

Joyce Lee

Benjamin Liu

Hailey Ryu

news editor

Brian Kuo

opinions editor

Noah Kang

features editor

Miya Widman

investigations editor

Nikhil Krishnaswamy

sports editor

Victoria Hunt

postscript editor

Katie Kim

copy editors

Amrita Brar

Nitya Dhulipala

Zain Haseeb

Ira Lele

photo editors

Katie Mak

Yeechen Pang

online editors

Nitya Dhulipala

Alexander Liu

Zain Haseeb Ira Lele

Yeechen Pang

Katie Mak

Scarlett Guy Amrita Brar

business manager

Shaona Das

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,

As the end of the school year dawns upon us, our sixth issue has been a time of reflection at The Prospector — and of new beginnings. This second edition of our junior issues was brought to you by our staffers, who have tried out new positions in our magazine and will be the future of The Prospector.

Benjamin Liu and Scarlett Guy launch us into this theme of change in an examination of the future of TikTok, and the implications the potential ban may have on its millions of American users on page 3. On page 8, Amrita Brar and Victoria Hunt explore the change in former child stars’ branding as they shed their previous youthful image in favor of a more mature concept from adolescence to adulthood.

Conversely, Angie Li, Riya Malik and Hailey Ryu take us back to the early years in Tino history through a series of investigative interviews with teacher alumni on page 12. On page 26, Katie Kim reflects on her personal transformation after her older sister moved to Southern California for college.

We’re incredibly proud of everyone in our Tino community, from our steadfast Prospector staff to our beloved teachers and friends. We hope this issue encourages you to reflect on how far you have come this school year and will go in the future.

Yours truly,

Benjamin Liu, Hailey Ryu, Joyce Lee

TIKTOK

BAN?

Congress Bill pressures Tiktok parent company ByteDance to either sell or ban TikTok in U.S.

BENJAMIN LIU | SCARLETT GUY

editor-in-chief | podcast editor

Tick tock, tick tock…the clock for popular social media app

TikTok ticks down after the House of Representatives passed a bill on March 13, 2024 cautioning its Chinese parent company ByteDance to sell the app within six months or be banned from all American domestic devices.

TikTok, a Chinese-owned company, is required to share all user data with the CCP on request based on Chinese cybersecurity laws. Despite there being no records of such requests, lawmakers from Congress expressed concerns about the possibility of TikTok leaking American user information to the Chinese government and fostering an environment for the Chinese Communist Party to spread propaganda by

controlling information presented in the app. According to an article published by thew Pew Research Center, 32% of people aged 18–29

HEY, UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT, CAN I ASK WHAT OUR PRIORITIES ARE RIGHT NOW?

say they regularly get their news from TikTok. This is significant as viewers in this age group could be exposed to content that is not in the interest of the American government.

The US government, in hopes of keeping Tiktok users safe and protecting national security, is

House Bill

fighting ByteDance to sell the app to an American company before the bill is passed through all parties of the government.

On the other hand, an anonymous CHS student and TikTok user stated, “I feel like risking your information being leaked is an inevitable [thing] that comes from using social media. And I don’t necessarily think risking my data being leaked to China through TikTok is significantly worse than risking my data being leaked to the US government through other apps.”

The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act overwhelmingly passed by the House aims to reach a compromise between protecting users’ online privacy and national security

while giving American users the possibility to continue enjoying the benefits of TikTok if ByteDance divest their United States assets.

Many of the 170 million American users on TikTok disapproved of the bill. Those against the bill argued that it limits the First Amendment rights of the app’s users because banning the app removes a platform they use to express themselves.

However, others disagree. For instance, said the anonymous student, “Given how many social media platforms there are that are very similar to TikTok, I don’t personally feel like my First Amendment rights have been violated. However, I feel like many TikTok creators, particularly news-based ones, that rely on this social media will feel like their speech is being suppressed.”

Current TikTok users can simply switch to alternatives such as Instagram reels or YouTube shorts for entertainment— however, the same cannot be said about content creators. The ban will completely upend the careers of full-time influencers and small business owners, forcing them to struggle to find an alternative platform for content creation or consider an entirely new method of earning. In addition, many companies would lose a crucial marketing tool if TikTok were to be banned.

Numerous influencers feel frustrated about the ban as they see it as inappropriate in comparison to other current issues. Said content creator Notsophiesilva, “Hey, United States government, can I ask what our priorities are right now?”

As of now, the fate of TikTok is unclear. The proposed House bill needs to be passed through the Senate — where it will face legal challenges — to go into effect

SILICON VALLEY HOPPER

KATIE MAK photo editor

Silicon Valley Hopper is an eco-friendly transportation service operated by Via, with funding from the city of Santa Clara. The cities of Cupertino and Santa Clara received around $8.5 million in 2022 to expand transportation services, and launched the Hopper app in Nov. 2023.

Hopper offers public ride service to the Cupertino and Santa Clara area, with some popular destinations including DeAnza College, Main Street and Westfield Valley Fair.

The program is priced at $3.50 per ride, with an additional $1 to add another passenger, while also offering discounted rides of $1.75 for senior citizens, students and more.

“

As Hopper is still in its early stages, it has a limited number of employed drivers, making it difficult to sustain too large of a user base. Hopper continues to further expand the program, allowing for more accessibility. There are times when ride availability is limited, especially around 3 p.m. when there are many school dismissals, where many people are booking rides.

To use the ride service, users must install the Silicon Valley Hopper App to begin. After users enter the addresses of the pick up and drop off location, they then

PEOPLE COUNT ON ORDERING RIDES EVERY SINGLE DAY TO GET SOMEWHERE, AND THIS IS PROBABLY THE MOST EFFICIENT METHOD TO DO SO.

