Senior Issue 2021

Cover by Kalyn Dawes

Redwood High School 395 Doherty Drive, Larkspur, CA 94939 www.redwoodbark.org Editors-in-Chief: Ella Green Sofi Mincy Camille Ray Jack Watson Art Consultants: Kalyn Dawes Keely Ganong Business Managers: Annie Goldstein Samantha Michaels Survey Manager: Emma Lightfoot Social Media Managers: Audrey Lightfoot Charlie Ginsburg Podcast Editors: Nathan Ash Video Editors: Sterling Lazarus Hannah Morgan Multimedia Editor: Olivia Kharrazi

Copy Editors: Nicole Johnson (Head Copy) Shannon Watridge (Head Copy) Martha Fishburne Kate McHugh Sophie Smallhorn Natalie Tress Maxanne Anderson Samantha Elegant Gemma Strauss Abigail Shewmaker Greta Cifarelli Bella Piacente Alli Runnfeldt Reporters: Avery Aguero Will Baker Julian Belzer Isabel Ames Alex Fisch Clariss Garcia Nina Geoghegan Sydney Liebhauser Loughlin Browne Libby Hughes Patrick Jacobson Mia Kessinger Ava Koblik Brooke Leslie Charlotte DeForest Alyssa McCadden Declan McDaniels Kate McHugh PJ Pfeiffer Caroline Scharf Allie Vasquez Keegan Williams

Opinion Editors: Sol Ladetzky Casey Braff Feature Editors: Kent Goodman Taylor Elliot Lifestyles Editors: Anna Silverman Hollis Belger Sports Editors: Jacob Mandel Christopher Vargelis News Editors: Caroline Goodhart Jackson Epps Review Editors: Sophia Rocha AnnaLise Sandrich Spanish Editor: Hannah Sellers Senior Staff Writers: Mara Farese Katie Parsons

bark

Page 1 • News

www.redwoodbark.org

Sima Alavi declared class of 2021 valedictorian

By Taylor Elliott

“I was happy, and I was a little bit shocked. I didn’t think I would get it because there are just so many hardworking students at Redwood. It wasn’t even in my mind, but it’s nice to have some sort of recognition,” senior Sima Alavi said about being chosen as valedictorian for the class of 2021.

After taking ten Advanced Placement (AP) and seven honors classes, Alavi earned a total academic weighted grade point average (GPA) of 4.61 and a 10-12 academic weighted GPA of 4.76. Having taught Alavi in AP Calculus BC this year and witnessing her at work, Heather Curtaz attributes her academic success to her focus on what she loves.

“She’s passionate about the things that she’s studying.

I know she wants to go into medicine, and so she has focused her studies around [what] she’s really interested in, which I think makes it easier for her to excel,” Curtaz said.

Next year, Alavi plans to attend the University of California, Berkeley, and major in biochemistry. In addition to her interest in science, Alavi has danced at Just Dance Academy in San Rafael, Calif. for the past 12 years and hopes to continue this activity in college through a student club.

Photo courtesy of Sima Alavi

LEAPING ACROSS THE stage, Alavi dances at the KAR competition in March 2020.

RECEIVING THE DISTINCTION as valedictorian for the weighted GPA in her four years at Redwood.

“Even with my busy schedule, getting to go and dance every few days was great because it was a moment to calm down and have fun. If I was feeling anxious, I got rid of that and danced it all out,” Alavi said.

Since her freshman year, Alavi has been a part of leadership and currently serves as the senior class president.

Also, throughout high school, she has done lab work at the Kennedy Lab at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging. She now has her name on one accepted scientific paper and three manuscripts, although working alongside college undergraduates and postdoctoral researchers was no easy feat.

“There was a sense of imposter syndrome [when I first started at Kennedy Lab], but I knew this was something I was really interested in, and I wanted to explore further. I fell in love with the lab work and learning about the little mechanisms and everything that’s happening within my reactions,” Alavi said.

Kylie Nakasu, Alavi’s best friend since seventh grade,

Photo by Taylor Elliott

class of 2021, Alavi obtained a 4.61 total academic

has supported her through this work. Nakasu explained that Alavi’s upbeat personality makes her both a great student and friend.

“I’ve never heard her complain about anything, even when she’s taking this full load of AP classes. She always shows up to school with a positive attitude and always has a smile on her face,” Nakasu said.

Reflecting upon her four years at Redwood, Alavi appreciates that she has become so deeply involved in the community. Above all, it is clear that Alavi has balanced her interests in order to achieve success.

“I’ve really pursued what I love, and that’s why I’ve been able to hold out for so long. Everything I’m doing is something I’m interested in, and something that I genuinely want to do,” Alavi said.

telliott@redwoodbark.org

LaSandra White to be Archie Williams’ new principal

By Alli Runnfeldt On May 25, the Tamalpais Union High School District Board of Trustees voted to transfer Redwood Assistant Principal LaSandra White to an interim principal position at Archie Williams High School starting next fall. The vacancy comes after current Principal Liz Seabury was assigned to be the Senior Director of Inclusion, Instruction and Intervention at the District Office, also starting next fall.

After nine years, Seabury is leaving her position but sees a great future for Archie Williams with White.

“When they asked me my thoughts on [giving White the position], I immediately thought amazing, wonderful, perfect, outstanding, brilliant,” Seabury said.

“She’s fabulous. I’ve known her for all nine years that I’ve been [at Archie Williams], and she’s one of my favorite people. She’s going to be so great.”

Despite the excitement surrounding White’s new position, Principal David Sondheim feels Redwood is losing a key component of its administration.

“We’ll lose a wonderful assistant principal and a really great friend. Someone

Photo by Katie Parsons

WHITE HAS BEEN working at Redwood as a counselor and administrator for the past 25 years. whose experience and ability to connect with students is a model for all of us. Her sense of humor and friendship makes every day fun,” Sondheim said.

While White is saddened by her departure, she is looking forward to next

year and learning more about Archie Williams.

“I know everything about Redwood, and I just don’t know anything about [Archie Williams]. It’s very unique. It is going to be a learning curve, but I feel

prepared,” White said.

An aspect about Archie Williams that White is most excited for is the much smaller student population in comparison to Redwood. “[The size] is not much different than the size of Redwood when I started.

It’s about 1,200 [students], and when [Redwood] was that size, I felt like I knew kids’ names, and now it’s overwhelming.

The size of [Archie Williams] is attractive to me. I’m not getting rid of my Redwood gear, though,” White said.

Sondheim believes the skillset White has developed throughout her administrative career has prepared her as well as she can be for her new role. “[White] is one of those educators that helps you be the best educator you can be.

She is direct. She is honest. She is studentcentered and challenges me every day to make sure that I’m doing what is in the best interest of the students,” Sondheim said.

“She is probably the most well-prepared principal-to-be that I have ever seen.”

arunnfeldt@redwoodbark.org

bark Page 2 • News Reactions to new double block schedule vary

By Caroline Goodhart

In October 2019, Senate Bill 328 passed, requiring all California high schools to start at 8:30 a.m. or later, effective July 1, 2021. While a new schedule would have been considered for next year regardless due to a union agreement, Redwood had to add the required start time and class time minutes to their discussion. As a result, teachers voted on and announced a double block schedule for the next two school years.

The committee of teachers that designed the new schedule consisted of Erik Berkowitz, Anna Farley, Beth de Carion, Maria Civano, Lindsey Kornfeld and Susanne Maxwell. According to Maxwell, an art and history teacher, the committee considered research surrounding the teenage attention span in their selection process, but had a difficult time adhering to the minute requirements.

On March 31, Principal David Sondheim posted a survey on the StudentSquare and ParentSquare apps, asking for input on the schedules. The survey asked participants to rank four schedule options and received a total of 640 responses. The blended schedule was the community favorite and the double-block came in second place. The double-block schedule has also been used by Tamalpais and Archie Williams High Schools for decades and includes 90-minute classes, ten-minute passing periods, one five-minute break and a 35-minute lunch period.

Some teachers are optimistic about the chance to dive deeper into subjects during long class periods and plan on reshaping lessons to do so. Social Studies teacher Lindsey Kornfeld explains that she will rethink her class periods in order to accommodate the needs of students.

“Ninety minutes is a long time, and especially in courses like math or language that require a lot more repetition, it is going to be difficult,” Kornfeld said.

“How do you [continue the] best practices and still get through the same number of topics that we traditionally get through?”

Kristin Abbott Aaron & Randi Agenbroad Seth & Kelli Anderson Susan Anderson Robert and Jean Baker The Baker Family Susan Ellsweig & Gary Barnett Caroline Beard The Belger Family Kathleen Belzer The Bishop Family Fred & Mary Blum The Braff Family Jason Brown Victoria Camelio Monica Canas Lucy Churton Kevin Cifarelli Robyn Cohen Laura Collins Edward Conti Deborah Cook Kelli Cook Hali Croner The Culhane Family Courtney Daly The Dawes Family Regina DeAngelis Sonya DeForrest Sandra Derango Joanne Desin Robby Dinowitz Ira Elegant The Elliot Family Mary Elliott The Elliott Family

While many are content with the double block, other teachers are worried about the results in terms of efficiency.

“Tam and [Archie Williams’] test scores and ability to get through the same amount of curriculum is far less than we have,” Maxwell said. “There is something about that double block that slows you down. Fortunately in the arts, we can teach with anything, with any of the schedules that are offered. But my concern is that we did not pay attention to the needs of different kinds of learners and what the community said.”

Some students take issue with the fact that on Wednesdays and Fridays, seventh-period classes will end at 3:40, which will push back after-school plans such as athletics, jobs and homework. Junior soccer player Gavin Pierce said the schedules will only work to delay his sleep schedule.

“If practices are starting at four, they are ending at six or seven, that means you’re not going to start on your homework until 8 pm or 9 pm. It’s really disregarding student-athletes,” Pierce said.

The scheduling committee took into account the late end time, and although there was ultimately nothing they could do to shorten it due to strict minute requirements, they chose to incorporate a SMART period at the end of the day on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The goal is that students will be able to get homework done while helping the school reach minute requirements. In addition, the committee hoped that students who have to leave early for sports and jobs will not miss important lessons.

The committee was aware that many students are exhausted by the late afternoon, and both Kornfeld and Maxwell said self-directed work time will increase productivity. “[By the] last class of the day, you lose focus. You are tired [and] just ready to go home. So if you are not sitting in math, English or history class, listening to somebody speak for a 90 minute period, instead, you are able to get your homework done. I think that is a much better use of our afternoons than having kids try to struggle through

Ronald Ellsweig Douglas Epps Joseph Estus Deirdre Evershed Jennifer Fang Kristin Farese Monica Fieber The Fishburne Family Rod & Hannah Fligel Pamela Fong Robert Frankus Paul Gehrman & Norah Frei Allie G The Ganong Family The Ginsburg Family William Gisvold Martin Goldstein The Goldstein Family Cynthia Goodman Ina Gotlieb Jennifer Green Linda Groah Melissa Harms Christopher & Jennifer Hartung Randy Herbst Nancy & Allan Herzog Joan Hornberger The Hughes Family Tamara S Hull Robin Jacobson Carolyn Jensen Wendy Jessen Sylvia Jones William & Rachel Kessinger Jeffrey Klompus Anneke Koblik

this,” Maxwell said.

It is also imperative that students attend the SMART period, as it is state-required minutes. Maxwell warned that if students leave early, the union and school will move the study hall to its current time slot directly after the first period. Other than this small exception, Redwood is mandated to keep the schedule for the next two years.

“The double block [is set] for the next two years. If teachers decide to, a new scheduling committee will be opened up to the staff in two years. And they can go through the same process that we did of proposing new schedules,” Kornfeld said.

