Issue 7 by Sequoia High School Raven Report

Raven Report Sequoia High School

Volume IX, Issue 7

1201 Brewster Ave. Redwood City, CA 94062

April 22, 2016

‘Shy but made of steel’: Eckford breaks barriers By PHILIP TYSON and ABIGAIL WANG Copy Editor and Opinion Editor Civil Rights leader Elizabeth Eckford spoke of her experiences in the Little Rock Nine, the first black students to integrate an all-white high school, during third period March 31 in Carrington Hall. About 800 students heard Eckford talk in her only California speaking appearance. She condemned bullying and encouraged students to be allies. “When you support someone who is being harassed you could actually help someone live another day. You could be the person who says, ‘I don’t hate you because you’re different.’ Anybody can support someone who is being hurt,” Eckford said. On the first day at her school Eckford was separated from the others in the Little Rock Nine, causing her to suffer more harassment and mobbing on her way to school. Despite the extreme opposition, Eckford and her counterparts attended the school

for the entire year. Almost sixty years later, Eckford still suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), so students were taught how to applaud in American Sign Language. Eckford also explained her opinion on the n-word. “When an AfricanAmerican uses that language, even if you are joshing with your friend, you’re telling other people something you don’t realize; you’re telling other people you have racial self-hatred. Understand that,” Eckford said. Eckford concluded her question-and-answer session with a message about the future of a more diverse social climate in the U.S. “There’s a lot of anti-immigrant, antiMuslim, anti-Hispanic feelings, but whatever differences they have from you, understand that your predecessors had to overcome difficulties too, and America is always in the process of becoming its ideals,” Eckford said. “If you are open to new people, See ECKFORD, page 2

Dance Show Electrifies The 47th annual Sequoia Dance Show sold out Saturday, April 17 and all 801 seats in Carrington Hall were full. Dancers Brianna Rosales, Becca Schulz, Hannah Marcus and Sadie Rhen performed one of 29 numbers. Over 100 dancers in total performed under the direction of teacher Taylor White. —ABIGAIL WANG

Spring sports battle El Niño rains By BRIGHID BUGOS Staff Reporter Flooded fields, ruined equipment and cancelled games and practices are what many spring athletes associate with El Niño. Tennis has been the hardest hit with three matches rescheduled. “We try to get out on weekends if we have practices cancelled. We just try to make up what we can,” Love-

land said. El Niño occurs every two to seven years and caused Redwood City to receive 147 percent of average rainfall in January. Lacrosse, track and field and swim teams continue to practice despite bad weather. “With [the] rain, you’re wet and cold and it’s just not fun,” junior and lacrosse player Angela Banfield said. “You’re focusing on trying to get

warm more than playing the game.” “We go out and run a few miles,” freshman track and field runner Shannon Coan said. “We’re wet and your feet are all heavy because they are full of water.” For coaches, it makes scheduling difficult. “It’s definitely less fun in the rain. Practice turnout is way worse when it’s pouring. It’s hard to get See EL NIÑO, page 2

Students face lost cause after valuables stolen By BEATRICE BUGOS and BENJY JUDE Staff Reporters You finish practice and go to the locker room to grab your bag. You see pockets open. You frantically search for a prized possession. Your phone is gone. “I was freaking out,” said freshman Mary Grace Mylod-Vargas, whose phone was stolen during PE. Three phones and a MacBook Air were allegedly stolen during a PE class Jan. 20 when the caged area where students keep their backpacks wasn’t locked. Two other phones were allegedly stolen Feb. 22 dur-

Special: ‘What could happen to me?’: exploring discipline

ing sports practices when backpacks were police work alongside administration in the aisles of the locker room. when a stolen item is reported. After a theft is reported to the office, If the thief is found, he or she would be the victim writes a statement. The AVP arrested and suspended from school, actries to identify witnesses; if found, they cording to Kuliga. But this rarely happens. are interviewed for “The night [my any information that phone got stolen] I “I’ve come to realize that unfortuthey may have. Last- nately you can’t always trust people to had my iCloud page ly, the AVP looks for not be jerks.” open and kept rethe stolen item based —Lori Sibun Handler, freshing the page, but on the information. freshman nothing happened. It However, many times was probably gone,” phones are gone. freshman Isabel San“If we don’t track [the phone] down by chez-Foster said, whose phone was stolen the end of the day, then we never will,” in February. AVP Mike Kuliga said. Since this, the girls locker room is now This isn’t for a lack of effort. Campus locked before and after PE and a super-

Feature: Living with challenges, just chronically

visor has been placed to watch over the students because surveillance cameras are illegal in California locker rooms, according to examiner.com. Thefts have since decreased. Sequoia’s rule states, “Electronic devices and related items... are not to be visible during instructional hours,” based on the school’s ideology that if people don’t know you have it, they won’t go looking for it, according to Kuliga. “I’ve come to realize that unfortunately you can’t always trust people to not be jerks,” said freshman Lori Sibun Handler, whose phone and computer were stolen in January. “I don’t put my stuff in the cage at all [anymore].”