DEVANSH PATEL ”

As a convenient and affordable way to commute, Hopper benefits many, from students to families to teachers. Junior and frequent Hopper user Devansh Patel often resorts to Hopper when it is time to head home after school. He began using the program when he discovered it through a school email, and has enjoyed it ever since. The cost effectiveness and convenience of Hopper are two main factors that keep him continuing with the program.

“The cost is super cheap, for one ride it’s $1.75. I’m really happy with my overall experience with [Hopper]. Obviously, there have been a few negative experiences but there have been way more positive than negative,” said Patel.

click “Book This Ride.” Users navigate using the app to find where to meet the driver and vehicle, and there is also a call button if needed. Once in the vehicle, users can also check the route and directions through the app.

“It’s so good that the city of Cupertino can support this program because people count on ordering rides every single day to get somewhere, and this is probably the most efficient method to do so,” Patel said

VALLCO CONSTRUCTION

Construction of “The Rise” at previous Vallco Mall location is approved both measures failed, indicating a clear rift in voter opinions.

ANDREW QIN writer

Once a bustling hub of commerce and activity, Vallco Mall was the heart of Cupertino’s thriving retail industry during the 80s and 90s. Anchored by department stores like Macy’s, Sears and JC Penny, the shopping location was a popular destination for residents and tourists alike — a place to indulge in various experiences from comic book stores and bowling alleys to fine dining and luxury goods. However, by the turn of the century, the rise of online e-commerce businesses led to a steady decline in visitor traffic. One by one, stores began to lower their shutters, and by the 2010s, Vallco Mall was only a shadow of its former self.

In 2014, the real estate management company, Sand Hill Property, acquired the dying retail center for $320 million. In 2015, the company submitted plans to redevelop the site into a community complex featuring residential units, 640,000 square feet of commercial area and over 2 million square feet of usable office space. The project, called The Hills, was ambitious, additionally seeking to incorporate a 30-acre integrated green roof with open public spaces, including trails, an amphitheater, a fitness center, a clubhouse and two town squares. Construc-

tion of The Hills was set to be accompanied by over $50 million in benefits to Cupertino schools, including a state-of-the-art Innovation Center for Fremont Union High School District students. The plans were met almost immediately with resistance. Concerns over traffic, construction and a radical influx of “unchecked” growth spurred division amongst residents and city officials. In 2016, the matter was brought to the ballot box. Measure C, launched by an organization known as the Better Cupertino Political Action Committee, aimed to halt all plans for The Hills, seeking instead to devote 1.2 million square feet of Vallco space for retail development only. The opposing proposal by Sand Hill Property, Measure D, sought authorization for The Hills project. Ultimately,

In 2018, Sand Hill Property altered the project, meeting Senate Bill 35 guidelines and state density bonus laws to avoid voter referendums. California’s Senate Bill 35 is a statute that allows development projects that serve affordable housing needs to undergo a streamlined approval process. Under these new guidelines, Sand Hill Property drastically increased its proposed residential units, with a significant portion targeted at households earning below 80% of the median income.

Said Samantha LoCurto, Communications and Marketing Coordinator for Cupertino, in an email, “The project site, without a state density bonus, would be able to accommodate 1,779 units based on the residential density

allowed on the site. However, pursuant to state density bonus law, the applicant was able to include an additional 890 market rate units to the project for a total of 2,669 units of which 890 units would be affordable.”

Sand Hill’s efforts to increase housing options come amidst an affordable housing crisis in the Bay Area.

“HOUSING AT LOWER INCOME LEVELS SUPPORTS HOUSEHOLDS THAT PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SERVICES [...] ALL OF WHICH ARE NECESSARY TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY.

Said LoCurto, “The City continues to support housing development at all levels of affordability. Housing at lower income levels supports households that provide essential services to the community, including those who serve as emergency service providers, teachers, and workers in the retail industry — all of which are necessary to support the community.”

SAMANTHA LOCURTO

Following these developments, Sand Hill Property was

sued in 2018 by the Cupertino political action committee, Friends of Better Cupertino. FBC claimed Sand Hill Property’s proposals were not in accordance with SB 35 guidelines and could not thus lay claim to the expedited review process that would circumvent voter referendums. The litigation dragged on for two years before a judge ultimately ruled in Sand Hill Property’s favor. In 2022, the city officially greenlit Sand Hill’s SB35 project. Most recently, on February 16, 2024, the city ap -

The Hills at Vallco

proved a second plan modification.

The past events bring us to the present, where the desolate Vallco Mall no longer symbolizes Cupertino’s history but its potential for a drastically different future.

Said LoCurto, “The project applicant has communicated their eagerness to begin construction. To that end, they are pursuing discussions with the City to begin to obtain permits for the utility and grading required to allow the above grade structures to be constructed.”

Although a construction timeline is not available at this time, new developments will be inevitable over the next few years

The Infantilization of Former Child Stars

Exploring the infantilization of child stars like Olivia Rodrigo and K-pop idols

AMRITA BRAR, VICTORIA HUNT

copy editor | sports editor

From gracing our TV screens as children to selling out stadiums and performing in front of thousands, the rise and progression of child stars is nothing new to pop culture. However, the common infantilization of many stars — even as they grow older and begin to explore more adult themes in their work — has raised concerns over time. Infantilization is the act of treating one like a child and holding them to the expectations of a child, despite their inevitable maturing.

Child stars such as Olivia Rodrigo, Millie Bobby Brown and various K-pop idols are just a few examples of individuals who

have been in the spotlight from a very young age but later on shifted their child-like image to a more mature one and were met with backlash.

Although not every star follows this pipeline, problems often arise when these former child celebrities begin putting out projects more well-adjusted to their current age, despite their audience remaining the same young fanbase that they have outgrown. Oftentimes, the provocative work these artists release as adults upsets the parents of their young viewers, who widely deem it inappropriate and unsuitable for that demographic.