Courtesy of David Sondheim

cgoodhart@redwoodbark.org

Bark Patrons E. Koeppel Zoe Koonce Carl Krawitt Sol & Gil Ladetzky Reshma Lensing The Leonard Family Elizabeth Brown & Janet Lewin Deborah Lightfoot Stephen Lightfoot Louise Lo Burt & Lisa Losee Ellen Lynch Alexandra Maliniak René Mandel Harold & Nancy Mann Dana Marotto Micheal Marrero Kerianne & Christopher McBride Ruth McDaniels Katie & David McGee The McHugh Family The Michaels Family Eileen F. Miles Robert Morgan Cindy Morris Ann Aiko Morton Julie & Brian Muller Camelia Negrea Cecily & James O’Connor Denise Olson Hillary Oppenheim Sharon Parsons

June 4, 2021

The Parsons Family Cynthia Patrizi The Pfeiffer Family Frances Piacente Michael Piacente Gabriella Piccioni Megan Pirsch The Ray Family Bruce Reed Jennifer Reese Lesley Reidy Kimberly Resnick Timothy Richards The Rocha Family Liliana Royal Jason Ryning D. Sanders The Sandrich Family Wendy Shewmaker Jena Shore Martin & Deidre Silverman The Silverman Family Peter & Lucia Sinatra Veronia Skelton The Smallhorn Family Michael & Victoria Song The Steele Family Seth & Jill Steinberg Paul & Amanda Stephen Catherine Stevenson Robert Stone Irene & Phil Strauss

Kate & Ron Strauss Jennifer Sutter Mary Sylla Richard Thalheimer Maryann Thompson Jean-Ray Tippo Deborah Tirschwell The Towns Wagner Family Andy Tress Christopher & Lisa Tribolet Kimberly Tully-Sutton Lisa Turner Dawn Valler Caroline Wabl Kimberly Wagner Perelandra Wait Diana Wang The Watridge Family The Watson Family The Welch Family Larry Wilson Ryan Wilson Julie Wolfert Sarah Young The Zirpoli Family Constance Zlot Simon Zornoza

If you would like to support the Redwood Bark, donations can be made by check and mailed to Redwood High School. Checks should be made payable to the Redwood Bark. See www. redwoodbark.org/donate for an online payment option.

bark The dust settles, MTB teams remain district sponsored Page 3 • News

www.redwoodbark.org

By Keely Ganong

Marin County, widely referred to as the birthplace of mountain biking, is home to three wildly successful high school mountain bike teams. In recent weeks, however, the three teams part of the Tamalpais Union High School District (TUHSD) have experienced confusion and panic surrounding the future of their high school teams.

On Tuesday May 11, the TUHSD administration held a meeting to discuss the current operations of the three teams with site administration, mountain bike team coaches and advisors in attendance. The meeting concluded with participants under the impression that the district was separating itself from the teams and the sport would no longer be sponsored by the schools. However, following community backlash, the district clarified their decision.

Instead of being harmed, the teams will ultimately benefit and be recognized as school-sponsored sports more formally than before. Julia Violich, director of the Redwood mountain bike team, attended the meeting along with coaches from Archie Williams (formerly known as Drake) and Tamalpais High School.

“We were told in that meeting that as of July 1, we were no longer sponsored by the school, there would be no faculty involvement, no coaches on campus [and] we couldn’t have the mascot; they changed everything,” Violich said.

Coaches communicated this information back to their teams and it was quickly circulated between TUHSD parents and students. The news was then amplified online before the district offered any clarity. The Save Marin High School Mountain Biking website, created by an Archie Williams parent, stated the district was “killing Marin High School Mountain Biking.” Encouraging people to “join the fight,” Archie Williams junior Taz Fruhauf created an online petition that gained over 3,500 signatures since its creation on May 14. There was anger and frustration as people assumed decisions had already been made.

On May 15, TUHSD administration released a statement in order to clarify their position.

“It was never the intention of the district or Board to disband mountain biking, however, it appears that not

Photo courtesy of Adrian Nacamulli

SPEEDING OFF THE start line, senior Sean Middleton begins his time trial lap during the Six Sigma time trial on May 16. all present for the meeting left the table with the same understanding and some misinformation has gone out to the community,” TUHSD said.

Failed communication resulted in a frantic community response. Leslie Harlander, TUHSD Board President, noticed how the information circulating generated misconceptions. “[The students] are hearing the same information I’m hearing and I know that the information I’m hearing is not all accurate. I’ve gotten emails from students thinking that we’re getting rid of mountain biking and it pains me to read that because we’re not,” Harlander said.

The panic subsided as the community was reassured that the district was not in fact shutting out the program like many had assumed.

“It took less than 36 hours of pushback for the district to realize that they made a mistake and that’s it, now we’re

back to being a sponsored club,” Violich stated.

The shared solution, agreed upon by TUHSD administration and the three district mountain biking coaches and advisors, recognizes the three clubs as schoolsponsored clubs more formally than before. The agreement was explained in further detail during a TUHSD Board meeting on May 25. Mountain biking team operations will remain generally the same as previous years, but the shared solution puts this formally in writing. With their new status as school-sponsored clubs, starting in the 20202021 school year, the school’s name can be used in the official club name, mascot, logo and uniforms. Athletes can also receive a varsity letter.

“I feel very satisfied with what’s happened in the last week and a half. We are really looking forward to continued growth and it’s very nice for us to have our actual relationship [with the district] in writing. I feel that we’re ready to take the next step and continue to support our student athletes,” Violich said.

Maggie Nelson, captain of the Archie Williams mountain bike team, has been riding on the team for all four years of high school. She shares her appreciation for the program as well as the district during a public comment period at the May 25 meeting.

“I’ve been able to grow as a person and develop important leadership skills. I’ve built relationships in this community that will last my entire lifetime. When I initially heard that maybe it was the end of the road for mountain biking and that I was no longer going to be able to race for my high school, I was distraught and angry.

I’m really glad that [the district is] working towards this solution,” Nelson said.

Despite a short period of turbulence, the mountain biking program will continue its long-standing success with the support of its passionate community.

“It’s nice for it to be formally in writing now. It makes me as a director feel more confident about the sustainability of the sport,” Violich said.

kganong@redwoodbark.org

Out with the oil, in with the New(som) regulations

By PJ Pfeiffer

On April 23 in a press release, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced his plans to phase out all fracking, also known as hydraulic fracturing, by January 2024. This ban will make California the eighth state to ban fracking. The fracking process includes injecting water, chemicals and sand at high pressure to create small fractures in order to extract energy from an underground natural gas or oil deposit.

California is now also the first state in the country to declare an end to oil extraction, which Newsom intends to ban by 2045. In the same mid-April press release, Newsom said he intends to achieve net-zero carbon dioxide emissions in an effort to combat climate change also by 2045.

“The climate crisis is real, and we continue to see the signs every day. As we move to swiftly decarbonize our transportation sector and create a healthier future for our children, I’ve made it clear I don’t see a role for fracking in that future and, similarly, believe that California needs to move beyond oil,” Newsom said in his press release.

According to a statement from Newsom’s office, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) will evaluate how to phase out oil extraction through

the Climate Change Scoping Plan, which will achieve reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

During fracking, methane is released into the atmosphere, as well as carbon dioxide equivalents, which both have similar global impacts. California is banning this process because of its negative impact and effects on the environment, which are largely the greenhouse gas emissions.

The California Department of Conservation’s Geologic Energy Management (CalGEM), which protects public health and the environment, will start its own process immediately.

Although CalGEM’s plan is not the same as CARB’s, they are both working to improve California’s community.

According to CalGEM, their method includes developing new regulations to protect workers and groups, implementing new laws that prohibit surface expressions and increasing financial bonding requirements on oil companies to ensure adequate closure of defunct wells and clean-up of inactive oil fields.

In the U.S., California is ranked seventh in producing the most oil and will be the largest state (in terms of oilproduction) to ban fracking. Additionally, 50 percent of California’s greenhouse gas

emissions come from the transportation sector, a much greater number than most other states. Finally, Newsom’s plan to ban fracking is expected to lower California’s greenhouse gas emissions numbers significantly.

A carbon neutrality goal will also affect the economy, and Wade Crowfoot, California’s natural resources secretary, explained the future of California to the New York Times with fiscal concerns in mind. By implementing this proposal, government officials worry it will eliminate well-paying jobs that many communities rely on.

“What we need to do is be able to identify and grow good-paying jobs in these technologies that will power California’s future economy. That includes renewable fuels, renewable energy – including offshore wind – and the remediation of oil fields. We’re working in partnership with impacted places to develop those opportunities,” Crowfoot said. “And even though there are benefits of banning fracking, people believe that it isn’t super crucial right now.”

As the year continues, California becomes closer to a net-zero carbon emissions footprint. California’s fracking ban is a huge step for lowering greenhouse gas emissions and ultimately fighting

against climate change. Newsom’s plan is one that should pave the way for the rest of the United States.

Photo courtesy of the Los Angeles Times

NEWSON VISITS A creek in McKittrick, California, where more than 800,000 gallons of oil has been spilled. ppfeiffer@redwoodbark.org

The Redwood High School Foundation would like to congratulate the following seniors for their life membership in the Redwood Honor Society and for their life membership in the California Scholarship Federation (as indicated with *). Congratulations graduates!!

Tyler Wong Achuck Muhammad Adde Jennifer Yeyoung Ahn Nora Alavi * Delaney Park Allen * Mia Grace Allen Thomas Michael Allen Isabel Bleu Ames Karin Juliet Amir Maxanne Sadie Anderson * Sara Daniela Angulo Benjamin Neil Auerbach * Madeline Alexandra Bagot Willow Eileen Baker Devon Juliana Ball Christopher Jensen Barcy * Ryan Michael Barcy * Nicole Virginia Leionalani Barker Raquel Jacqueline Barnes Milliardo Randoll Bellevue Morganti Sophia Bello Adam Montana Beltran Michael Earl Bender * Olivia Tzoc Berger John Allen Bettinger * Ella Jane Bishop * Ryan Jae Bludau Jack Francis Bober Megan Jean Bober * Bruce Toda Bowler Keadan Makenzie Bradley Nicholas Holden Breier Zo Brott * Monty Brown * Loughlin Catherine Browne * Maximilian Dylan Bundy * Josiah Bunting Talitha Thomas Newsom Callan Sedona Anne Campbell Luke Anthony Campodonico Julissa Campos-Montoya Taylor Ayu Caron Nico Mateo Carrera James Robert Chase Tessa Changke Chou * Theodore Dean Cicala Greta Rose Lucky Cifarelli Leif Harrison Clark Benjamin Aaron Cohen * Ciara Renee Colicci Luke Colombo Clare Elise Conant * Scott Hayden Conner Joshua Foley Cooper * Morgan Grace Cooper Ellen A. Cordisco Samantha Kate Corvi * Polo Cowan * Tula Maraea Cox * Ethan Eugene Crawford William Charles Creutz Miles Dudley DeNezza Crook Michael Christopher Danne * Elsa Liner Davis * Sam Charles Davis Kalyn Yates Dawes * Rebecca Muir Dawson Lucas Desarnauts Brogan Paul Detels * Pascal Leven Deuel * Bradley Harold Dibble * Jack Diener * Alexander Gustav Filip Doctor * Benjamin Cyr Donick * Jacob Kenneth Dunn Graff Alessandra Christina Durkin Adelaide Estelle Duryee Guy Duryee Sophie Louise Duryee * Justin Thomas Dyer * Mohammad Tarek Elliott-Diab * Jackson Matthew Epps *