By the numbers

Percentage of Sequoia seniors polled who affiliate themselves with the Democratic Party

Feature April 22, 2016 2 Students aim for success at Making prom a fairytale, Boys and Girls clubhouses regardless of economic need Keystone Tigers, a leadership program in the Boys and Girls Club that helps the Staff Reporter community through work such as planJunior Jaynar de la Cruz spends every ning events for younger kids and fundday after school at the clubhouse in Red- raising. wood City. The BGCP has three clubhouses, loDe la Cruz is a student and teen staff cated in Menlo Park, Redwood City and member at the Boys and Girls Club of the East Palo Alto. Each clubhouse offers Peninsula (BGCP), a club that provides one-on-one tutoring, SAT prep, boxing, programs ranging from college prepara- video production, DJing, 3-D printing tion to cooking and gives students a safe and other programs. place to thrive. “I joined in 5th grade. My mom said De la Cruz and approximately 20 I should join because it could help me in other Sequoia students spend their af- ways she couldn’t,” Vasquez said. ternoons at the BGCP clubhouse, doing Juniors and seniors can be part of homework, coaching younger students, College Bound, similar to the AVID working as teen staff program, which and taking extracur- “Youth of the Year changed my life. helps low-income or ricular classes. It was a big honor having Redwood first-generation stuThey also have op- City behind me.” dents navigate the portunities for rec—Senior Elisa Guizar, path to college. Startognition for their Boys and Girls Club member ing in junior year, community engageparticipants have SAT ment. In January, seprep and are paired nior Elisa Guizar and with mentors to help Gabriela Vasquez were finalists for the with college applications. Redwood City Clubhouse’s Youth of the “Being in the environment makes you Year award, an award that recognizes want to do well in school and your mind members who represent what BGCP is opens up to new things,” de la Cruz said. about. Finalists have the opportunity to “They push you to do the work to go to a share their story and gain skills for public four-year college.” speaking, writing and interview preparaStudents are also paired up with mention. tors, who are there as a resource for any“Youth of the Year changed my life,” thing from help with financial aid to resaid Guizar, the winner for the Redwood lationship problems. City clubhouse. “It was a big honor hav“There are two mentors that I really ing Redwood City behind me.” look up to,” Vazquez said. “They always Recently, de la Cruz and junior Bet- tell me ‘I believe in you, don’t let anyone zaida Lopez attended the 49th Annual crush your dreams, you should focus on Keystone Conference in Dallas. From yourself and what you want to achieve March 17-19, they and 2,500 other teens and take advantage of any opportunities got the chance to tackle current issues that come ahead.” facing teens and hear from a variety of Although the BCGP currently has speakers, including Yara Shahidi, who programs serving K-12 students, startplays Zoey on ABC’s Black-ish. ing in fall 2016 they are becoming a teen “You are trying to make connections center, solely for high school students. with people that have the same kind of “For me, the BGCP turns into your programs as us,” Lopez said. “The [speak- family. You become really close to whoers] connected everything back to things ever works there, you can tell them anythat we know.” thing,” de la Cruz said. “In the BGCP you Lopez and de la Cruz are part of the build trust.”

By AVIVA FUTORNICK

By MACKENZIE CLARKE

Staff Reporter

The girl’s eyes light up as she steps into her dream dress; her hair is curled, nails manicured and her painstakingly-chosen jewelry catches the light of the room. For many, prom is a momentous night symbolizing elegance and a step towards adulthood. However, in recent years the cost of prom has peaked: last year a survey conducted by Visa revealed that the average American family spent $919 on prom. With prices so high, prom can be financially inaccessible for many families. In order to ensure that every girl has the opportunity to have the prom of their lives without financial worry, organizations such as the Princess Project work to provide an alternative for families in need across California. The Princess Project, with locations in San Francisco, the Silicon Valley, San Diego and Tracy, offers a free dress and accessory for anyone interested. “Economic situations within families can be difficult, and when parents can’t afford an expensive dress for prom, the students can take advantage

ECKFORD

(from page 1) new experiences, open to different people we can become a stronger country.” Students were prompted to apply her lessons to their own lives. “I’ll try to be more aware of my surroundings and check in with people,” senior Danielle Croft said. At 74 years old, Eckford hinted this

of the Princess Project,” said Mayela Ramirez, Parent Center Coordinator. This year’s Princess Project event in the Silicon Valley area was held at Valley Fair mall in Santa Clara March 12, 13, 19 and 20. According to the Princess Project website, more than 10,000 teenagers from over 90 high schools stretching from San Mateo to Hollister attend the dress fairs each year. At Sequoia, participation in the Princess Project, whether as a dress-shopper or volunteer, is encouraged. In addition to the Princess Project, Ramirez works with students at Sequoia to provide other opportunities to provide affordable dresses for Prom and Winter Formal. Senior Emma O’Hara recently worked with Ramirez to put on a dress drive at Sequoia in which dresses were offered for $25, or completely free for those who qualify for free or reduced lunch. As prom season approached, O’Hara worked to spread the word “Before students finish high school, [they] want to go to prom and have a nice experience, which includes being dressed nicely and feeling like a princess,” O’Hara said. “[The Princess Project] allows people who aren’t able to or have the means to buy dresses feel spe-

may be one of her last public speaking events given to students. “If you have not been good to yourself, it’s not too late,” Eckford said. “Know that you can learn and if you have difficulties, have the courage to ask for help because this is you preparing for tomorrow’s opportunities. Don’t you think you’re worth having a future?”