A prime example of this issue that has sparked debate online in recent weeks is Olivia Rodri -

go, who is currently touring for her newly released “GUTS” album. First starring in “American Girl: Grace Stirs Up Success,” then moving onto Disney Channel, appearing in “Bizaardvark” as well as “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series,” Rodrigo has since left the acting world to pursue her passion for music. Similar to many other Disney works, the content of her past TV shows was relatively innocent and their primary demographics were elementary to middle school-aged children. Although Rodrigo put out an album titled “SOUR” in 2021, the album contained little profanity and the tour remained uncontroversial. In recent months, the release of her 2023 album

USER “ OLIVIA IS A 21 -YEAR-OLD WOMAN, SHE DOESN’T OWE ANYONE A SANITIZED CONCERT.

”

“GUTS” and — more specifically — the tour, has prompted dispute between fans. The album is significantly more explicit than her past releases, including the first track being called “all-american [redacted],” and a majority of the songs containing lyrics with cuss words and vulgar references. Aside from the album, many users on social media have brought attention to the dance moves she performs on her tour, labeling them as scandalizing and inappropriate for her audience. One example of this is during the song “Obsessed,” where Rodrigo performs risqué moves such as thrusting her hips in the air while on the floor and grabbing her chest throughout the performance.

In addition, the lyrics of Rodrigo’s show opener for more than half of the tour stops, pop singer Chappell Roan, are far from kid-friendly, alluding to substance usage and detailed sexual acts.

Many insist that because such a large number of the fans in attendance fall in the young age range of six to 12 years old, it is inappropriate for Rodrigo to be performing these moves. Nevertheless, it is not an artist’s responsibility to police their audience or surrender their self-expression for the sake of the children in attendance, as they and their parents should be familiar with the content of the concert before purchasing tickets. Despite there being no official minimum age requirement for attendees, it was explicitly stated that children under the age of 15 were mandated to have an adult with them.

Said one Reddit user in an online forum, “[...] Olivia is a 21-yearold woman, she doesn’t owe anyone a sanitized concert. Her act has gotten a little more mature and adult, but that’s because she’s matured. She’s young, she’s beautiful and she’s a star, let her

fantilization of former child stars is far too normalized is the world of K-pop. Many instances have been seen and recorded of — often older — fans gifting their favorite idols pacifiers, bibs or even baby shakers at fan events and fanmeets. More often than not, these idols are grown adults receiving and being asked to take pictures with toys meant for babies and small children; these common incidents indicate a disturbing and normalized patronization of these stars. As a result of many idols debuting extremely young and beginning their careers as trainees even sooner, fans often continue to perceive them as children long after they have entered adulthood. In addition, artistic freedom is strictly monitored in the K-pop industry, with idols heavily criticized for doing anything from swearing on camera to simply being involved in romantic relationships. This limitation on their basic liberties fosters a mindset that encourages viewing them as younger and more incapable than they actually are. In addition, the average debut age for idols has been getting gradually lower and lower over the years, with some debuting as young as 13 and 14, heavily perpetuating the harmful ideas of infantilization

The Harmfulness of Voluntourism

Exploring the detrimental effects of voluntourism

ANIKA RAO, ALEXANDER LIU writer | social media editor

Voluntourism

— traveling to developing countries for the pur pose of providing financial medical or other forms of aid — provides much-need ed help to communities in foreign countries. The voluntourism process ben efits both parties, with the disadvantaged communities receiving education, med ical support or buildings, and the volunteers receiving volunteer hours and pride for helping out others. How ever, voluntourism also has its dark side.

Among the many differ ent organizations that offer volun tourism opportunities are tourism agencies, religious groups and specialized companies. Some of them seek profit without truly con sidering the future of the communi ty that they are “helping,” leading to exploitative business practices from putting kids in orphanages to encouraging economic de pendence from communities and preventing them from developing further, according to an article by NPR in 2020. Although beneficial in the short term, it is important to consider the possibilities of voluntarism’s long-term impact on the community, as well as the effectiveness of the skills of student

in for medical insurance in the presence of medical voluntour ists. This reliance on foreign aid not only inhibits local economies through limiting their local insurance practices, but also places the lives of people into a safety net which is, at best, unstable.

The true end goal of help-

the community better and last longer when locals do them. Besides, long-term change happens when people can solve their own problems.”

Volunteers can still make a positive impact when they help

foreign communities, but a longterm system of better local establishments and education will serve the community better than a hundred waves of overseas helpers, no matter how well-meaning they are.

Voluntourism becomes problematic when students are required to use skills they do not have adequate training in, like construction and childcare. In a blog post from 2014, a student wrote about how she and her fellow voluntourists failed to construct a library in Tanzania due to their lack of construction skills. “[...] but there we were trying to build straight walls without a level,” sShe wrote. Because of the lack of integrity within the building, professional construction workers secretly demolished and rebuilt the structure at night, while letting students believe that it was them who made the progress. No matter how much effort students put in, the same money and resources would be better spent on providing direct monetary aid via fundraising to hire local professionals, rather than students haphazardly carrying out the tasks themselves.

less money, from wealthy philanthropist donors. Using the promise of guaranteed resources and constant attention from wealthy foreigners, these orphanages successfully and forcibly create ‘orphans’ to keep their businesses alive. An NPR report in 2020 found that orphanages purposefully do notdon’t give medical aid to children and that critics are calling this recruitment and subsequent abuse “modern slavery.”

PUBLIC WORKS SERVE THE COMMUNITY BETTER AND LAST LONGER WHEN LOCALS DO THEM. BESIDES, LONG-TERM CHANGE HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE CAN SOLVE THEIR OWN PROBLEMS.