Jake William Erlewine * Mirna M Estrada Medina Aliza Sydney Evans Rebecca Grace Falk Mara Lane Farese Lindsay Elizabeth Felder * Emily Nicole Feller Martha Rossie Fishburne Walker Wells Frisbie * Parker Randall Fritts * Dylan Elliot Garay * Ethan Lake Garsten Viktoriya Ivaylova Georgieva * Zachary Gerstenfeld * Charles Ginsburg * Zachary Ginsburg * Emma DeWitt Giometti Joseph Ryan Glassner Pierce Michael Glassner Jessica Jeanne Glennon Samantha Kasper Glickman * Augustine Beatrice Goebel Gabriel Dylan Goldman Kailey Juliana Golec Anais Beatrice Gorek Hudson Grace * Natasha Louise Grams Connor Riley Grand Ella Rose Green Wesley Yi-Fan Griggs * Eliza Rose Guthrie Evan Daniel Halliday Henry Marston Harlow Zoe Maria Harrison * Isabella Julia Heinemann * Asher Jordan Heller Aidan Charles Henderson* Claire Louise Henry * Zidheni Hernandez Claudia Tate Wah Holland * Kylie Horstmeyer * Henry Spicoli Houghton Rune Dupré Houston Suyeon Huh Levi Alan Huizenga Leah Huizenga Nicole M. Igudesman Asher Nate Jacobs Bodie Walther Jehling Leah Jirasek * Lyla Jirasek * Ezekiel Jacob Johnson * Nicole Danielle Johnson * Thomas Robert Johnson * Lucie Cecilia Johnston Amy Sehye Jordan Rachel Sejin Jordan Dylan Rohan Kapur Camille Joy Karner Sydney Kemme Zane Alan Kempler Talia Doyle Kennedy Ella Emami Kennon * Mia Ann Kessinger * Olivia Yi-Ling Kharrazi * Elena Kei Kim Cameron Jacob Alexander King Jacqueline Elizabeth Kizer Jacopo Matthias Klompus Ari Dimitry Kosorukov * Ashley Catherine Kraynak Sol Liya Ladetzky * Ethan L. Lagumbay * Dexter Beckett Lama Daphne Gray Lasher Skyy Alexandra Latchford Jennifer Lazzerini Nigel Legallet Ian Caleb Leifer * Audrey Teresa Lightfoot * Emma Ann Lightfoot * Baraq Ben-Or Lipshitz *

Stefan Liu Sylvie Lauren Lodish Diego Isaac Lopez Serrano Kiana Sarah Lowry * Dante Serafino Luis Greta Elizabeth Lynn Jacob Reuben Mandel Lucas Micah Mandel Jordan Robert Mann * Isabelle Sarah Margulies Louise Balthrope Marlowe * Riley Grace Marrero * Ryan Marshall Raymond Gene Marto Grace Mathews Marc-Antoine Carl Maync Colin Michael McDermott Nicholas Canning McGinn Miles McGrath * Samuel Phillips McIntosh Thomas Ira McKnew * Henry James McMahon * Parker Byrne McMillan * Christina Marie Meier William Carlin Melby * Stinson G Merrill-Gehrke Lillian Robbins Miller Henry Alden Mills Sofia Ines Mincy Leia Madonna Minter * Connor Martin Moon Kodey Andrew Moore Leilani Samantha Morales Chloe Grace Cheyenne Morand Annabel Morrison Charlie Savage Morse Jackson Evans Moseley * Rachel Margarete Mueller * Saket Mungamuru Nicolas Day Murgel Israa Mussa Aiko Angelina Nahas Kylie Rei Nakasu * Luke Neal Stella Neuschul Eliana Palmer Novick Benjamin Ethan Olsan John James O’Neal * Maxwell Rodan O’Neill Nicholas Alexander O’Neill Maximilian Alexander Osterman Nicolas Owenson Katherine Scott Parsons * Sabina Patterson * Tristan David Pearce Lauren Elizabeth Peavey * Natalie Pemberton Arabella Hope Petrini * PJ Pfeiffer Samuel Janney Pigott Ishaan Sahai Pomichter Christopher David Pontious Andrey Priahin Vladimir Priahin Tiberiu Quinn * Elsa Diane Quinton Joseph Francis Quirk Tatum McKnight Quon Kiani Kenta Raheem George Rajamachvili Mahala Helene Randel Miller Schuler Rasmussen Graciana Elise Ratto Camille Eloise Ray * Asal Christina Razavizadeh * Dylan Alexander Reed Maya Santos Rembrandt Jaquelin Estephany Reyes Samuel Edward Lim Rice Dean Loller Rider III Jeremy Roberts Jordan Cem Robertson

Alys May Robinson Sophia Nunes Rocha * Erin Maeve Roddy Jack Lee Rosenberg Gabriela Josefina Rosenfeld Christian Kenneth Royal Alexandra Layne Runnfeldt Emily Rose Rusting * Keith Thomas Ryan Niki Jambor Sadeghi * Peter Joseph Sakai * Riley Rose Sankowich Rosenbaum Alex Israel Santos Reyes Massimo Timo Sardans Samuel Logan Schiller * Genevieve Hunter Schlick Samantha Scruton Keegan Searles * Isabella Nicole Segovia* Olivia Lee Selden Bodhi Orion Ames Sellers Zezhou Sha Alexander Glenn Shayeb Maxwell Andrew Paul Shearer * Robert David Sebastian Relova Shellenberger * Theodore David Julian Relova Shellenberger * Anna Claire Silverman* Alexander Todd Simonson Jack Milo Sinatra * Sofia Rose Skager * Isabella Nash Skov Lucy Linnea Smith* Alexander Solakhyan Bennett David Somerville * Lauren Rae Stephens* Hugh Chandler Stevenson Jr. Evan Samuel Stock Larkin Ann Stodolnic Eva Strage Brooke Elizabeth Strodder Nina Susan Stypulkoski * Cole Sterling Summers * Kayla Wren Sutton * Chloe Margaret Swildens Aidan Riley Thompson * Pearl Clare Thompson * Spencer Riley Thompson Sydney Adele Goldman Tirschwell * Lucas Samuel Tress * Melissa Reyes Triguros Dylan Samual Tucker Daniel Gregory Tuhtan * Ava Elizabeth Turner Alexis Iliana Twing * Evelyn Marie Underwood Joseph Wyatt van Dorsten Maria VillarAlkasar Emma Gabriella Mia Vriend-Gaines Matthew Harrison Wagner Aidan Gabriel Walkeryee * Lillian Helena Wanninger Miranda Rose Ward Shannon Laurel Watridge * Jack Miles Watson * Phillip W. Way Thomas John Weingart * Logan Spencer Whelpley * Jacob Morris Williams Zane Parker Wilson Samantha Reese Wood Lucas Chamlian Wright Caleb Matthew Yoslov Frederik Robert Zech Jake Adam Zesiger * Ella Ruby Elaine Zimmerman * Sophia Riley Zimmerman Sophie Jane Zlatunich

Page 5

The COMmon misconceptions of community college Redwood. Going to a fouryear university is perceived as As a high school student in the second semester of my receiving a higher education, junior year, life after high school always seems to be the so, oftentimes, the level of center of attention. The question, “What colleges are you academic excellence at COM is thinking about?” is starting to become a daily occurrence, overlooked. however, I have never been asked simply what my plans “The amount of teachers we are for after high school. have at COM who have PhDs This illustrates the assumption that a four-year or are super good at teaching university is not only the common path but evidently the their subject or [are] well-versed only respected path. This idea, and the further perception is astounding,” Geitheim said. that a four-year university is the best track toward success, “A lot of them actually prefer contradicts the level of education and opportunities teaching at community colleges. that community colleges, specifically College of Marin You’re not getting any less of an (COM), provide. Going to community college for the first education; if anything, you’re two years of one’s higher education should not be viewed just getting more help and as inferior to attending a four-year university due to the attention for less money.” price, flexibility, transitional period and employment According to a report opportunities. conducted by EducationData, According to Academic Influence, as of March tuition for a student living on 4, COM was rated the number one campus for a four-year public in-state community college university is averaged at $25,864 per year, in California which stands in great contrast to and ranked COM’s yearly tuition of $1,494 number for in-state students. This five out of difference in price, even for the 839 just two years, can have community substantial benefits for colleges in students trying to save the country. money. Paired with the The fact that flexibility of COM is so highly acknowledged should community college be a clear sign to high school students scheduling, students that they would receive an effective are given the education; COM should not be seen opportunity to Illustration by Kalyn Dawes as a school for less academic students. find wageEva Geitheim, a 2019 Redwood graduate, has been earning jobs, furthering their monetary independence attending COM for the past two years and recently got and time management. According to U.S. News, accepted into the University of California, Los Angeles approximately 60 percent of students attending (UCLA), which she will transfer into in the fall. She community college go part-time, which opens up explains that even though COM is highly rated, the extra time for students to earn money and provide for negative perceptions of community college from themselves, saving for when they move away from home.

Redwood students degrade the option of attending one.

Despite the clear positive effects of community college “I remember my first couple of years [of high school] regarding tuition and flexibility, the main downside for knowing that I didn’t want to go straight to a four-year many students would be the lack of a “college experience.” university, but at the same time, [I didn’t consider] COM According to the ESCOM club listing for COM, there is because I felt like community college was a lesser route, an underwhelming amount of options to interact with even though it’s actually really beneficial,” Geitheim said. peers with only about a dozen clubs, while four-year According to Geitheim, this idea is common at universities, like UCLA, offer over 1,000 clubs, providing

By Natalie Tress

ample opportunities for school spirit. While the lack of campus life and spirit is disappointing, the majority of community college students transfer to a larger university after two years at the school, where they are able to take part in those experiences. Supported by UCLA’s transfer admit data for 2020, 93 percent of transfer students were from community colleges with a 24 percent acceptance rate, showing the common opportunity of transferring.

These downfalls are where the negative perceptions of community colleges set in.

Many students are set on experiencing the traditional four-year college experience once they graduate high school, yet failing to get accepted into top schools can be disappointing.

Venkates Swaminathan, the founder and CEO of LifeLaunchr, an online college planning and coaching service, explains that students attending community college for two years have a much higher chance of getting into a school in the University of California (UC) system than they would if they applied right after high school. College of Marin has a Transfer Admission Guarantee program that automatically ensures acceptance into six of the UC schools. Through the attainable requirement of 30 UC transferable courses, this program provides the reassuring option of attending a UC after going to COM for two years. Students who go to community college for two years and then transfer to a UC and students who go straight to a four-year university both graduate at the same time with the same credentials, showing that where they started doesn’t really have a long-term impact.

Students must be aware that community colleges are a valid choice that allow them to transfer into top schools after two years, having a higher chance of getting accepted. Community college can allow students to take the time to become independent at their own pace and really figure out who they are and where they want to be after high school. With this in mind, Redwood should work towards not only accepting community college as an option, but also advertising the beneficial outcomes of attending community college, and this could be done through recommending community colleges for college lists and valuable options. ntress@redwoodbark.org

An unsettling normal: antisemitism in America

By Sol Ladetzky I am a proud Jew. I look forward to Saturday services. I attend a religious sleepaway camp in the summer.I celebrate every Jewish holiday with friends and family. Both the religion itself and the various experiences that come with it have shaped who I am today. However, being Jewish has also caused me to live in a constant state of fear. While buying challah at the grocery store, I hide it under the other items in my cart. While sitting on an airplane to go visit relatives, I tell my brother to be quiet when he mentions we are going to Israel. Even while walking around school, I tuck the Star of David pendant on my necklace under my shirt.

The feeling of being afraid to express my religion is not solely something I experience; rather, it is widely shared among American Jews. According to a 2019 survey by the nation’s leading Jewish advocacy group, the American Jewish Committee (AJC), 31 percent of Jews have avoided going out in public with clothing or other items that relate to Judaism and 25 percent avoid going to certain places or attending events because they do not feel welcome there as a Jew. With constant comments and actions targeted toward American Jews, it feels like antisemitism has been normalized in our country.