EL NIÑO(from page 1)

into the pool,” swim coach Allison Stafford said. “It’s hard on coaches. My umbrella has taken a hit this season.” Baseball and softball games are cancelled due to the wet fields. Baseball, however, has found a solution. “We added a bunch of new absorbent dirt this year, that has helped a little bit. It really depends on how much it rains,” baseball coach Corey Uhalde said. “For a heavy rain we can expect probably about a day for it to dry out. Other fields are not quite that responsive.” Coaches agree that rain should not affect the effort that athletes give. “You always [try to] get a little better no matter what your situation, whether you’re in a weight room or using wiffle balls or hitting off tees,” Uhalde said. “So even though it’s not ideal, keep a positive attitude and not let it be an excuse to not work hard.”

April 22, 2016

Feature

Besides homework and high school drama, teens cope with chronic health conditions By PHILIP TYSON Copy Editor

Chronic pain affects junior’s schoolwork Junior Andrea Marquez spends three to four days a week at the doctor’s to deal with chronic pain. Added to her full plate of schoolwork, she manages serious wrist, elbow and shoulder issues. “I can only write maybe a paragraph—two at most—before my hands start shaking,” Photo courtesy of Tim Brand Marquez said. “‘The tremor acts Despite dealing with health issues, junior Victoria Huber performed at the talent show up. Pain starts shooting up my March 11. She was accompanied by freshman Nicholas Abraham in a duet cover of Sam arms. I have to go to the health Smith’s “Lay Me Down.” office to get some pain medicawith a handicap every day, she form, I’d get really nervous,” Hution or ice.” ber said. “[Once] I went to sing, Doctors initially thought it refuses to let it prevent her from and had to run offstage because was a physical injury from vol- excelling in her pursuits, includof a migraine. I don’t do musical leyball that basic rest would fix. ing the IB Diploma. “My hands are injured, not theatre anymore.” They were wrong and are still my brain. I can do the work Huber has cut out other trying to figure out a diagnosis. stressors. She spent two months “I’ve been resting for a year- that I need to do, it just might Junior Victoria Huber deals explaining her need for a flexible and-a-half, and nothing has got- take me a little longer,” Marquez ten better,” Marquez said. “If said. “And I’m doing it with the with chronic pain in the form schedule until she was granted a same love and care. I’m not let- of migraines, a hereditary illness 504 plan. anything, it’s gotten worse.” Dealing with her illness has Every week she does acu- ting it get to the point of ‘Oh on her mom’s side. She had her first migraine at also shaped her priorities. puncture and other physical God, I can’t do anything that I “Obviously, I hate [migraines], therapy for her arms. Before want to do’ because I’m stronger the age of two but didn’t get diand they’re a burden to have, but bed, she takes pain medication, than that, and I’ll [continue to] agnosed until age six or seven. “I had to see a neurologist I think all the habits I’ve develand she also regularly takes vita- push myself.” She also has help from oth- and get MRIs, [which] was scary oped are good for relieving stress min pills. Her chronic pain has changed ers. Teachers give her extensions; because of not knowing,” Huber and for my health,” Huber said. her friends offer emotional and said. “It could have been a brain “It’s all going to help me in the several areas of her life. tumor or something as benign long run, but it’s kind of scary— “Volleyball was a big part of physical support. “Sometimes it’s to the point as chronic migraines.” the fear of, if I do this one thing, my life, so not being able to play ‘Benign’ as they are, mi- this terrible thing is going to anymore got to me a lot. I’m still where I can’t comb my own hair. knock me out for two days.” dealing with depression at times I’ll get to school with my hair a graines are not minor. Coping has become routine, “I’ll get sharp pains down because of it,” Marquez said. “I mess, and my friend will braid it for me be- my neck and up through my though she may never get used to was going to cause she head. I get clammy and sweaty, some things. play varsity “My hands are injured, not my “I have to take so many prethis year, and brain. I can still do the work that I knows that I and I lose hearing and eyesight it was really need to do, it just might take me a can’t,” Mar- because the pain is so severe. cautionary measures in my life; quez said. [Sometimes] I pass out,” Huber it’s really annoying,” Huber said. difficult for little longer.” “It’s frustratsaid. “If [the trigger] is some- “I’m jealous of other people’s me to see my —Andrea Marquez, junior ing because thing like stress, it’s prolonged ability to do things freely.” old teamLike any high schooler, she mates be like, ‘Oh, our season is it’s a lot of the stuff that I’d usu- for at least 48 hours. It affects [my] entire body, and there’s worries about the future. going great,’ and then ask, ‘Why ally be able to do by myself.” Another challenging part of nothing that I can really do ex“I’m really afraid of what I’m aren’t you playing this year?’” These problems led her to ap- her health is dealing with the cept wait it out. I’m so powerless going to do in college,” Huber said. “I’m not going to have when I have them.” ply for a 504, an accommoda- people who ask her about it. “It gets annoying after a Because they come and go, home-cooked food. So many tion plan to give individualized while, but it’s not something treatment is focused on preven- things are going to be changing help to those with disabilities. According to the National I’m going to hide. If people ask tion. The triggers range from for me. Just now I’ve figured out Institute of Health, approxi- about it, I’ll answer,” Marquez tomatoes to chocolate and dairy what I can and can’t do in the enmately 31 percent of teens have said. “They can kind of take it on an empty stomach to anxiety vironment that I’m in, [so] being in a new environment’s going to at least one health problem that for granted. It’s harder for me to and a lack of sleep. “[Planning] was definitely be terrifying.” limits daily activities. It may not do things that other people can Despite her challenges, she is always be evident, but a large do normally, so I wish people something I had to learn. It was difficult to know what the trig- able to do what she loves. Musinumber of students at Sequoia had more empathy.” Marquez also speaks to those gers were,” Huber said. “Just cal theatre may not be for her, have health conditions similar now I’m mastering it, but there but she’s joined choir, which she to those of Marquez. Their bat- who face health problems. “I want to say to people like are obviously some things I can’t began in sixth grade. tles often go unnoticed, but that “[Singing] is a huge stress redoesn’t take anything away from me—there are people that have control, like anxiety.” Huber’s chronic pain has liever. I like to talk, and singing the immensity of their struggles it way worse—[don’t] let it take is another way of talking,” Huber and their tremendous ability to control of your life,” Marquez limited her extracurriculars. said. “I know it’s difficult to deal “I used to be into musical said. “I talk to stay relaxed. Singbe resilient. Although she has to cope with, but you can still be your- theatre, but every time I’d per- ing is another version of that.”