THE

GUARDIAN

Voluntourism can even contribute to the “saviorism complex,” in which volunteers believe that only help from first-world countries can progress the poor communities in foreign countries. This can be attributed to subtle messages from aspects of volun-

Max, in 2021 through 2022, when COVID-19 was at its peak, a voluntourism trip hosted by Bay Area college preparation organization IvyMax contributed valuable student tutors to disadvantaged kids in rural Nepal and provided much needed education for two years. This type of aid is irreplaceable and demonstrates a case of voluntourism being used adequately. If done right, voluntourism can be beneficial to a poor community, but in the long run, it can be wasteful and unethical. While the total abolishment of voluntourism will lead to the detriment of many communities, it’s crucial to limit or outlaw the long-term outcomes and unethical practices that voluntourism brings, as well as using the funding originally intended for voluntourism to help create a system for communities to be self-sustainable

Another system that exploits the promises of voluntourism is orphanages. The orphanages, which receive steady external aid from the voluntourism industry, entice parents to send their children there. Then, the orphanages keep their children malnourished so they appear more needy to voluntourists. Unfortunately, healthy kids garner less sympathy, hence

tourism that puts volunteers in a position of power, like a resource provider or teacher. The orphanage system also contributes to this stigma, as volunteers are made to believe that kids in foreign countries are weak and need help. This saviorism complex is harmful because it causes volunteers to be prejudiced when working with people from countries that they perceive as poor.

However, sometimes high school voluntourism is exactly what a community needs. Math and science tutoring, which uses skills that students in Bay Area high schools are very proficient in, can be executed far better than construction work. According to the website of Bay Area college preparedness organization Ivy-

Cupertino Over the Years

A journey through changes in CHS from 1958 to 2024

RIYA MALIK writer

Since Cupertino High School’s birth in 1958, the academic culture of both the school and the surrounding community has shifted continuously to match a growing society.

In the initial years of Cupertino High, overwhelming community support and a strong administrative structure helped make

the school successful. Soon after, however, changes in staff and student mindsets drastically altered the school’s operation.

The late 20th century dealt with a growing awareness of issues regarding education accessibility and race-based discrimination. To make education more inclusive, Tino formed the Learning Center through the support of staff led by Dorothy Emerson. Their work

helped create a space for students with disabilities to receive a strong education in life skills, work experience and other important abilities. To combat racial issues, the school used the Multicultural Committee to adjust the curriculum and host fairs; simultaneously, department changes occurred to meet the changing community and demographics.

From the 1970s to the 90s,

SCAN FOR MORE COVERAGE

these trends repeated to expand and reflect the city of Cupertino. In 1988, a continuation school was established to support students who were academically struggling or needed other forms of support. In 1999, Tino’s mission to provide accessible education continued through the program Academic Communication, which provided social-emotional support and emphasized the school’s mission of inclusivity. These academic values have continued in recent years of Tino’s history, through the current programs of AVID, Terranova, the Best Buddies club and tutoring resources.

Demographics during this period increased the number of Asian American students on campus, also reflecting a new attitude of motivated students preparing for higher education in college by taking more AP classes. Even school administrators began to emphasize overall academic suc cess by motivating students to do well on Standardized Testing and Reporting and California High School Exit Exam tests.

Increased levels of student stress came hand in hand with the community’s attitude towards aca demic success.

Nikki Merrick, an Advanced Placement English Literature teacher at Tino for almost three decades, experienced the shifts in academic culture at Tino firsthand over the years.

Said Merrick, “When I first started, there were a number of teachers that had been here a re ally long time and were very tradi tional in their approach to the con tent of what we taught, as well as the approach to how things were

taught.”

As years went on, academic freedoms for both teachers and students diversified to make room for new curricula and updates that truly reflected the student body. With time, however, the academic pressure has also grown tremendously.

“Kids are very focused. [...] I mean, there are kids here who are just doing so many tremendous things that I think that unfortunately, there’s not a lot of room kids feel for just being a kid,” said Merrick.

Another major factor in changing academic culture is the role of technology in education. Access to infinite online resources has permanently changed the way students can learn and classes are taught.

Said Merrick, “The attention span of kids today is far less, the reading endurance is much, much lower. Now, kids are incredibly squirrely, and they have a really hard time reading something that’s not on a screen or checking their phones.”

While technology may

“have its drawbacks, it adds to the accessibility of learning in many ways.

“There are some kids, for example, who can retain information better if they listen to it. I feel like giving kids choice for how they read things is very much a new approach,” Merrick said.

Another major transition that has affected academics is the administrative leadership that switched in 2007 when Kami Tomberlain became principal. This period also signified the rise in concern and care for the student body with the implementation of schoolwork revision or redemption, a school wellness center and weighting grade books. These academic changes became necessary to mitigate the high stakes of education and the difficulty level of classes for students.

Said Merrick, “I feel like now we’re much more mindful about that. And I think that’s a real benefit and a real good change”

AS YEARS WENT ON, ACADEMIC FREEDOMS FOR BOTH TEACHERS AND STUDENTS DIVERSIFIED TO MAKE ROOM FOR NEW CURRICULA AND UPDATES THAT TRULY REFLECTED THE STUDENT BODY. ”

RIYA MALIK

Athletics

ANGIE LI writer

From only offering boys sports at the time of its opening in 1958, Cupertino High School’s athletic culture and accomplishments have changed dramatically over the years. In its formative years, Tino’s sports teams consisted of baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, water polo, wrestling and track and field. Many sports were added as the school grew, and the list of offered sports continues to change, with clearance to add a girls flag football team in the coming years if the facilities and logistics allow.