While the number of Americans who witnessed acts and comments of antisemitism declined after the Holocaust, dropping from 64 percent in 1946 to

12 percent in 1959, according to The Atlantic, recent surges in antisemitism have forced these numbers back up. The Anti-Defamation League’s annual Audit of Antisemitic Incidents found that the U.S. experienced 2,107 antisemitic incidents in 2019, which is a 12 percent increase from the 1,879 incidents seen in 2018 and the highest number recorded s i n c e the first Audit of Antisemitic Incidents in 1979.

Similarly, on May 10, when conflict broke out between Israel and Palestine, the world responded with a wave of antisemitism; according to ABC news, there were over 200 antisemitic acts in the United States during the 11day dispute. A repeated pattern throughout Israel’s conflicts, it is evident that Jews end up taking the blame for the Israeli government’s actions, even though being Jewish does not always equate with being pro-Israel.

While it is true that Israel was originally established as a “Jewish state,” the country also promotes religious freedom for everyone, beyond Judaism. As reported

by The Times of Israel, the Palestinian population in the country has doubled over the past decade. In addition, a poll

by The Hebrew University found that 70 percent of Israelis support the creation of a Palestine state. As a group that has experienced immeasurable oppression throughout history, it would be unfair for

affecting the treatment of Jews in America, it is important for antisemitism to become a bigger topic of conversation.

A study conducted by the American Enterprise Institute, a think tank that gathers research on public policies, reported that in 2018, Jews were 2.7 times more likely than Black Americans and 2.2 times more likely than Muslim Americans to be the victims of hate crimes, accounting for 57 percent of all religious-based hate Jews crimes. t o As Jews are constantly Illustration by do the Kalyn Dawes confronted by hate speech and same to violence, the United States needs to do others. It is more to protect us in the same way they the country’s are putting laws in place to protect other responsibility minorities. It is not right that someone can to protect all tell me they support Hitler with little or no its citizens, punishment. It is not right that someone regardless can draw swastikas on public places with of their religion, little or no punishment. It is not right that and to not persecute someone can tell me they want to kill others. And while this means the Israeli government must all Jews with little or no punishment. If change its actions and evade genocide, change is not made, American Jews, like Jews, especially those in Israel, must work me, will continue to live in a constant state harder to respect religious freedom and of fear. allow Palestinians into their country in the same way they would have wanted during the Holocaust.

With the actions of Israel severely sladetzky@redwoodbark.org

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Page 6 • Opinion

June 4, 2021

It’s time to start phasing out hazing 63 percent of members on the U. S. President’s Cabinet are former members of Greek organizations themselves, their In October 2019, 18-year-old Cornell University reluctance to step in is unsurprising. freshman Antonio Tsialas was found dead in a ravine near Some schools, however, have proven that effective the campus. The night before, he attended a Phi Kappa legal actions can be taken to combat hazing. One example Psi fraternity party where freshman recruits of a meaningful legal response came in Florida in were encouraged and/or forced to binge drink 2014. Former Florida A&M University student alcohol in the name of loyalty. Fraternity Dante Martin was sentenced to six years in brothers even dunked the prison for manslaughter and heads of intoxicated recruits felony hazing in relation to the in water as a test of tolerance. death of Robert Champion, The investigation into who was brutally beaten during Tsialas’s tragic death was a ritual in 2011. Yet, without inconclusive, but Cornell consistent consequences for officials determined hazing hazing deaths like this one, frat was involved and revoked Phi boys will continue to be frat Kappa Psi recognition. boys.

In February 2021, Virginia Given the prevalence of Commonwealth University hazing tragedies, university freshman Adam Oakes drank administrators also need to extensively as part of a Delta create and execute stricter Chi initiation party. He later policies on campus. Likewise, passed out on a couch, and was student leaders should take found unresponsive the next responsibility for forging morning by fraternity brothers. change by evaluating dangerous Oakes was pronounced dead by traditions, regulating initiation paramedics at the scene. rituals and raising awareness Initiation is a signature tradition about the consequences of hazing. in Greek organizations. Fraternity Additionally, high school seniors should be and sorority members bring Illustration by Brooke Leslie educated about the dangers they might face underclassmen into the folds when they arrive on college campuses. When through challenges and team bonding exercises. These your head is being held under water after being forced rituals allow recruits to connect with housemates and to drink a half bottle of vodka, it may be a little too late prove their fidelity to their new community. Despite to strategize. Let’s be real; peer-pressure training from the appeal to bond with like-minded peers, initiation middle school likely won’t cut it, either. practices have taken an increasingly deadly turn. Hazing, There is some good news, though. Not all Greek a more violent and aggressive form of initiation, degrades organizations rely on hazing practices to initiate their pledges and often results in severe emotional and physical members. Sigma Phi Epsilon, a national sorority, is an consequences. example of how positive initiation practices can welcome Unfortunately, it seems that fraternities and sororities members without hazing. Pledges are initiated through have been competing to create the most outrageous hazing etiquette, yoga/meditation practices and even cooking practices, devising increasingly dangerous rituals, which skills. In contrast to hazing, initiation processes within often involve excessive alcohol consumption, intense Sigma Phi Epsilon typically build camaraderie, trust and physical activity to the point of injury and humiliation or relationships among students seeking to become part of emotional abuse. From “boob ranking” of sorority pledges the community. By all accounts, it seems to be working. to fraternity pledges carrying feces through a forest and Campuses need more Sigma Phi Epsilons. drinking urine along the way, there seems to be no end to According to a May Bark Survey, 34 percent of the humiliation and torture.

Redwood students plan to rush a Greek organization in More than half of American college students college. These students would benefit from preparation experience some form of hazing, and there has been at least regarding the dangers and extent of hazing practices. They one hazing death in the United States every year between will need to stand up for themselves and access strategies 1958 and 2019, with a break in 2020 due to pandemic- to manage if and when they encounter hazing practices as driven shutdowns. These numbers are staggering and beg freshmen. Redwood should be a part of this education. The for reform, but university officials and lawmakers have future well-being of Giants is at stake. failed to effectively regulate the problem, as demonstrated

by Cornell’s meager response to the death of Antonio Tsialas. As of 2019, hazing is illegal in 44 states, yet 73 percent of Greek fraternities and sororities across the country still engage in these traditions. Considering that hbelger@redwoodbark.org

By Hollis Belger

Global Warning: let’s embody our planet Story and Illustration by Anna Silverman “Global Warning” is a column discussing relevant environmental concerns that our planet faces today.

You stand in front of a full-length mirror. Your reflection stares back at you. It’s a good day: you pose, smile at your attributes and even snap a mirror selfie.

You take in this moment, knowing it is temporary; on bad days, every pockmark, stray hair and wrinkle stand out, inescapable. Whether we realize it or not, this is also how we treat the Earth. On good days, we bask in the sun, sing in the rain and take in the refreshing scent of nature around us. On bad days, smoke, smog and heat either force us to go inside or stomach the lessthan-favorable weather conditions. Either way, the air on these days is further polluted by our complaints, rather than empathy and action on behalf of a planet that is constantly suffering from the effects of climate change — whether or not we can physically feel it.

This is my last column , and I wanted to do something different. I can spew facts about the environment all day long (thanks Advanced Placement Environmental Science), but recently, my environmentalism has overlapped with another relevant movement: body positivity.

Just like our bodies, the Earth deserves unconditional love and support for both its beauty and life-sustaining functions. We need to appreciate the Earth on all days so that we can continue enjoying the purity of the air we breathe, the water we drink and the nature we inhabit.

Humans emit 33.1 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere a year, overwhelming the oceans, animals and ecosystems worldwide by this influx of toxins. The Earth’s integral appendages are at our mercy and disposal. Humanity is violating every rule of self-care for the Earth, and since plastering it with facials and spa days is not an option, we need to find ways to start physically taking care of our planet.

The educational website “Learning to Give” defines sustainability as a “Lifestyle made up of decisions that protect the natural environment and drive social and technological innovation to solve environmental problems.” So, start pursuing that lifestyle! Imagine going on a diet — exercise, healthy food, all that good stuff — but for the planet’s health. I’ll even give you a three-part plan.

Part one: meatless Monday. Seriously, skipping one hamburger saves the emissions generated by seven miles of driving. I know it tastes good, but there are lots of delicious plant-based meat substitutes (and veggies!) that will save both you and the planet a case of indigestion.

Part two: walk somewhere. My rule is that if a location is fifteen minutes away or less, walk, bike or skate yourself there. The world’s new workout regimen starts with you!

Part three: if it’s not reusable, revolt against it.

Plastic bags alone kill 100,000 animals a year, so it’s officially time to start bringing your own to the grocery store. Buy a reusable water bottle and swap out paper towels and napkins for cloth substitutes available on Amazon and Etsy. Trust me, they look way cuter, too.

California is moving swiftly toward its annual season of “bad days:” fire, drought and heat waves that have recently ballooned in their frequency and severity. Let these remind us that our actions directly impact the planet, and it is our responsibility to help her feel her best. Just as we’re starting to appreciate our bodies, we should start to appreciate the Earth, too.

In a general sense, industrialization has led society to believe that the Earth is here to serve us. Humanity has learned that money may not grow on trees, but we can cut trees down for money. The Earth provides for our lives, and as a result, we need to consider the impacts of our actions so we can keep the things we love, including our planet, long into the future. asilverman@redwoodbark.org

kdawes@redwoodbark.org

Page 7 • Opinion

www.redwoodbark.org

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Redwood High School 395 Doherty Drive Larkspur, CA 94939 www.redwoodbark.org Editors-In-Chief Ella Green Sofi Mincy Camille Ray Jack Watson Head Copy Editors Nicole Johnson Shannon Watridge

editorial Admin must let leadership lead “Smells like no teen spirit.”

POLICY: All editorials are unsigned and have been approved by the majority of The Bark staff.

American public high schools are viewed in an iconic light: huge Friday night football games, lively dances packed with sweaty and shouting teenagers, exciting pep rallies and other spirited activities are seen as universal experiences for teens. However, Redwood strays far away from these idealizations and has become a drab and lackluster environment for many students. While it has the potential to be a tight-knit and vibrant community, the shortage of allinclusive student events has yielded a decline in school spirit. This issue is perpetuated by the administration’s frequent, unwanted and restrictive infringements on class activities proposed by leadership. Administrators must allow leadership to have more freedom and control to increase school spirit and unify students after almost a year of distance learning.

According to junior class president Gavin Green, many ideas that leadership presented to the administration to improve Redwood’s overall spirit for the last few weeks of the school year have been rejected.

“Having events that really bring a community together [get] shut down is the worst thing for spirit because it makes people not want to participate in [the future],” Green said.

Although students recognize the limitations imposed by COVID-19, it feels as though Redwood is obligated to follow stricter protocols than other high schools in the district. For example, on April 30, Tamalpais High School (Tam) leadership hosted a “Tam Unity Day” where food trucks came to campus, and World Wrapps, Jamba Juice, boba tea and donuts were served as students listened to live music and made arts and crafts, all while following COVID-19 guidelines. Tam students unified once again on May 14 when Tam leadership held a similar “field day” event. These occasions were valuable to the Tam community and contributed to a sense of togetherness, a feeling currently lacking at Redwood.

Like Redwood, there was initially some pushback from the admin regarding interference with cafeteria profits, according to Tam Associated Student Body (ASB) President Solomon Tolson, but unlike Redwood, a Tam leadership committee worked with the administration and cafeteria staff to strike a deal and go forward with food-related events.

Redwood’s leadership class should have been able to do the same, but all propositions were denied until recently when leadership was approved to vend boba tea and burritos at lunch for senior week. Still, this food will only be available for seniors and feels a day late and a dollar short when Tam students have been holding similar occasions for months.