Migraines force student to limit extracurriculars

3 I went vegetarian so you don’t have to By MADDIE REYNOLDS Staff Reporter Some people at Sequoia have been g o i n g vegetarian or vegan after watching “Cowspiracy” in an Environmental Systems and Science (ESS) class. Vegetarians/ vegans claim changing to an animal product-free diet has many benefits. Is this true? I became vegetarian for a month in order to uncover the meat of the issue. Day 1: I went into my month with lots of determination and vegetarian recipes on hand. While eating my grilled cheese, I remember thinking, “This is gonna be easy. I feel great.” Day 3: The biggest obstacle I’ve encountered so far is the fact that I can no longer enjoy Panda Express’s signature orange chicken, one of my favorite foods. The other is how incredibly hangry I am. I’m a generally happy person, and I don’t like that I’ve been snapping at people. Day 6: Oh geez this is hard. There is nothing on the Jack in the Box menu that doesn’t contain meat. I had to have a teriyaki chicken salad without the chicken, which is just a crime against nature. Day 8: My life is in anarchy. My dad made bacon for a Sunday morning breakfast. It took all of my strength not to throw myself at it. In all seriousness, these cravings have been more than distracting. Hopefully they’ll subside or go away. Day 12: Readers, I have failed you. I ate meat before the month was up. It happened on Easter. I was eating dinner with four Italian grandmothers who made tri-tip specially for the occasion. The only other option for me that night was salad, bread, and the disappointed stares of my loved ones. In conclusion, an animal product-free diet is a personal decision. It’s safe to say that this experience was not for me. But after watching “Cowspiracy,” I realize what eating meat does to the world. I highly recommend watching the documentary to learn about the effects the meat industry has on the environment.

Special

Inside the AVP office: How discipline really

Discipline is always a hot topic in schools. Who’s being disciplined? Why? Who to decide? With so many possible answers to these questions, we wanted to und the philosophy and strategies behind Sequoia’s discipline policies and explore w preventative measures are being taken. Here’s what we found.

Referral to the AVP We’ve all heard “pardon the interruption . . . please come to the AVP office” blare over the loudspeakers a thousand times, but what does that really mean? Most minor offenses result in a trip to the Administrative Vice Principal’s office and a chat with either AVP Gary Gooch or Mike Kuliga. There, students get a chance to share their side of the story by writing an incident report form. Depending on the infraction, they then go through a process to determine their punishment. “I definitely respect the admin a lot more because they were really respectful of me and I’ve learned to treat them with the respect I would want to be treated with,” said senior Dillon Palala, who was suspended this year. “But I feel like they can be a little biased towards some students, but it all depends on how they know you, and what you do for the school.” The administration stresses the importance of due process and equal treatment despite some student complaints of inconsistency. “The disciplinary outcome is always the same. We’re always going to have that one set of rules for everybody, and we’re going to have the same consequences for the same things all the way across the board,” Kuliga said. He encourages students who disagree to discuss their concerns with him. Sequoia takes a tiered intervention approach, starting with smaller consequences like calls home and/or detentions; administration wants to limit missed class time. First tier interventions include warnings, counseling, changing classes or seating arrangements and other lowlevel interventions. Only when those strategies fail do the administrators turn to second and third tier interventions including class suspension, conflict mediation and expulsion.

Team

Sequoia Expulsions

Expulsion Expulsion is a last resort disciplinary option administrators only turn to if a student can no longer be suspended or has committed an expellable offense. “Expelling people: that’s a pretty extreme place for us to be in,” Administrative Vice Principal Mike Kuliga said. Expellable offenses can include but are not limited to: selling drugs or alcohol on campus, bringing weapons or using a weapon at school and fighting. When gang-related violence was more widespread, expulsions for fighting were more common, and Kuliga expelled 21 students his first year as AVP. Since then, numbers have dropped. Ultimately, Principal Sean Priest must recommend a student for expulsion, and the school board makes the final decision.