In the early days, several team sports — such as basketball and soccer — were highly successful, winning multiple championships throughout the 70s. In recent years, individual sports such as tennis, badminton, track and field and swimming have taken the reins. Football coach and PE teacher Chris Oswald attributes this to the greater opportunities offered at a young age for individual sports, as well as the simplicity in training one student instead of a whole team.

The success of Tino’s sports teams is determined not only by their accomplishments, but

the athletes and the culture they bring. The environment around athletics has changed drastically over the years, recently resulting in many issues with commitment, as shared by Craig Ellegood, PE teacher and boys basketball coach who began working at Tino in 1999.

“We have a lot more issues with kids not understanding the commitment to a sport [and] team,” Ellegood said. “I also think part of that is their parents don’t understand [that] if you’re going to play on a team, you don’t get to just randomly leave. It’s not your schedule, it’s the team’s schedule.”

Also in comparison to years past, Oswald mentions the decreasing interest in sports, with fewer students wanting to try out.

Said Oswald, “We survive seasons. They’re not knocking our door down, we’re knocking on their door down and saying, ‘please come try this.’”

However, these issues do not apply to everyone, as Ellegood also notes that many students are still passionate and committed to their sports.

Another difference between today and the past is teachers’ roles in coaching. Back in the 50s and 60s, it was common for all PE

teachers to coach three different sports, year-round. Nowadays, fewer teachers are coaching, and they are much harder to find and even harder to keep, often only staying for one year.

Outside of these struggles, Ellegood highlights the recent accomplishments of sports teams and the successes achieved beyond just winning.

“I don’t think you always measure success on winning and losing,” Ellegood said. “[It’s about students] maximizing their season and partici-

“

IT’S ABOUT STUDENTS MAXIMIZING THEIR SEASON AND COACHES WORKING TOGETHER TO GET THE MOST OUT OF [ATHLETES].”

CRAIG ELLEGOOD ”

pation [and] coaches working together to get the most out of [athletes] and also maximizing the ability of the team.”

Although it is hard to predict what the future of Tino athletics will look like, Oswald would not be surprised to see some sports die off while others like cricket and lacrosse find their way in. Furthermore, Ellegood hopes that increased accountability and commitment will lead to a better athletic world

SCAN FOR MORE COVERAGE

HAILEY RYU editor-in-chief

As new civil rights emerged in America’s government and changes arose in society, social life at Cupertino High School has evolved throughout the years to match these new reforms. From the Sadie Hawkins Dance to Homecoming and Winter Formal now, Cupertino High School’s social life has drastically developed over the years.

THESE [ACTIVITIES] EVOLVE WITH YOU AND THEY EVOLVE WITH SOCIETY.

WES MORSE ”

HOMECOMING

Homecoming is one of the largest class competition events of the school year, with months of preparation and planning going into executing the event. Currently, Homecoming consists of class skits, dances, themed decorations that embellish the quad and hallways, the annual football game and most recently, the Homecoming dance. Although Homecoming has been a tradition at Cupertino, the execution of the event has changed to tackle topics of sustainability and entertainment.

Years before sustainability initiatives regarding posters started, 15 Homecoming posters were utilized by classes. Then, Wes Morse — former Associated Student Body advisor and history teacher — started focusing on lowering the number of posters. Now, ASB requires classes

to create two posters and one backdrop, a significant decrease in the amount of posters needed in efforts to push towards environmental sustainability.

When Morse was a student at CHS in the late 1980s, Homecoming consisted of the Wagon Wheel being decorated like a maze and a skit in the quad during brunch without dancing. Slowly, dancing got introduced into skits and now is one of the most prominent aspects of the Homecoming rallies.

Additionally, the Homecoming dance -– which would take place after the football game — went past midnight, which is something CHS dances do not do today. Homecoming court, previously Homecoming Royalty with a Homecoming King and Queen, was changed to degender it.

“These things evolve with you and they evolve with society. They evolve with changing demographics and changing historical concepts of equity, and I think our activities are in as good a shape as they’ve ever been,” said Morse.

DANCES

In addition to the three school dances that occur annually — Homecoming, Winter Formal and Prom — the school used to hold a Back to School dance and a Sadie Hawkins Dance

TINO’S NEW DIVING TEAM

Logistics on how the new diving team formed

EVAN LU | RISHITA SHAH writers

After being disbanded for a year, Cupertino High School’s diving team makes a comeback for the 2024 season.

Though small, the two-athlete team pioneered the re-emergence of CHS’s diving team to a competitive level.

Seniors Sydney Tran and Alisha Luc, both varsity water polo players and swimmers for CHS, have been interested in diving since last year.

assemble the diving team this season. Luc and Tran immediately set out to train for the new sport this past February.

After the diving pool and equip-

“WE DON’T REALLY THINK OF IT AS LIKE COMPETING AGAINST EACH OTHER. IT’S JUST KIND OF ONE BIG TEAM.

SYDNEY TRAN

Luc even highlighted the community in the diving teams across the division. Said Luc, “Normally we practice with Monta Vista, but then, sometimes we have practices with Homestead.” This closeknit relationship also spills over to how meets operate. More unconventional than the typical swim meets, Luc and Tran discussed how several teams are present at one diving meet to compete with each other, rather than the typical team versus team swim meets.

Starting the diving team again was no easy feat. Both athletes attempted to re-form the team during the spring seabut were able to inform their coach of their intentions in time. However, they were successful in their efforts in 2024 and were able to

ment at Cupertino High School were removed years ago, the school’s diving team has had to find arrangements to practice with other schools. This season, both athletes commute to Monta Vista High School for daily practices. Although MVHS is a rival school, both teams are able to practice together without any problems.

Said Tran, “We became really good friends with the people on the Monta Vista team. And we don’t really think of

“We had a meet with three teams, so us, Monta Vista and Fremont. Because it’s just easier to do it together,” Luc said. Additionally, since the coaches are running the events, including scoring, many different coaches are required at each meet.