A study from the Connecticut Association of Schools proves why bonding events like those held at Tam are so important: school spirit is vital to a

A BARK to A$AP Rocky and Rihanna confirming their relationship. We want to see that “Diamond” on her finger A$AP! A BITE to seniors putting the graduating year 25’ in their bios. Thats’ embarassing.

A BARK to KJ Apa announcing he is expecting a baby. Sounds like we’ll be calling him KJ Papa now.

A BITE to wildfire season getting worse with the drought. It’s looking like a hot girl summer, but not in a good way.

healthy learning environment. The study surveyed principals from 150 high schools across the United States who all reported that those who have a “great deal” of spirit are 91 percent more confident, 87 percent more active in their communities and 88 percent happier than schools with lower levels of spirit.

Another instance of our administration disproportionately controlling leadership events was during this year’s homecoming week. According to Green, the winners of the homecoming court had to be crowned over Zoom to limit crowds despite the ceremony being outside in a large enough space for social distancing. “[The video] was really blurry and people [didn’t] even know who won homecoming court.

It’s just little things like that that were limited this year and in the past that have made our job harder,” Green said.

Even in pre-pandemic years, the administration has made irrational vetoes to leadership initiatives.

Last year, Josh Chan, former Redwood ASB president, dedicated a significant amount of time to working with World Wrapps to bring their business to the CEA year-round. After an exciting week of nori wraps and bowls, the administration shut the project down due to its violation of California Education Code (EDC) 45103.1, which requires food from outside vendors to meet very specific criteria. Chan repeatedly advertised the project and worked with the owner of World Wrapps, Matt Blair, for over a year to revise the menu to meet requirements, but no one in the school district communicated with leadership prior to the administration’s unreasonable decision to cancel the project.

This all begs the question: why does Redwood fund and run a leadership program if student representatives are not allowed to lead? The purpose of leadership and ASB is to unite the student body and therefore heighten school spirits. Students ask that the administration works with leadership students to develop sensible and equitable solutions to their concerns about proposed ideas, such as how it is done at Tam. As the 2020-2021 school year draws to a close and COVID-19 restrictions lighten, the incoming leadership class and elected officers should be given the role in which they were elected to serve.

Have an opinion regarding anything that appears in The Bark or in general? We encourage our readers to submit letters to the editor.

Letters to The Bark should be 500 words or fewer, typed if possible and signed. They must be emailed to bark@redwoodbark.org.

A BARK to all the seniors who planned unofficial proms.

It’s not like admin was going to do it.

A BITE to people abusing the new Instagram pronouns option. Nor/mal is not/funny.

A BARK to senior ditch day.

We know the teachers enjoyed the empty classrooms as much as we did.

A BITE to teachers who are giving finals. Did the year-long pandemic not test us enough?

A BARK to a real graduation this year! Definitely the highlight of the school year,

no cap.

A BITE to AP exams leading right into finals. We’re taking dead week to a whole new level this year.

BARKS and BITES are the collective opinions of the BARK staff concerning relevant issues. BARKS are in praise of accomplishments, while BITES criticize decisions or events.

Copy Editors Maxanne Anderson Greta Cifarelli Samantha Elegant Martha Fishburne Kate McHugh Bella Piacente Alli Runnfeldt Abigail Shewmaker Sophie Smallhorn Gemma Strauss Natalie Tress News Editors Jackson Epps Caroline Goodhart Opinion Editors Casey Braff Sol Ladetzky Feature Editors Taylor Elliott Kent Goodman Sports Editors Jacob Mandel Christopher Vargelis Review Editors Sophia Rocha AnnaLise Sandrich Lifestyles Editors Hollis Belger Anna Silverman Video Editors Sterling Lazarus Hannah Morgan Spanish Editor Hannah Sellers Podcast Editor Nathan Ash Business Managers Annie Goldstein Samantha Michaels Social Media Managers Charlie Ginsburg Audrey Lightfoot Survey Managers Emma Lightfoot Multimedia Manager Olivia Kharrazi Art Consultants Kalyn Dawes Keely Ganong Reporters Avery Aguero Clariss Ajanel Isabel Ames Will Baker Loughlin Browne Charlotte DeForrest Alex Fisch Nina Geoghegan Libby Hughes Patrick Jacobson Mia Kessinger Ava Koblik Brooke Leslie Sydney Liebhauser Declan McDaniels PJ Pfeiffer Caroline Scharf Allie Vasquez Keegan Williams Senior Staff Writers Mara Farese Katie Parsons Adviser Erin Schneider

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Page 8 • Opinion

June 4, 2021

Editors-in-Chief farewell letters

The first day of Zoom school this year in Bark was a disaster. The other sixth period Editorin-Chief (EIC) and I had planned to open breakout rooms but were thwarted by my technological ineptitude. We pretty much just stalled for the entire half hour –– I spent all 30 of those embarrassing minutes counting down until the end. On a day that we hoped to portray ourselves as prepared and up to the challenge of leading, the opposite happened.

But in the weeks and months after that awkward opening fiasco, I settled into the role of leading the class. I slowly became more confident, more decisive, more prepared and, after a few months, I thought I was doing a pretty good job. That is, until my fellow sixth period EIC mentioned how many texted questions she typically received during class from the rest of Bark.

That made me pause. People were texting her with questions during class? I received

I feel as though my college admissions process was a prerequisite to writing this farewell letter.

Writing about yourself is so surprisingly difficult, even for someone who has no problem talking about themselves on the daily. Hey Google, how do you say goodbye to the program that has entirely changed your life?

My year as an Editor-in-Chief was abnormal, to say the least. The odds of getting to lead Bark during a global pandemic are pretty slim. Yay me! But, on a more positive note, COVID-19’s persistence consistently gave us talking points for our Monday class news discussions, so there’s that.

In infinitely many ways, this year was like no other, but one aspect that has remained stable is my love for this program. Future nonfiction students: once you get through “All the President’s Men,” I promise it gets better.

As a student-athlete, I thought I’d found my main community within the Redwood volleyball program. But after about one

maybe one each period, and they were almost exclusively from someone who I’d been friends with since kindergarten. This whole time I just thought we explained things really well.

After a little digging, I discovered a lot –– maybe most –– of the juniors were scared of me. I wasn’t approachable. I wasn’t in tune with the class. I definitely was not being as great of a leader as I thought.

In order to succeed, to put it simply, I needed to improve my social skills.

Through Zoom, I needed to connect with and understand my classmates, in turn allowing them to understand me. My goal was to have the most productive and enjoyable class possible, which would lead to producing the best newspaper we could.

So I tried to be more approachable, less scary and more considerate. I took time to reach out personally to classmates and I began focusing on positive feedback.

I even started using exclamation points in my text messages! But most of all, I put myself into the shoes of others and thought about what I would want an EIC to do if the roles were reversed.

Gradually, I started receiving some of those texts during class, too. As it turns out, leadership is almost entirely about the connections and relationships established between people. Planning the class, solving problems, assigning tasks –– logistics like that account for maybe 10 percent of what makes a good leader. This experience has helped me learn to be introspective and connect better with my classmates. It’s also led to the making of some of my best high school memories, and because of that, I will be forever thankful to Bark.

jwatson@redwoodbark.org week of Bark classes filled with political debate, thought-provoking people with captivating stories to tell, student-led discussions and a fast-paced environment that had not been matched in any of my previous classes, I knew I had found a way to fulfill the “student” aspect of my student-athlete identity. Bark has given me a platform to share my thoughts and opinions on matters in my own uniquely problematic, incredible community, an opportunity that is rare for most high school students to experience in their classes.

Serving as an EIC has merely been the icing on the cake in comparison to everything else Bark has taught me. Yes, I learned how to stay up editing stories past midnight (a caffeine addiction was developed this year), and yes, I got over my fear of unmuting on Zoom. But, more importantly, room 177 taught me how to question everything, a skill I never knew could be so influential. Once I graduated from writing sports recaps, I began to think about all the issues that really mattered to me and question why things were the way they were. Inspired by the working minds around me (shoutout to Audrey Hettleman for always being informed on the latest news), I started to write about what I was wondering and that’s when my love for Bark truly came into play. I questioned gender issues, socioeconomic gaps, the county’s approach to COVID-19; I formed relationships with exceptional interviewees that I still hold today. The student in me thrived.

Through inquiring about my surrounding world, I’ve cultivated a deeper understanding of myself and my values. I have absolutely no idea what I’ll be doing in ten years, but I do know that taking a second glance when things don’t look quite right will forever serve me. I love you, Barkies. egreen@redwoodbark.org

Perfectionism always sounded appealing to me. I mean, who doesn’t want to be perfect? It’s like a badge of honor for overachievers.

Fixated on the idea of achieving perfection, I never truly accepted the process of learning from my mistakes. Why learn from them when you can do it right the first time? It sounded like an airtight plan for success. But with this unattainable end goal I had methodically arranged for myself, the only outcome was failure, and trying to avoid it was as exhausting as it was self-deprecating.

In the beginning, I saw being Editorin-Chief this year as the opportune time to prove to not only myself but to my peers that I could embody this idealized image.

But this made the job terrifying to think about. What if I couldn’t be the perfect leader I felt everyone expected me to be?

Of course, I’m only human. Mistakes are inevitable.

Right off the bat, my first day was a

In eighth grade, my dad pushed me to apply to a local private high school, imploring me to just, “go through the motions,” even if I didn’t think I’d get in. After grudgingly filling out my application, the SSAT rolled around –– to make a long story short, no exam score ever made me question my academic abilities more than this one.

I never submitted that application.

Discouraged by this new fear of failure, I spent my earliest years in high school refraining from challenging myself. It wasn’t until my first year in Bark that I really began to recognize my potential.

Side note: Had Tom Sivertsen not walked me down to the Bark room freshman year, I’d probably be grouped with the goons who still don’t know our paper exists!

It didn’t come all at once, though.

Admittedly, I flunked the Handbook Quiz and missed my very first deadline . . . not my proudest moments in Bark! I’ll never forget my first layout night where I hoped –– no, prayed –– that the EICs wouldn’t rescind my Opinion Editor position. Green

complete nightmare. With our advisor on maternity leave and the pandemic forcing us onto an unknown online video platform, I felt as if the universe had strategically set me up to crash and burn. I was immediately disheartened and unsure of my qualification to lead. It wasn’t the only time I found myself struggling too.

After months of tireless efforts to fulfill the unreachable expectations I had devised, I realized how ridiculous I was being. Perfection is an age-old myth –– a farcical fantasy. No one was expecting me to know everything about everything except for myself.

I finally realized that reaching out for help to supplement the areas my knowledge lacked wasn’t a blow to my plan, but a revision I hadn’t initially considered and should have. Yes, I’m an Editor-in-Chief and therefore someone to whom people look for guidance, but I learned that allowing others to fill in the gaps was not indicative of failure. If anything, being comfortable enough to know when I needed support became a success in itself.

While there are obvious things that I will not miss about my high school experience –– such as illegally parking in a district spot junior year when I didn’t get a permit, plastering photos of my face along the hallway walls during student government election week and struggling through precalculus in all of its glory –– I WILL miss all of the kind-hearted people who reassured me that needing help doesn’t make me any less valuable to the Bark community, or any community for that matter. Thank you for embracing all of my imperfections and trusting me to lead you through the year in spite of them. My experience with you all has been a gift. cray@redwoodbark.org and fearful, I sweat through my gray t-shirt that day, nearly peed my pants and just about planned my escape from room 177.

Yet, rather than being criticized like I feared, I was instead met by overwhelming support from my soon-tobe family, support that helped me realize making mistakes was acceptable –– encouraged, even. I came to appreciate the awkwardness of other people tearing through my work. I even made peace with Erin’s vicious, unforgiving Random Name Generator, which thrust me out into the open time and time again. I’ve always had my aspirations in Bark, but it was my Bark family and love for the program that gave me the courage to chase and achieve them.