2007-2008 2009-2010 20

Number of Expulsions

2008-2009

2011-2012

2010-2011

2013-2014 5

2012-2013 0

School Year

0 2014-2015

Data from Sequoia Union High School District annual reports

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Feature

5 —COMPILED BY CLAIRE BUGOS AND CARMEN VESCIA

works

Suspension After filling out an incident report form, administrators may interview the student as well as a variety of witnesses to best understand the incident. If applicable, they will also review security camera footage before making a final decision about punishment. Administrators generally try to prevent removing a student from the classroom, except in cases where safety is compromised. “There’s a trade off when we get to the point where students need to be suspended we’re at a point where we need to trade-off their educational opportunities for the feeling of safety in the community,” AVP Mike Kuliga said. The administration does their best to make discipline an educational and fair process. “Every student is a valuable and unique individual, but that doesn’t mean that we have to accept all of their behavior,” Kuliga said. “When we have discussions with people when code violations occur, we have discussions with students about their behavior not about the person. It sounds pretty simple, but it takes some work together and it’s pretty profound very powerful idea.”

o gets derstand what

8 7

Percent of students with at least one suspension, 2012-2015

6.83

5.92

5 4 3

4.47

3.85

2 1 0

Carlmont

Sequoia

MenloAtherton

Woodside

Data from Sequoia Union High School District annual reports. Data through semester one 2015-16.

m Ascent raises success rates, decreases discipline

ost freshmen entered Sequoia’s llways wide-eyed and confused day of school, around 30 stupent four weeks of their summer Ascent already felt at home. ted in 2010, Team Ascent is an mer program that targets inhmen who could benefit from hey begin high school. Middle ommend students who have th discipline or life challenges. le school, I didn’t really care as [school]. I never really did my said sophomore and Team Aspant Fernando Magana Gaytan. metimes get kicked out of classes s being disruptive.” dministrators reach out to local ols to seek the top ten students st at-risk for behavioral or acawhen they arrive in high school. udents are then recommended alencia, SAFE and Sequoia Asvocates Program (SAAP) coor-

dinator, who runs the Team Ascent summer program and acts as a mentor. “Ms. Valencia helps me. She gives me advice on what to do, how to control myself [and] how to complete everything I have to do to be successful,” Magana Gaytan said. He, along with other former Team Ascent participants continues to receive behavioral and academic guidance from Valencia. “I would call [Valencia] my second mom [during] my freshman year,” sophomore Janelly Hernandez said. During the summer, the 4-week long schedule is filled with field trips, games, cooking and a multitude of other activities, and every day includes a free lunch. Many Team Ascent participants also spend the morning in the Compass program working on summer homework and reading. Hernandez volunteered as a team leader last summer after being a part of the program during the summer before her freshman year. She led the incoming freshmen in activities and guided them with some of the

issues that she herself faced when she was in their position. “It was fun to be around [the Team Ascent freshmen] because I noticed myself changing too,” Hernandez said. “I would see them [and think], ‘Oh I used to act like that but now I don’t,’ or ‘I shouldn’t act like that because it doesn’t look right or it’s not getting you anywhere.’” In addition to allowing students to become comfortable with Sequoia’s campus, Team Ascent provides a space for students to get to know each other so that they recognize a few friendly faces in the hallways in their first months of school. “I thought it would be hard even going to school. Sometimes I thought ‘Oh what if I wouldn’t be accepted,’” Hernandez said. “When I joined the Team Ascent program, I was able to do a lot more with a lot of support and a lot of new people that I met. I felt confident because I already knew where everything was, and I was just comfortable around the school.”

Valencia maintains a system throughout the school year where she checks-in with Team Ascent participants. “Instead of students going directly to the AVP office, they have the choice to come here and we discuss the issue that they are having and I can kind of coach them on how they should approach the situation and how to own up to the situation,” Valencia said. “We discuss it so many times that it’s recorded in their brains, so that over time, they understand what behavior is okay and what isn’t. And then they get sent to the office and the consequences aren’t as big because they own up to the situation.” Valencia and administrators work to develop the program with each year in order to maximize student success. “For the students in Team Ascent, behavior has dropped drastically, but now we have to work on the academic piece, and that’s where we came up with the school-year support so we can work on the academic piece so they can graduate,” Valencia said.

April 22, 2016 6 Opinion Don’t reserve celebration for seniors going to top-name schools By EMILY DUCKER

Entertainment Editor

Party school. Safety school. Easy acceptance. Back-up plan. All of these are common descriptions of Arizona State University (ASU), the college that I will be attending next year. It’s a state school, certainly not anywhere near as prestigious as some of the schools my friends are going to. I’ve heard tales of high school seniors filling out the application in five minutes on a whim and still getting in. Despite this, I’m proud to be going there. I’m proud because it’s the school that’s perfect for me and a community that I’m genuinely excited to be a part of. I’ll admit, I haven’t had the best high school career. I got high test scores, but my transcript leaves much to be desired. I know I wouldn’t have been able to get into a lot of the schools my friends applied to, but I’m okay with that. All I ask is that I receive the same kind of recogni-