When asked about picking up the

FEATURING

ALISHA LUC & SYDNEY TRAN

sport for the first time as seniors, both athletes agreed that the skills acquired from swimming do not transfer over to diving. After eight weeks of nailing down their newly learned dives, Luc and Tran were able to compete in the El Camino division. However, both had different experiences overcoming the mental block that comes as a packaged deal with the sport.

“And, for me, the hardest part of diving is just like getting past the mental block. Because your brain will not let you do some things. So you have to get past that,” Luc said. Tran shed some light on her gymnastics past, which had skills that carried over to diving, allowing her to pick up diving faster and get past that mental block. In the end, both divers have been able to pick up the sport very well.

Luc has found that her favorite, yet most challenging dive, is the front pike dive, and Tran’s favorite is the inward dive. Although it is a small team, Tran and Luc are committed to this new sport and have had a great experience as firstyear divers.

As a bonus, diving gets to be in a hot tub, whereas swimmers do not.

“All the swimmers when they see us in the hot tub they be like, we wish we were in the hot tub,” Luc said.

“If anyone is reading this article, you should go and join diving, because it’s really fun. And I get to meet a lot of new people and learn a new sport,” Tran said

ATHLETE OF THE MONTH: RUI PAI

A look into how she balances three sports

by Shaona Das

Photo

YEECHEN

photo editor

Throughout the school year, you can find junior Rui Pai as part of several after-school practices. As a member of varsity cheerleading, gymnastics and marching band, Pai dedicates her time year-round to these sports, often dealing with overlapping seasons and attending dual practices.

Reflecting on her journey, Pai recalls starting gymnastics at the young age of three or four and reaching competitive levels before taking a break in middle school due to quarantine. However when the opportunity arose in high school, she decided to give it another try. Said Pai in an interview via Zoom, “I kind of did [re] join gymnastics on a whim, but it’s been pretty fun.”

Pai’s band journey began playing the trumpet in sixth grade, eventually leading her to become a section leader. “I never considered quitting the band. I wanted to continue playing my instrument in high school,” she said.

tics, Pai faced challenges upon returning to the sport and also in cheerleading. She had a difficult time dealing with the realization that she had lost many of the skills she previously excelled at in gymnastics.

Said Pai, “I think I’ve come to a place where I’ve accepted that I’m probably never going to be able to do every single thing I used to be able to do when I was at my peak [...] but I think it’s enough for me now that I just like I know I’m trying and I know that like it’s still there.”

was rigorous, it made me realize my limitations and helped me grow,” she said.

perience as a leader involves] teaching people to love what they’re doing because we’re not going to be in high school forever. So when you’re at a practice, it’s dragging on, like, ‘Oh, I just want to go home.’ But you need to realize that you signed up for this because you love it,” said Pai.

Pai finds it difficult to manage her responsibilities as she manages her overlapping practice schedules and academic responsibilities.

Said Pai, “Most of it depends on the year, because one year the practices didn’t overlap at all. They were on alternating days so I barely had time to do homework.”

Despite her packed schedule, Pai maintains a positive perspective on life, emphasizing the importance of the present. Reflecting on her experiences as a section leader in band and a varsity captain in cheerleading, she has learned how to support others in challenging situations. Pai encourages others to wholeheartedly enjoy their passions, recognizing that high school experiences are limited.

Pai also joined cheerleading as an alternative to gymnastics. “When I first heard about tryouts, I didn’t know that the school had a gymnastics team,” Pai said. “So I decided to try out for cheerleading as a way to stay active and have fun.”

After a hiatus from

However, this year, she faced a more demanding schedule as band and cheerleading had similar practice times. To manage this overlap, Pai talked it out with both her coach and band director, negotiating small changes to her schedule.

“If there was a day where I have practice, I know I’m not getting homework done so I’m not going to leave homework to do for that day. So if something is due the next day. I’m just going to do it like two days before,” Pai said.

Pai’s experiences in competitive gymnastics, especially in the Junior Olympic circuit, provided valuable lessons in dedication and hard work. “While the training

As a junior balancing three sports, Pai emphasizes the importance of knowing one’s limit. “Don’t stretch yourself too thin,”

“ WHILE THE TRAINING WAS RIGOROUS, IT MADE ME REALIZE MY LIMITATIONS AND HELPED ME GROW.”

RUI PAI

Pai said. “Know your limits, like I’m not gonna do another sport on top of all this.”

Said Pai, “Take what you can do and make sure it’s something that you love”

TINO PUBLISHED CREATIVE WRITERS

Exploring the journeys of three students writers and their publishing processes

Upasana Puranik

IRA LELE website manager

Upasana Puranik, a senior at Cupertino, finds great joy and fulfillment from writing. As a self-published author of children’s stories and picture books, she works hard to continue pursuing her passion for literature.

Puranik began her writing journey by creating guitar composition books wherein she would improvise and write scores. Through this hobby, she gained experience and confidence in expressing herself on paper. Slowly, her love for writing expanded to include short story books in middle school.

Even though she became busier as she entered high school, Puranik never disregarded her love for writing.

Said Puranik, “You will inevi-

tably create time, create space and make room for a passion that you like.”

Puranik’s appreciation for writing comes from the enjoyment and purpose it brings her. By connecting her love for her

“ ONCE YOU START, YOU JUST CAN’T STOP. ” UPASANA PURANIK

good and they saw potential in me. So I thought ‘Okay, why not give it a shot?’” Puranik said.

family with writing, Puranik creates a special bond between her pieces and her loved ones. She looks to her younger brother as her main inspiration for all her children’s stories; her first short storybook is a collection of moments shared between the two of them growing up. Puranik observed a lack of representation in the picture books she found, and so she took it upon herself to create these materials.