The 2020-21 school year brought a seemingly endless battle between COVID-19 and Bark, challenging our potential in the most unexpected ways. Fears of failure resurfaced when I learned we’d be leading the class alone and from afar, tasked with teaching InDesign, supplementing what learning was stolen by the pandemic and keeping 30 zoomers engaged. But that same community acceptance of learning from failure, that same empowerment, kept Bark afloat. I helped cultivate this environment for my peers by encouraging Bark to embrace defeat, trust the process and make mistakes, just as last year’s EICs did for me.

Looking back, I’m so thankful I didn’t send that darn application in. My time in this wonderful program –– learning from and guiding such extraordinary humans, absorbing and contributing to the journalism field, challenging my own beliefs and failing over and over and over again –– makes it all worthwhile. I finally befriended vulnerability, once my greatest opponent, and learned to use it as an advantage. I am beyond grateful for you, Barkies. smincy@redwoodbark.org

Page 9

Una mirada cautivadora a la gira de regreso a casa ‘Príncipe de Reggaeton’ Por Jacob Mandel La vida de una estrella pop es a menudo tan exigente como gratificante. Los músicos famosos son conocidos globalmente bajo un nombre dado; tienen que asumir las percepciones de sus fans sobre ellos mientras muestran una imagen pública que coincide con su personaje en escena.

Pero, ¿cómo satisface una superestrella global a sus fans mientras experimentan problemas de salud mental? El último largometraje del director Mathew Heineman, “The Niño from Medellín,” responde a esta pregunta en un documental único qué cubre una semana de la vida del “Príncipe de Reggaeton” de Colombia, José Álvaro Osorio Balvin (Balvin).

“The Niño From Medellín” sigue a Balvin durante toda la semana antes de su primer espectáculo en el estadio de su ciudad natal de Medellín, Colombia.

El documental se abre con una actuación del penúltimo espectáculo de Balvin en gira en otoño de 2019. A diez minutos de la película, su fachada en el escenario se hizo evidente. Vestido de pies a cabeza con su estilo característico—pelo vibrante, un sombrero de cubo, ropa de diseño colorida y una gran variedad de tatuajes—J Balvin es la vida de la fiesta.

Pero fuera del escenario, es José Balvin: Un amigo y familiar de 36 años que sufre de depresión. Además de su estrés, una ola de protestas en oposición a los planes económicos del gobierno, la corrupción y la violencia policial estalló en todo el país en la misma semana que Balvin regresó a Medellín.

A medida que la película progresaba, su intención se hizo más clara; humanizar a Balvin. Lisiados con ansiedad por la crisis política de su país y su papel en la solución de la situación, se revela la verdadera personalidad y el pobre bienestar mental de Balvin.

Después de publicar una imagen conmemorativa de un

manifestante asesinado en su historia de Instagram, Balvin fue duramente criticado por sus partidarios por no hacer lo suficiente para oponerse a las acciones corruptas del gobierno. En ese momento, Balvin cuestionó el deber de artistas como él mismo en estas situaciones, y recurrió a frecuentes sesiones de meditación y terapia para calmar su mente.

La incapacidad de Balvin para satisfacer a sus fans al hablar lo consumió durante el resto de la película. Sus fans sólo vieron a Balvin como su persona de escena, y no lo reconocieron como un ser humano.

Similar a artistas como Eminem y Lady Gaga, Balvin tiene un personaje en escena distinto que presenta un carácter provocativo y suave a diferencia de su identidad auténtica. Balvin discute esta desconexión a lo largo del documental, y la cita como una razón para su ansiedad y depresión. “[La depresión es] como si no estuvieras allí, no estás en tu cuerpo,” dijo Balvin. “Es un infierno de verdad.”

Balvin es sólo uno de los muchos artistas que lucharon con problemas de salud mental. Los cantantes mundialmente famosos Katy Perry, Demi Lovato y Kanye West, entre docenas de otros artistas, han compartido públicamente sus luchas con la depresión y la ansiedad.

Para aliviar su agudo estrés, se muestra a Balvin meditando, tomando píldoras para la ansiedad y diseñando meticulosamente su plan para la semana. En contraste, inmediatamente después de planear su semana, se dirigió a Medellín para una foto y fue rodeado por miles de personas; sin embargo, estaba sonriendo, tomando fotos, abrazando a los fans, firmando autógrafos y grabando vídeos. Para alguien tan estresado como Balvin era, era asombroso verlo interactuar tan suavemente con cada fanatico durante la totalidad de la película.

Estas escenas de vuelta a atrás, mostrando a Balvin manejar primero su ansiedad y trastorno obsesivo-

Foto courtesia de Deposit Photos

“EL NIÑO DE Medellín” cautiva al público con una semana detallada en la vida de José Balvin. compulsivo y luego confrontar a una multitud de miles, yuxtaponían su personalidad privada y su imagen pública, y demostraron a los espectadores lo agotador que era para él vivir una vida doble. Detrás de toda la música, la agitación política y el concierto final, “The Niño from Medellín” se trataba verdaderamente sobre Balvin y su viaje a la paz mental.

“The Niño from Medellín” es una mirada perspicaz a la verdadera vida de una superestrella musical global.

Es tan convincente como reveladora, y me dejó cautivado todo el tiempo con el argumento tenso y verdadero. Es fácil ver la vida de una estrella pop como perfecta, por lo que es esencial que películas como “El Niño de Medellín” expongan la vulnerabilidad de los artistas más famosos del mundo, para que podamos apreciar su música y logros aún más. jmandel@redwoodbark.org

Los estudiantes de primera generación van a la universidad Por Clariss Ajanel Caminar por los pasillos de un nuevo campus universitario será la realidad de muchos estudiantes de último año que se gradúen el próximo otoño. Mientras que para algunos, asistir a la universidad es una expectativa básica, otros están logrando un sueño de toda la vida. Muchos estudiantes universitarios de primera generación y estudiantes que no hablan inglés en particular luchan con el proceso de solicitud de ingreso a la universidad.

Aquí es donde ayuda el programa de desarrollo del idioma inglés (ELD) de Redwood. ELD brinda apoyo para que los estudiantes no nativos de habla inglesa aprendan y se destaquen en inglés. Con Deborah McCrae como su directora y Candace Gulden ofreciendo apoyo a los estudiantes que solicitan ingreso a las universidades, muchos estudiantes de último año en la clase de ELD han podido ingresar con éxito en su universidad preferida.

Sherlyn Diaz, estudiante de último año en

Fotos cortesía de The Log

la clase de ELD, planea asistir a College of Marin el próximo otoño.

“La universidad no era algo de lo que hablara en casa porque la mayoría de las veces mi familia no podía ayudarme,” dijo Díaz. “Soy el primero en asistir a la universidad y mi familia no sabía cómo ayudarme. Depende de mí encontrar recursos y buscar la ayuda que necesitaba.”

El sueño de Díaz de asistir a la universidad no se habría hecho realidad sin el apoyo de 10,000 Degrees, una organización sin fines de lucro dedicada a ayudar a los estudiantes de bajos ingresos a lograr la equidad educativa. Con su ayuda, Díaz y algunos de sus compañeros de ELD pudieron postularse con éxito a las universidades que deseaban y a la especialidad de su elección.

McCrea reconoce la importancia de programas como 10,000 Degrees y se esfuerza por brindar a sus estudiantes recursos a lo largo de su proceso de solicitud.

“Todos los estudiantes de mi clase son estudiantes universitarios de primera generación, por lo que están tomando el proceso de solicitud de ingreso a la universidad sin mucho conocimiento, a diferencia de muchos estudiantes en [Redwood] que tienen a sus padres como apoyo,” dijo McCrea.

“Hicimos lo mejor que pudimos al indicarles la dirección de aquellos que podrían ayudarlos y también al pedir orientación a nuestros tutores principales.”

Este tipo de recursos son esenciales considerando que casi la mitad de muchas poblaciones universitarias son estudiantes universitarios de primera generación; serán los primeros en sus familias en obtener una licenciatura, según el Centro para el Éxito de los Estudiantes de Primera Generación (El Centro).

El Centro

es una organización dedicada a proporcionar a los estudiantes universitarios de primera generación recursos para ayudar con el proceso universitario. También encontraron que, a partir de 2015, el 24 por ciento de la mayoría de los estudiantes universitarios de 4 años en los Estados Unidos eran los primeros en su familia en recibir una educación postsecundaria y asistir a la universidad.

Díaz, quien es la primera de su familia en asistir a la universidad, siente que ha establecido un estándar para sus hermanos menores. Al trabajar duro y ser resiliente durante todo el proceso de solicitud, ella y sus compañeros de ELD pudieron demostrar que ingresar a la universidad es posible y alcanzable para todos.

“Mis hermanos me han visto pasar por el proceso y saben que voy a la universidad.

Esto significa que ahora se espera que ellos también asistan a la universidad,” dijo Díaz. “No tenía a nadie a quien mirar como ejemplo cuando estaba solicitando, pero ahora lo tienen, y me alegro de ser eso para ellos.”

Al igual que Díaz, sin hermanos mayores a quienes admirar, el estudiante de último año de ELD, Cesar Oroxom, fue a la universidad con la esperanza de convertirse en abogado en el futuro. Al ver que se desarrolla la injusticia en Marin, espera mejorar las cosas para su comunidad mientras puede mantenerse a sí mismo y a su familia.

“Espero utilizar la educación que obtengo en la universidad para ayudar a mi comunidad a crecer y prosperar,” dijo Oroxom. “Espero poder crear un cambio que luego inspire a otros a perseguir sus sueños de ir a la universidad y encontrar la felicidad en lo que hacen.”

Suyun Huh, otra estudiante

de ELD, quiere buscar un trabajo que le guste mientras mejora los días de las personas. Con una pasión de toda la vida por la repostería, decidió tomar una ruta diferente después de la escuela secundaria y asistir a la escuela culinaria.

“Quiero estudiar repostería porque comer dulces siempre me hace feliz y quiero hacer lo mismo con los demás,” dijo Huh. “Siempre he querido hacer esto, pero estoy muy nervioso por entrar en este nuevo campo porque nadie en mi familia ha estado nunca en la escuela culinaria.”

Si bien Huh y sus compañeros de clase han expresado su ansiedad en torno a la universidad, están entusiasmados con las oportunidades que les brindará su educación universitaria.

“La universidad no se trata solo de la educación sobre un tema determinado que estás estudiando. Se trata de aprovechar cada oportunidad para aprender,” dijo Díaz. “Quiero aprender a comunicarse interactuar mejor con los demás porque eso es lo que me abrirá las puertas en el mundo real, además de ser un buen estudiante.” cajanel@redwoodbark.org

Page 10

Allowing yourself forgiveness: a real conversation about suicide

By Ella Green “I really hated myself. It’s very hard to rationalize looking back, but I just had all these negative emotions around myself. I thought that I was lazy. I thought I didn’t work hard enough. I thought I was wasting my potential.

I would constantly just yell at myself in my head, ‘You’re such a stupid person,’” said “John,” a college student who grew up in Marin County and requested anonymity.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that suicide is the second leading cause of death for people ages 10-24, and each day, there is an average of 5,400 suicide attempts by students in grades 7-12. Within the halls of Redwood, many high schoolers report similar feelings, as 24 percent of students have experienced suicidal thoughts, according to a March 2021 Bark survey. In Feb. 2021, two Marin County middle school students took their lives within two weeks of each other, and, at the beginning of May, a Novato high schooler also took their life.