Graphic by Leigh Alley

The dialogue surrounding college decisions should be one of pride and congratulations, not one of competition and shame. tion for finding the school of my dreams as the people who are going to top-tier private schools. Six years ago, my older sister announced that she would be going to UC Berkeley, one of the top-ranked public schools in the country. Everyone was extremely proud of her and didn’t hesitate to tell her so. “Congrats, you’re a rockstar!” wrote one person on her Facebook wall, amidst a dozen other posts of the same sentiment. Fast forward six years to when I made the decision to commit to ASU in October, and I got a far different response. People did

and still continue to question my decision, telling me that I’m “settling” or that it’s “the wrong fit.” Sure, going to UC Berkeley is definitely something to be proud of. But so is me finding the school that I’ll be happiest at. It’s not a realistic expectation to think that everyone will be able to go to the same 30 topranked schools that get thousands of qualified applicants each year. This year, UCLA received more than 97,000 applications from incoming freshmen, competing for approximately 5,680 spots. In 2015, Columbia University had 36,250 applicants competing for

Dear 14-year-old self... By ABIGAIL WANG Opinion Editor Note to the reader: I wrote this letter to my freshman self to reflect on what I’ve learned with my time at Sequoia. Although this is a letter to a freshman, it is something I know I would have valued knowing any year in high school. Dear 14-year-old self, I hate to start off by disappointing you, but all the movies you watched in preparation for high school—well, it’s nothing like that. High school is more about learning for you. You’re going to do a lot of figuring out, and it’s going to be hard, but you will be so much stronger. I know right now you are so incredibly scared and very naive. The world is about to get much bigger. I want you to make sure you buy a lot of whiteout because you will become a pretentious ink user, and it will backfire so many times. Don’t be too disappointed when there isn’t a punch bowl at school dances. You’re going to reinvent yourself in a lot of ways, but don’t forget your weird middle school self because that is what is truly genuine. Please do forget your middle school fashion. Nothing about this has to be permanent, though: it’s all

about testing things out. Speaking of testing things out, yes, you will finally get to dye your hair. And it’ll look great until it turns grey and people start asking you if you’re a Hunger Games extra. But there will be other things too, a shift away from religion, embracing your race and sexuality and figuring out your mental health. I want you to know that things seem really terrible and never-ending right now and that you can’t deal with the sadness, but you are strong. You will get help, and even though it was later than you would have wanted, you did it. Therapy is not a weak decision, and it will help you more than you could imagine. I hope you take what you learn there and use it to push other people to gain the same self-confidence. Be genuine and kind and hold other people to the same standard. Good friends are more about quality than quantity. I hope that you realize that the best friends are the ones who don’t dr ain you and should instead build you up. On the other side of that, you’re going to need to communicate your emotions a lot better. Vulnerability is powerful. The next four years will be incredibly challenging and nothing like you’ve imagined or seen in movies but believe you will make it. I know you can.

P.S. Make friends with teachers with microwaves; your lunches will be a million times better.

2,222 spots, a 6.1 percent admission rate. Each year, English teacher Jane Woodman includes a college and career unit in her 11th grade IB English class. As she explains, college admissions is like a parking lot. There can be thousands of cars that want to get into the lot, but there are only so many spots. We don’t look down on people who can’t find a space in a parking lot, so why should we look down on people who aren’t going to those colleges? Besides this, a lot of people don’t even want to go to those schools. There are lots of factors

that play into the college decision besides prestige: cost, location and programs available. Even if I had been eligible to get into an Ivy, I wouldn’t have considered it because I don’t want to be that far from home. There’s so much more that goes into a college than its name, and we need to start looking past the name and seeing how great every college is in its own right. I chose ASU because of its journalism program, its community and the feel of the campus, not because of its name. I’m not by any means saying that we shouldn’t congratulate our friends and peers going to top-tier, competitive universities. But why should that take away from the pride that students who are going to state schools, community colleges, or forgoing college all together are entitled to feel? Graduating high school is a huge accomplishment in itself, and the competition surrounding the college decision process shouldn’t detract from that. The dialogue surrounding college decisions should be one of pride and congratulations, not one of competition and shame. All seniors have the right to feel proud of where they’re going and know that their peers and their community are proud of them too.

16 things you need to do

before graduation After all the B -pages, sweltering sixth periods and awkward hallway encounters, high school is coming to a close for the Class of 2016. With only 41 days left until graduation, here’s the last 16 things you need to experience before entering adulthood.

really feel.*

1. Give up on yourself and your respon-

your future plans are going to cost.

10. Ponder the fact that Kenny Ortega

went here and then decided to lie to the American people about the high school experience via his masterpiece of deceit: High School Musical.

11. Cry when you realize how much

sibilities.

12. Do diligent research re: the going

one Socratic.

13. Tell someone who you don’t care

2. Embrace existentialism, at least for

price of non-essential organs.

3. Look back on your freshman self and

about that you’re going to miss them next year because they said it first and you feel like you have to.

shudder uncontrollably.

4. Laugh when your grades spell out words. Bonus points for “B A D.”

5. Have your mom call you out for one last “doctor’s appointment.”

14.

Lie to an underclassman about “cherishing high school” because it “goes by so fast.”