Said Puranik, “I haven’t seen any books relating to Indian Americans growing up here [...] and so, for my cousin and younger brother I started writing stories that relate to their background.”

Throughout the publishing process, Puranik felt encouraged by her family and friends who supported her consistently. When she faced challenges and held onto doubts, they encouraged her to pursue getting her stories out to the public.

“They told me my work was

Puranik reached out to libraries across the Bay Area such as the Cupertino Library and Santa Library through both email and in-person conversations to publish and advertise her book. Puranik also emailed the book acquisitions of these libraries, who are in charge of uploading media to platforms like Overdrive, where her book would then become accessible online for viewers to borrow and read.

Puranik draws inspiration not just from her brother, but from her own back - ground and day-today life as well. As an Indian American, Puranik recognizes the gaps in the representation of her culture in literature. Puranik uses her writing to bridge this gap while staying clear in her hopes of having fun and enjoying the art of crafting stories.

Said Puranik, “Once you start, you just can’t stop”

ALISHA SANKHE

NITYA DHULIPALA copy editor

As the founder and president of Tino Writers, senior Alisha Sankhe is highly respected among writers in the Cupertino community for her profound grasp of the publishing world. While she frequently finds inspiration from authors such as Jhumpa Lahiri, she also serves as a motivator for many aspiring writers.

Sankhe’s passion for creative writing stems from her life-long love for reading. Said Sankhe, “I was a really big reader. [My mother] read this book called ‘The Jungle ABC’ and I would beg to read that book every day, every single night, sometimes multiple times in the same night until she got sick of it and had to hide it. [...] So I guess at some point along the way, I figured, ‘Hey, I like reading so much. What if I did it myself? What if I tried writing a book?’”

Although Sankhe’s interests have expanded and shifted through genres over the years, writing has consistently served her as a means of self-expression. Sankhe initially embarked on her writing journey with her love for horror fiction, completing and aiming to traditionally publish a horror thriller novel at the age of 12. However, her interests have recently

shifted towards poetry and forms of prose, such as creative non-fiction.

Sankhe’s journey through traditional publishing involved securing a literary agent by querying various agencies and selecting agents she believed were most likely to be interested in publishing her novel, based on their brief public biography. For instance, Sankhe sought out agents who previously focused on works similar to the novel she had written, tailored for middle school students and featuring women of color. Only after an agent agreed to represent her work did they assist in submitting it to publishing houses.

“Your literary agent is like your college counselor who is helping you apply to colleges, and the colleges are the publishing houses,” Sankhe said.

There are also opportunities for writers to have their work recognized outside of the average publishing process. Up until 2022, a competition called Pitch Madness — or PitMad — took place on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. This competition involved writers pitching their books in one tweet, under the PitMad hashtag, where agents would actively look through the posts and give writers offers before they were even queried. This contest, and the community it created, resulted in Twitter becoming a vital platform for writers.

Despite securing an agent and progressing significantly in the publishing process, Sankhe still faced numerous obstacles.

“Traditional publishing, especially

as a 12-year-old, was really, really tough to navigate, because [...] there’s just so much rejection that no one prepares you for,” Sankhe said.

A common challenge many writers face in the Bay Area includes maintaining an interest in creative writing while also being in an environment that cultivates a STEM-focused student majority. However, Sankhe has broken the stereotype that one must choose between STEM and the arts by intending to pursue neuroscience as her undergraduate field of study all while continuing to nurture her passion for creative writing.

“I feel like you can’t just have one discipline ruling over everything. That’s just not the way the world works and not the way the world should work,” Sankhe said

SCAN FOR MORE COVERAGE

ANGELA KIM

IRA LELE website manager

Angela Kim, a freshman at Cupertino High School, chooses creative writing as her preferred medium of self-expression. Through community-driven hobbies and a personal admiration for teen writers, she creates a path to motivate herself and the youth around her to write.

Kim’s fascination with writing began at a young age, as the skill came to her naturally and piqued her interest. While it was fun and enjoyable, it also became a way for her to escape from daily tasks and she slowly became more devoted to the art.

Said Kim, “If I’m having any problems or anything going on in my life, [writing] makes me feel better and it’s a way to connect back with myself.”

As time passed, Kim practiced writing on a new level by entering

competitions for young writers. Kim uses her experiences with competitions to acknowledge the downsides of competitive hobbies.

Said Kim, “When I read other people’s writing, I [start] to compare myself and I feel like that’s really common, especially if it’s a

“ YOU GET TO SEE EVERYONE’S PERSPECTIVES AND HOW EVERYONE THINKS DIFFERENTLY.” ANGELA KIM

really strong passion.”

Yet, Kim also draws inspiration from young writers around her, finding pieces and works that she can take pointers from. This positive spin drives her to keep improving her writing, in spite of any discouragement from external comparisons.

Kim eventually compiled a few of her short stories and poems alongside other Bay Area teen writers to compose an anthology of creative works titled “Silicon Valley Students Writing Collection.”After self-publishing the chapbook on platforms like Amazon, the group donated all funds to the charity “Save the Children.”

By tailoring her work toward teen audiences and by donating funds, Kim endeavors to impact her community and help it flourish.

“I think writing as a hobby [...] is different than trying to get out what you love to do, and spread it to other people and help [them]. And I really wanted to become a

part of that and be able to bring more awareness to writing because it’s not a very popular topic,” said Kim.

Af - ter school, Kim is a part of a youth writing team that holds monthly meet- ings. They uti- lize this opportu - nity to discuss and share new works, gain feedback and obtain constructive criticism. Through connecting with her writing peers, Kim observes various writing styles and forms of literature.

Said Kim, “You get to see everyone’s perspectives and how everyone thinks differently [...] and it’s really cool to see how everyone puts that into their writing.”