This series of suicides points to a conclusion many are uncomfortable admitting: Marin County adolescents are suffering, even before they enter high school. At Redwood, students begin to witness characters suffering from anxiety and depression during sophomore year when Holden from “Catcher in the Rye” becomes part of the curriculum. J.D. Salinger writes, “I felt so lonesome, all of a sudden, I almost wished I was dead.” Many high schoolers value the implementation of curriculum discussing these topics; however, suicidal thoughts can creep up before Salinger has the opportunity to provide students with a character to make them feel less alone.

“I’ve ... always had elements of anxiety. Depression in general probably began around [age] nine or 10,” John said. “The first time I had objectively suicidal thoughts was around sixth or seventh grade.”

Despite the strikingly young age at which some adolescents are beginning to display symptoms of depression, many are under the impression that talking about suicide puts the idea into the heads of people who were mentally stable beforehand, Emily Tejani, M.D known as the contagion effect.

Due to this notion, many tend to shy away from the topic in students’ younger years.

However, Emily Tejani, M.D., a Yale trained and triple board certified psychiatrist with certification in child & adolescent psychiatry, adult psychiatry and addiction medicine, acknowledges the contagion effect’s existence in instances of dramatized media coverage, but disproves the theory in most other cases.

“In general, perhaps always, it’s good to ask about [suicidal thoughts]. Sometimes there’s a fear that talking about suicide may increase the likelihood of a person thinking about it, and the total net of that is not true,” Tejani said. “Even in medical settings, sometimes doctors are a bit reluctant to ask about it, but the research released really shows that asking doesn’t at all increase the risk of attempting suicide.”

Four out of five teens who attempt suicide have given clear warning signs such as changes in behavior, withdrawal from relationships, increasing isolation, lower energy, less future orientation and less interest and excitement around planning for the future, according to the CDC. Tejani stresses that bringing the topic out into the open is one of the ways that a person can support and help a loved one who is either depressed or having suicidal thoughts because it shows the person that someone cares. Furthermore, regardless of a warning sign, discussions on suicide are still necessary as there are instances in which those suffering

keep their thoughts hidden, as was the case with John.

In terms of creating change here at Redwood, “The worst I ever felt was around my junior LaTourrette calls for greater action in shifting the year of high school. I wasn’t objectively intense culture students are thrust into. The living a negative life. I had decent grades, high standards set for students can feel I had good friends, I had a good amount nearly impossible at times, particularly of accomplishments, etc. But I just have in combination with balancing always had really high expectations and extracurriculars and family life, I thought I wasn’t living up to them and LaTourrete notes. was beating myself up a lot,” John said. “I “The demands are really high would tell myself I was worthless because on our students and there’s a lot of I f**ked up.” pressure. So sometimes when we To serve students like John, Emily have conversations about supporting LaTourrette, an English and AP Research students, we almost don’t mesh because teacher, hopes for the implementation of a we can’t necessarily focus on mental curriculum that prioritizes mental health in health and the wellbeing of students if the coming years. we’re not going to change or address the “As teachers, we’re required to do cultural challenges that we have that are mandatory [mental health] training each fall pushing against that here,” LaTourrette and there is a suicide training component,” said. “There need to be ways that we LaTourette said. “But it’s hard because are doing things differently beyond I think suicide gets bundled in with offering support to students that overall mental health. While our isn’t just ‘Hey, we’ve got these school is really lucky because we resources, go if you want,’ but have a wellness center, based making it more accessible, on my own observations and more normalized and just listening to students talk, I maybe even bringing it into hear the question, ‘Is what we’re the curriculum.” doing actually enough?’”

Although stigma LaTourrette notes the surrounding mental health has Illustration by Natalie Tress abundance of resources in place for begun to decline in recent years, students, such as the aforementioned there is still progress to be made, Wellness Center and the counseling department, but as more than half of people who have mental illnesses she is uncertain about students’ do not receive treatment for their disorders, according willingness to actually utilize to the American Psychiatric Association. Tejani, John them. and LaTourrette all share the opinion that receiving “[Seeking help for mental professional help does work. health] isn’t necessarily “There are resources, there are supports, there are something that’s been super treatments to getting better,” Tejani said. normalized, and I think that’s John concludes with parting advice. not so much a byproduct of our “Be kind and forgiving to yourself,” John said. “The school, but more a byproduct world is so sh*t right now there’s no reason to make it of society as a whole because sh**tier for yourself by being a d*ck to yourself.” there’s still a lot of stigma around [mental health] because The Wellness Center at Redwood offers free support people don’t really know how to during school hours to all students. There are many other talk about it, especially suicide, free resources, such as the National Suicide Prevention so it becomes easy to avoid,” Hotline at 800-273-8255, Marin County Psychiatric LaTourrette said.

Emergency Services located in Greenbrae, the Substance The combination of Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration discomfort from those wanting hotline at 1-800-662-HELP, the American Foundation for to help not knowing how to Suicide Prevention at https://afsp.org/ and more that can approach tricky conversations and the fear of reaching be utilized if you or a loved one is struggling. If you or out by many who are struggling with mental health has someone you know is in danger of hurting themselves or led society to a standstill, and those potentially life-saving others, please call 911. conversations are left unsaid. Confirming LaTourrette’s egreen@redwoodbark.org sentiments, John notes the difficulties he had with pursuing his own help.

“One of the things that’s really sh**ty about depression is that you think, ‘If I reach out for help, that means that I’m really f**ked because I actually need help,’” John said. “I really did not have a lot of compassion for myself, and that’s definitely something I still struggle with. A lot. Allowing myself to forgive myself.”

Although she highly encourages individuals to seek help, Tejani understands that sometimes more drastic measures need to be taken to save lives in times when people are unable to help themselves.

Implementing stricter laws limiting easy access to guns is “perhaps, the single most effective strategy here in the U.S. that we could take, but we really haven’t taken,” according to Tejani. She also encourages putting barriers under bridges and in train crossings.

“Most suicide attempts are a fleeting state of mind,” Tejani said. “The majority of people who survive an attempt are glad to have survived and many do not go on to attempt. [Suicide] can often be an impulsive act, even though there commonly is a period of depression before the events, but the moment at which a person decides to attempt suicide is highly unpredictable.”

Most suicide attempts are a fleeting state of mind. ... The majority of people who survive an attempt are glad to have survived.

Illustration by Olivia Kharrazi

bark The ultimate (standardized) test of college admissions Page 11 • Feature

www.redwoodbark.org

By Kent Goodman and Hannah Sellers

Over the past few years, the college admissions process has evolved dramatically. The Varsity Blues scandal of 2019 exposed the vulnerabilities of standardized testing and the customs that favor wealthy students in the admissions process. The following year, colleges were forced to reevaluate their policies more significantly when COVID-19 threw a wrench in many applicants’ plans, setting a new precedent for test optionality.

In April of 2020, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that all California K-12 public schools would remain closed for the rest of the school year as a result of the pandemic.

For the class of 2021, that announcement implied a majorly limited Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and American College Testing (ACT) testing season. Senior Gabriela Rosenfeld, who recently accepted admission to the University of Southern California (USC), witnessed the struggle to secure a seat for a standardized test after closures firsthand. Except for going out of state, Rosenfeld tried every possible option to take a test, as she had scheduled three different ACTs in San Francisco and one SAT in Sacramento, all of which were canceled. While many students traveled to states with fewer lockdown restrictions in order to take the highly coveted test, Rosenfeld did not see that as an option.

“It was frustrating to know that my friends were taking [the test] out of state, and I was super uncertain if I could take it,” Rosenfeld said. “The entire time I was questioning if I should keep studying because there was such a high risk of it getting canceled again.”

Across the country, standardized testing sites were closed and students stressed. However, according to Compass Education Group founder and executive director Bruce Reed, California suffered the highest rates of test site closures due to the state’s lockdown orders. Consequently, the demand for Compass’ services decreased in California but sustained nationally.

“That drop [in students seeking test prep] was proportional to the drop in open test sites and really correlated with the students’ inability to test.

Kids did not just give up on tests voluntarily.

They were

forced to give up on the tests,” Reed said.

With such discrepancies in test availability across the country, the vast majority of colleges and universities transitioned to test-optional admissions policies. According to The National Center for Fair and Open Testing, only 1,050 schools, approximately one third of the four-year colleges in the United States, offered test-optional admissions in September 2019. By September 2020, six months into the pandemic, over 1,600 schools had implemented test-optional policies. Prior to COVID-19 lockdowns, there was already significant momentum in college admissions towards going test-optional, and the limited testing only hastened the change for the schools previously considering the transition. Additionally, many of the colleges and universities that expressed no desire to go test-optional were forced to convert by the pandemic as well, at least temporarily.

The director of admissions at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), David duKor-Jackson, explains that MIT converted to test-optional but still wanted students to submit their scores if they had them.

“If someone couldn’t safely take the test, it seemed like an unfair requirement to make somebody try and meet that. We also didn’t want to force people into an unsafe situation by having them have to go get a test when they couldn’t take it safely,” duKor-Jackson said.

As a result of these policy changes, only 46 percent of students who applied through the Common Application in 2020 submitted test scores, a strikingly low percentage compared to the 77 percent of students who sent colleges their scores in 2019. In most cases, duKor-Jackson believes whether a student submitted a test score or not had little effect on their admission.

“In the absence of a score, we needed to find something else that would give us confidence [in an applicant’s academic strength], which is the stuff that we would look at anyway. We are looking at the curricular rigor, [seeing if they] have taken the necessary coursework that suggests that they can come to MIT and do well in the things that they need to do well in,” duKor-Jackson said.

Although the usage of standardized tests differed from school to school, there were a few notable trends across the country. According to a newsletter sent out by college admissions expert and New York Times best-selling author Jeff Salingo, students applying with scores to business and STEM programs were admitted at a higher rate than those applying without.

Similarly, at schools with

Illustrations by Olivia Kharrazi and Keely Ganong

extremely low admissions rates, students who applied with test scores were often given a 20 to 60 percent edge in admissions.

Emory University reported a 17.94 percent admission rate for students with test scores compared to 8.06 percent without them. However, directly correlating test scores to admissions advantages could be misleading, as students with high test scores often boast a strong academic record as well. The bottom line is that at schools without an extensive history of test-optional admissions, test scores helped students’ overall case. Reed agrees that testing can be beneficial to applicants at competitive schools.

“When a reader opens up an application, she has a lot of questions that she is trying to find answers to and a test score just answers another one of those questions,” Reed said. “If she sees two applicants that look identical otherwise, but one has a strong test score, [the score] is yet another piece of concrete information that means something, and it makes that decision a little easier.”

Senior Jordan Mann, who plans to attend Dartmouth College next fall, was able to take the SAT and chose to submit his scores to colleges as definitive data that could help him stand out in competitive admissions pools.

“I think scores generally help because they are a quantitative point in a very qualitative process,” Mann said.

“For a lot of the more exclusive [schools], I think having a test score is yet another way to differentiate yourself.”

On the other hand, Rosenfeld applied to the USC Marshall School of Business without scores to show.

Despite not being able to take the standardized test, she believes that a score may not have been beneficial.

“There are some people with a really low [grade point average] (GPA), and a nice test score would have benefitted them. Because I had a solid GPA, I would’ve had to have to get a really high test score to match it, and that would have been really difficult,” Rosenfeld said.

What test-optional policies did notably impact, though, was the number of applications colleges received. Nearly every selective

college and university in the country experienced a record-breaking surge in applicants for the 2020-2021 admissions cycle. While competitive schools like Harvard University received 42 percent more applications than a typical year, Colgate University experienced the highest increase in applications with a 102 percent increase. The University of California schools, which went testblind indefinitely after a legal case, saw an 18.2 percent increase in applications.

Without requiring test scores, students who previously were discouraged from applying to colleges with high median test scores applied this year believing they may have a shot at acceptance. In addition to hopeful applications, Reed believes that another factor influenced applicant rates this year.

“I think there were two sentiments happening at once across the country.