See how long you can distract your 6. Rip the skin off of the back of your 15. teachers with anecdotes from their perthighs when you stand up after a block period with no AC.

sonal lives.

be on time to class.

*Editor’s note: I love you, Mr. Lassig.

16. Realize that we started from the 7. Go numb. bottom—but now we here. 8. Resolve to be on time to class; fail to 9. Tell that special someone how you

—GLENN BILLMAN

Sequoia High School 2015-2016

Raven Report

Executive Editors Glenn Billman, Claire Bugos, Carmen Vescia Opinion Editor Abigail Wang Entertainment Editor Emily Ducker Sports Editor Trevor Crowell Copy Editor Philip Tyson Page Editors Zack Rosenblatt, Mars Svec-Burdick

Staff Reporters Nicholas Abraham, Leigh Alley, Xavi Boluña, Beatrice Bugos, Brighid Bugos, Mackenzie Clarke, Matthew Eisenberg, Aviva Futornick, Addison Holman, Benjy Jude, Maddie Pei, Maddie Reynolds, Rio Popper, Alex Vick Adviser Kim Vinh Letters to the editor ravenreport09@gmail.com

feature/Opinion

April 22, 2016

Conversing with conservatives

With so many fireworks this election cycle among the Dems and the GOP, we forget that they aren’t the only candidates on the table. This is a quick brief on some of the smaller political parties, and what they bring to the ballot.

the little parties that could

Dominic: My stance is also pro gay Dominic: Personally I really like his biggest issues in American society are marriage, and I believe the government message, he’s socially liberal but fiscally right now? Page Editor shouldn’t have been able to tell people conservative, so he’s very different from Dominic: Personally I would say the The Raven Report sat down with Liber- how to act in the issue of marriage equal- a mainstream Republican. I also really debt is incredibly scary. tarian-leaning Sequoia seniors Eric Her- ity. The government should step out of love his track record in New Mexico, I’m Eric: I definitely think something needs rmann and Dominic Tanzillo, who will more things and let people do what they impressed by how well he’s improved to be done about climate change. It both be voting in this year’s November want, like who cares what two people do their economy. doesn’t matter to me who’s causing it, election, to get some insight into their with their own lives? Who cares if people because either way it’s causing a problem unique political perspective. use drugs like recreational cannabis, as Johnson is against both corpo- for our economy, and it’s hurting agrilong as they aren’t actively harming soci- rate and income taxes, is that some- culture. I think some initiative needs to What ety as a whole? thing you support? be taken in the private sector, because would you say I’m all for peo- Dominic: Yes, I’m for a smaller tax poli- it’s hurting their bottom line too. We’re differentiates ple choosing cy, something that can be understood by putting our heads in the sand about this Believes in minimizing government and the Libertarwhat they want the average person. issue and that’s also one of the reasons I maximizing individual freedom. Gary ians from the on all sectors, Eric: Yeah, you shouldn’t need to pay have a problem with the Republican parJohnson is their likely 2016 nominee. Republican as long as they somebody to do your taxes for you just ty right now. [In the 2012 election] Four Party? understand the because you don’t understand the tax years ago, only one major Republican Eric: Right consequences code. party member would admit that climate now the Republican party is moving of their actions. Dominic: The idea is to increase access change exists, and we can’t have that. away from conservatism and becom- Eric: I so that What would you say to other ing more corporate. It’s becoming more agree, I people Trump, who isn’t really aligned with my b e l i e v e better un- students about considering an alternaFights for: ecological justice in order to values at all. that peoderstand tive political party when they register combat climate change and work towards Dominic: The direction I see the Re- ple can the gov- to vote? environmental sustainability. Jill Stein is their publicans moving in is very authoritari- make reernment Dominic: Get informed, check out web2016 likely nominee. an, very big government. In this case, it’s sponsible p r o c e s s sites like Garyjohnson2016.com. Even neglecting the people and their freedom decisions a r o u n d if it doesn’t convince you, it’s still food for thought, and a reminder that we and instead promoting business. I’m for themselves, and I believe companies taxes. very centrist, pretty much zero on the can do that too. We need the govern- Eric: I mean right now the IRS isn’t re- have more than two political parties in left/right scale, and I lean very much to- ment to protect people, but we don’t ally doing an wards a smaller government, which puts need the government to be our moral effective job of Constitution Party me more in line with the Libertarians. compass. collecting on all Believes: law should be based off of the literal the taxes people word of the founding fathers. Won’t run their What are some of the issues In the general 2016 election owe, and dealown nominee if the 2016 Republican candidate that Libertarians support that align you both plan to support Libertarian ing with all the is “constitutionally sound.” with your beliefs? Gary Johnson, the former governor of tax fraud that is Eric: I guess what also makes me more New Mexico who came in third place out there, so if aligned with Libertarians over Republi- and received more than a million votes we just eliminate all the possibility for America. cans is the emphasis of the Republican during the 2012 presidential election. loopholes and simplify everything, you Eric: It’s easy to either vote for Trump party on religious values. I’m religious, He believes in marriage equality, a can make it so that the average person as a joke, or for Hillary just because she but I don’t think that the government woman’s right to choose, marijuana pays less in taxes but the government isn’t Trump, but I would stress that you has that responsibility, I think it’s more legalization, and hopes to be the al- still collects the same amount of money. should vote for the person that you actuthe citizens’ right to pick their own reli- ternative choice in November. What ally believe in ideologically, even if that gious path. draws you to Gary’s campaign? What would you say are the person isn’t a mainstream candidate. By MARS SVEC-BURDICK