Kim now chooses to give back by tutoring younger writers. Her volunteering entails working with students to help them enhance their technique and grow their skill sets.

Said Kim, “I always looked up to people older than me, and that’s how I first got my inspiration to start writing. But I feel like now that I’m able to help younger kids improve their writing and learn it, it’s like a new way of looking at [writing]”

Tino Connections

Cupertino High School edition: group words that share a common trend

Competitions (homecoming, Tinolympics, second harvest, rally

Answer Key:

Brunch Foods (cinnamon roll, parfait, Lucky Charms, scone)

Winter Formal Themes (Best Part, Afterglow, Moonlit Memories, Falling Like the Stars)

games)

SHAONA DAS business manager

MBTI TINO SPOTS

Common places in Cupertino each Myers-Briggs Type Indicator personality type would be in

JOLIE HAN writer

ISTJ: If they didn’t go home immediately after school, it’s possible you could find an ISTJ in the robotics room.

ISFP: Look down! One might be sleeping on the floor at any given moment.

INTJ: Any secret, quiet spot is perfect for the stoic INTJ. Once they find one, they never turn away (until someone finds them).

INFP: Pick a café on Main Street and you’ll find at least one outwardly studious (but inwardly wondering if they’ll survive) INFP.

ESTJ: If you stumble into the science TA hallway, you’ll likely see an ESTJ finding joy in marking others’ work down.

ISTP: The band room harbors tons of ISTPs, but usually less for practicing and more for just hanging out with their friends.

INTP: Any bench on campus will likely have a lone INTP either drawing or thinking about the ENTP’s strangely captivating hypotheticals.

ENFJ: Bright and driven, if you ever see someone sunbathing on campus with their work next to them it’s probably an ENFJ.

ENFP: My fellow ENFPs! The bubbliness of the quad attracts you even though your cheeks hurt from saying hi to someone every two seconds.

ENTJ: With their potential to be headstrong politicians, many ENTJs are intrinsically led to the ASB room.

ESTP: If you haven’t seen an ESTP zoom screaming past you yet, try checking the field or weight training room.

ESFJ: Always found in their favorite hallway, the ESFJ is either greeting a friend or already with their friend group.

INFJ: Snuggled in their favorite classroom, the INFJs were hit the hardest when bean bags and life-sized teddy bears were removed from campus.

ENTP: Standing on GPA Hill, an ENTP will definitely be proposing the most morally gray hypotheticals known to man.

ESFP: Likely hanging with friends, ESFPs could probably be found hanging out in the wagon wheel.

ISFJ: Studying at the library even through lunch, the ISFJ sparks jealousy with how well they seem to have their life together.

The Unspoken Reality of the Younger Sibling

What life is like after the older sister moves out for college

The Unspoken Reality of the Younger Sibling

KATIE KIM

postscript editor

The adage “the older sibling has it the worst” holds some truth — the oldest is usually a courageous trailblazer paving the path for their younger and more naive sibling. Yet, this perspective overlooks the often unspoken reality of the younger sibling left behind in the dust.

My sister is three years older than I am, and we shared one year of high school together before her move to southern California for college. Our age difference never hindered our bond. We were very close growing up, occasionally fighting as siblings yet confiding in each other about things we would not even tell our closest friends.

I have always admired her intelligence, a trait my family constantly praised her for. Since she was young, my sister was an avid reader and brought a book with her wherever she went. My parents said her love for reading

philosophical conversation that my sister eagerly engaged in. She would reveal glimpses of her life to my father in these conversations. Sometimes, they would talk for as long as three hours, while I retreated to my room three hours earlier. Discussing personal matters did not come naturally to me, especially with my parents. They never seemed to truly understand me. Only my sister did, but that was enough for me.

My sister’s absence after she moved out did not immediately impact me. It was a gradual phenomenon that I only began noticing when I looked back on my life with her at home. I was used to having my sister bridge the chasm in my relationship with my parents. Without her during dinner, my parents usually spoke to each other in Korean, and I attempted to follow along in vain. Eventually, I tuned out their discussions. I never once stayed at the table to talk with my father after we cleared the plates. I felt guilty every time I walked away from him, knowing that I could never be like his first daughter. I suppose my sister’s lack of presence in the household pressured me to fill it with my own presence.

first year of college, and she recounted her stories in a world outside of what I knew. She showed me pictures of people I had never met and places I had never seen. It was strange since, up until this point, we shared most of our experiences. Now, she was experiencing them without me.

Despite ongoing challenges with opening up to my parents, the prospect of graduation and moving away from home in the near future motivated me to work harder at establishing a closer relationship with them. While I still feel

“

I WAS USED TO HAVING MY SISTER BRIDGE THE CHASM IN MY RELATIONSHIP WITH MY PARENTS. ” KATIE KIM

pressured to emulate my sister’s accomplishments, I have recently come to acknowledge that there are differences in our personalities that have been present since childhood. As we have grown, we embrace unique aspirations and passions due to our differences.

contributed to her success in high school, so they encouraged me to follow in her footsteps. However, I have always preferred colored pixels on screens over words on pages.

She also communicated with and expressed her affection to my parents easily. Every night after my family ate dinner together, my father would launch into a

I could not live up to her example, much less exceed it as my parents hoped. I tried stepping into her shoes and chasing after her accomplishments to claim as mine, but I struggled because the anticipated sense of fulfillment never came. It felt as if I were stepping into the shoes of someone with a completely different size. Nothing in the world could have prepared me for losing my lifelong roommate and best friend. We occasionally called during her

Although my sister may have forged a trail ahead of me, and I face the inevitable expectations of following it, my life is ultimately mine to shape. I will gladly walk down the path of life with my sister, but I will be navigating my future on my own path beside hers

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