RR:

Libertarian Party

RR:

Green Party

RR:

Redefining academic success: process, not result, that counts By TREVOR CROWELL

Sports Editor The tests are passed back as the students sit nervously in their seats. You hold your breath as your teacher drops the test on your desk. As you flip it over, you feel a sense of accomplishment. C-. While this may not seem like an ideal score to many, you are content with your grade because you know that you dutifully attended after-school tutorials and asked your teacher questions outside of class. I am by no means suggesting that everyone should be content with getting a C-, but I am suggesting that our grade is not necessarily an accurate reflection of what we have accomplished

and learned over a period of time, making it important to be more focused on what we do to get that grade, and not the letter that appears on the progress report. It is this mindset that we should encourage at school: one of growth and focus on personal achievements. Unfortunately, many students are plagued by the negative mindset that they are unable to comprehend new information because they are not naturally intelligent enough to do so. Students’ academic performance can be limited by several predetermined factors such as socio-economic class, the natural rate at which a student is able to learn and synthesize information and the support system that an individual has around him or her. The everyday definition of “smart” or “intelligent” in the context of school has rapidly

become something beyond just something beyond just the possessing a high level of knowl- grades and the test scores. The edge and is more closely synony- overall goal should be to encourmous with being a fast worker age hard work and learning new or one who easily understands things, not simply being the top new material. While using such student in the class. an adjective to describe a stuThis success is something dent bolsters his or her self-con- that everyone can and, with the fidence, it severely diminishes it right mindset, will achieve. It for those who all starts with take more the first step, time to learn “Real academic success is someasking for new concepts. thing beyond just the grades and help when F u r t h e r - the test scores. The overall goal you need it more, it should be to encourage hard and having seems that work and learning new things, a driven and our definition motivated not simply being the top student of success attitude that is no longer in the class.” will allow just learning you to set something and achieve new and expanding our field of goals personal to your abilities. expertise in certain topics, and Unfortunately, there is a negmore along the lines of getting ative stigma around asking for straight A’s, a 4.0 GPA and col- assistance when it is needed as it lege offers from the top schools supposedly shows a lack of intelin the nation. ligence, making it all the more Real academic success is difficult to admit that you need

further clarification and getting the help that you need. At Sequoia, we have a variety of SAFE tutorials and many teachers hold office hours. These resources are essential to better understanding the content covered in class and establish a healthy relationship with your teacher. Even staying an extra 10 minutes after class can go a long way. Despite what anyone says or believes about what is socially acceptable in a learning environment, there is never anything to be ashamed of when you ask for help. Intelligence should not be measured by our grades and how fast we comprehend new material. Let’s redefine academic success and make it less about the final grade that goes on our transcript, and more about challenging ourselves to get the help that we need to learn something new every day in class.

Politics

April 22, 2016

Go with the flow: Find your political alignment Make your way down the flowchart to find your ideology and candidate preference.

—MADDIE PEI AND ZACK ROSENBLATT

START HERE Do you support the death penalty? rare cases only

Should the U.S. declare war on ISIS?

al us

pro-

cho

ice

Are you pro-choice or pro-life?

yes

Should the NSA continue to collect phone and email data from citizens?

What is the better tax plan?

Conservative

flat tax

ckets

tax bra

yes

neither, taxes should be lowered

dable affor

completely free

Should illegal immigrants have a path to become legal residents?

Moderate

Liberal

yes

Do some juveniles deserve solitary confinement?

Should there be more restrictions on purchasing guns? In addition to the wealthy, should the “middle class” be taxed more?

Should all children be vaccinated for preventable diseases?

pro-life

not all drugs

nly

eo yes

yes

dic me

yes

Very Liberal

yes

Do foreign terrorist suspects deserve constitutional rights?

yes

Should drugs be decriminalized?

Should healthcare be completely federalized?

Should college be completely free or affordable?

Do you support Common Core?

Do you support gay marriage?

airstrikes only

Do you support the legalization of marijuana?

yes

ye s

Very Conservative

Political Spectrum

Seniors want their voices heard in the presidential election The Presidential race has been a wild ride, with debates filled with accusations, name-calling, dropping out, and confusing everyone with promises that are hard to keep. The Raven Report surveyed 189 seniors to see how they understand and are planning on participating in the election so far. “I am fortunate enough to have the privilege to vote, an opportunity that not all people have or take,” one senior said in his survey. —ALEX VICK

Will you be 18 by Nov. 6?

Are you registered/ planning to register to vote?

Yes: 183 No: 6 Yes: 146 No: 28 Haven’t decided: 15

Which candidate will you be voting for?

Bernie Sanders: 60 Hillary Clinton: 23 Donald Trump: 4 John Kasich: 2 Ted Cruz: 2 Undecided: 97

Which party are you affiliated with?

Democratic: 128 Republican: 21 Not Sure: 28 Other: 12