There was hopeful optimism and the opposite, fear,” Reed said. “Both of them led to the same behavior which was to apply to more schools.”

The fear Reed proposes comes from the transitive thought process of many students who applied to a school they could never get into if test scores were required. They realized that if they apply to better schools before, then their friends are likely doing the same and the cycle continues. That mindset led students to feel pessimistic and fearful, so many applied to more schools.

Similarly, Marin college consultant Gael Casner believes that competitive colleges saw another rise in applicants because of students’ inability to participate in live events and formulate a list of schools that were a personal fit.

“I think it was really stressful, and the real stress came in not being able to get on campuses to make decisions. They didn’t get a chance to see a lot of these colleges, and if they snuck onto campus, they sure didn’t get the warm and fuzzy embrace that they would have for a normal year.

So, most of my kids made a decision somewhat in a vacuum,” Casner said.

Regardless of test-optionality, Casner fears the precedent set with the removal of standardized tests will limit an admission officer’s ability to fully evaluate an applicant.

“The more pieces you can give a school, the better. If you take one piece away like the SAT or the ACT, [admission officers] can still see a picture. The more pieces you take away, though, the harder it is to see a kid,” Casner said.

bark@redwoodbark.org

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MARYLAND United States Naval Academy Thomas McKnew University of Maryland, College Park Robert McInerney MASSACHUSETTS Berklee College of Music Dalya Byrnes Ellen Cordisco Boston College Ryan Barcy Boston University Lucy Smith Brandeis University Stefan Liu Harvard University Keith Ryan Tufts University Jacqueline Kizer Northeastern University Ben Barrett Luke Colombo Sydney Kemme Elsa Quinton Erin Roddy Worcester Polytechnic Institute Gabriel Goldman MICHIGAN Calvin University Leah Huizenga Levi Huizenga Michigan State University Kailey Golec PJ Pfeiffer University of Michigan Joe Glassner Dylan Kapur Camille Karner

NEW YORK Colgate University Rachel Mueller Columbia University Loughlin Browne Ezekiel Johnson Aidan Walkeryee Cornell University Henry Houghton Cole Summers Fordham University Alexander Shayeb Hamilton College Samantha Glickman Connor Grand New York University Isabel Ames Karin Amir Adam Beltran Dylan Garay Baraq Lipshitz Leia Minter Shannon Watridge Pratt Institute Isabelle Sanchez Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Dante Luis Skidmore College Augustine Goebel Syracuse University Parker McMillan The New School Fin Bunting NORTH CAROLINA Duke University Jackson Moseley Elon University Owen Miller Lauren Sutherland OHIO Kenyon College Willow Baker The Ohio State University Jack Rosenberg OREGON Lewis & Clark College Emma Giometti Oregon Institute of Technology Diego Lopez Oregon State University Hobie Vogel University of Oregon Samuel Aronoff Courtney Carlisle Camden Day Jordan Deitch Asher Heller Asher Jacobs Ethan Kahn Mason Landry Greta Lynn Fiona Peterson

Tommy Quanstrom Eloise Reese PENNSYLVANIA Haverford College Mia Kessinger Lehigh University Walker Frisbie University of Pennsylvania Ella Green SCOTLAND University of St. Andrews Beau Detels Jake Erlewine Claire Henry SOUTH CAROLINA The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina Tyler Achuck RHODE ISLAND Brown University Justin Dyer Salve Regina University Morganti Bello TENNESSEE Vanderbilt University John Bettinger TEXAS Baylor University Lucie Johnston Southern Methodist University Louise Marlowe Nicholas McGinn Dean Rider Texas Christian University Tatum Quon Alexandra Runnfeldt UTAH University of Utah Isabella Walejko VERMONT Middlebury College Michael Danne University of Vermont Clare Conant Nina Stypulkoski VIRGINIA Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Joshua Cooper Sophia Zimmerman WASHINGTON University of Washington Madeline Bagot Miles Crook Dudley DeNezza Ben Donick Jake Klompus Sol Ladetzky Audrey Lightfoot Benjamin Olsan John O’Neal Arabella Petrini Larkin Stodolnic Alexis Twing Washington State University Charles Morse Western Washington University Eliana Novick WASHINGTON, D.C. American University Christopher Barcy Mara Farese Martha Fishburne Sophia Rocha Peter Sakai Kayla Sutton Spencer Thompson Evelyn Underwood Howard University Israa Mussa WISCONSIN University of Wisconsin, Madison Tula Cox Jacob Mandel Lucas Mandel Maya Rembrandt Anna Silverman TJ Weingart The students listed have self-selected to share their future decisions with Bark.

bark

Page 14 • Feature

June 4, 2021

REPLAYING THE DECISIONS Infographic by Maxanne Anderson

The CLASS of

20 2 1

Post Graduation Plans

4 year college (89.66%) 2 year college (8.62%) Military (0.43%) Gap year (0.86%) Other (0.43%)

IN-STATE

In-State vs. Out-of-State

Out of state (47.12%) International (3.24%)

In state (49.64%)

TOP COLLEGES

OUT-OF-STATE

Cal Poly SLO (22)

University of Oregon (12)

UC Berkeley (16)

University of Washington (12)

COM (14)

University of Michigan (9)

SDSU (11)

American University (8)

UC Santa Barbara (11)

New York University (7) Data courtesy of the College and Career Center Last updated on June 1, 2021 Data listed is from students who submitted their future plans through Naviance or Bark.

Senior staff stories

Senior staff stories are extensive features written over the course of a semester. Each writer dedicates themself to a story about a complex issue and investigates and reports the matter in an accurate fashion. The following samples are blurbs that introduce each piece. Read more by scanning the QR code or visiting www. redwoodbark.org.

What is the meaning of justice?

A (role)call for gratitude

By Katie Parsons

By Mara Farese

What is the meaning of justice? I was asked this question on the first day of my government class. I looked around at my classmates’ bewildered faces, and like me, they had trouble coming up with their own definitions. I commonly see depictions of justice on my Instagram timeline: picturesque posts with phrases like, “No justice, no peace” written in bubble font. I was surrounded by a word that is so prevalent in today’s society, but still, I could not define it. Whether the inequities of justice have directly or indirectly impacted them, different communities have diverse ways of defining it. I posed this question to people of different backgrounds, all of whom are involved in the criminal justice system, to see how their experiences shape their view on the word. Scan the QR code to read more about the meaning of justice on the Bark’s website.

“A good teacher understands that there is a craft to what you’re doing. A good teacher will believe in their students, connect with their students and know it’s going to be harder, but not impossible, for them to learn from you,” Brad Widelock, a math teacher at Kent Middle School, said.

Personalized education stands out to kids, and can forge relationships that mold students both inside a schooling environment and beyond. Many graduates have had the privilege of forming bonds with Marin County teachers. A year of online learning made one thing obvious: students crave and appreciate teacher-student relationships, a side of learning difficult to find through a Zoom screen. Scan the QR code to read more about impactful studentteacher relationships that evolved throughout the years.

kparsons@redwoodbark.org

mfarese@redwoodbark.org

Page 15

21 summer bucket list ideas for the class of 2021

By Avery Aguero

redwood

As the turbulent 2020-2021 school year comes to an end, students reflect on another memorable year of high school experiences. While many students from the class of 2021 are preparing to venture off on a new journey in college, a handful of people still plan to spend their summer savoring everything that the Bay Area has to offer. Below is a bucket list of Marin activities that students can complete with friends, family or by themselves this summer. aaguero@redwoodbark.org

Photo by Avery Aguero

Photo by Sophia Rocha

A DRIVE THROUGH the Bolinas Ridge is the ultimate summer bucket list activity.

SITTING DOWN AT one of the Bay’s best beaches, a picnic with friends makes for an eventful and delicious summer day.

Take a sunset drive through Bolinas Ridge.

Go camping at Kirby Cove campground.

Hike the Dipsea Trail.

Walk, run or bike across the Golden Gate Bridge.

Have a picnic at Stinson Beach.

Organize a scavenger hunt at your favorite spots around Marin.

Build a time capsule, fill it with your favorite high school mementos and bury it at your favorite spot in Marin.

Drive through the Robin Williams Tunnel with the windows down while playing your favorite song.

Stargaze at Fort Cronkhite.

ñ

Go for a mountain bike ride on some local trails.

Shop for fresh summer produce at the Marin County Farmers’ Market at the Civic Center.

Spend a day exploring a part of San Francisco.

Take pictures at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco.

Ride the Tiburon Ferry to Angel Island.

Watch the sunrise and eat breakfast at Vista Point.

Go night swimming at the Strawberry Dock.

Buy a disposable camera and take pictures at the Point Bonita Lighthouse.

Create a list of your favorite bands and artists and look for their music at Watts Music store in Novato.

Tour the de Young Museum in San Francisco.

Schedule a seaplane ride through Seaplane Adventures in Sausalito.

Illustrations by Kalyn Dawes and Keely Ganong

Go out for a fancy fondue dinner with friends at The Melting Pot in Larkspur Landing.

June 4, 2021 bark Page 16 • Review ‘Hope ur ok’ after hearing Olivia Rodrigo’s ‘SOUR’

By Sophia Rocha

Originally emerging as a Disney Channel star on shows “Bizaardvark” and “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series,” Olivia Rodrigo has recently evolved into one of the biggest new music artists of this generation. In January, she released her debut single, “drivers license,” which shot up to number one on Billboard’s Hot 100 singles less than a week after its release, garnering more than 76 million listens during that time and breaking records on Spotify and Amazon Music as well. Part of her success for this particular single came from the attention it received on TikTok, as the bridge featuring lyrics “Red lights/ stop signs/I still see your face in the white cars,” started a popular trend that many creators took part in. Since the release of “drivers license,” Rodrigo released two more singles: “deja vu” on April 1 and “good 4 u” on May 14, which only made fans’ anticipation grow for the full 11 song album, titled “SOUR,” which was released on May 21.

The album kicks off with “brutal,” the ultimate teenage angst song that is certain to be blasted in many cars throughout the summer. With lyrics like “I’m so sick of 17/Where’s my f***in’ teenage dream?” and “I’m not cool and I’m not smart/And I can’t even parallel park,” listeners are reminded that Rodrigo is only 18-years-old, making “SOUR” immediately relatable to her high school-aged fans.

After the upbeat, aggressiveness of “brutal,” Rodrigo pulls a full 180 with the next song, “traitor,” a sad, tear-inducing melody played mostly on piano with a slow drum beat and guitar coming in on the first chorus. Showing off Rodrigo’s impeccable vocal skills, “traitor” proves to be one of the most expressive songs of the album.

After appearing at the top spot on Billboard’s Hot 100, “good 4 u” made Rodrigo the first artist in history to debut her first three singles in the top 10. This song provides a similar fast-paced feel to “brutal,” while telling the story of watching an ex-

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

OLIVIA RODRIGO’S HIGHLY anticipated debut album, “SOUR,” made Rodrigo the most streamed artist on May 21 for the first time in her career.

attributed much of her success to other women in the music industry who inspire her. Most fans of Rodrigo know about her obsession with Taylor Swift, (me too, girl) and the first chord progression of “1 step forward, 3 steps back” may sound familiar to other Swifties. If you can’t quite put your finger on it, take a listen to Swift’s song “New Year’s Day” off of her album “reputation,” released in 2017. Although the songs are clearly different, it is very noticeable that “1 step forward, 3 steps back” is an interpolation of Swift’s song, meaning Rodrigo intentionally copied the song but placed her own spin on it. Fans of both artists also noticed that the bridge of Rodrigo’s single “deja vu” sounded very reminiscent of Swift’s single “Cruel Summer” from her album “Lover,” released in 2019, prompting mashups of the two songs, making the perfect blend.

Unfortunately for fans, Rodrigo didn’t drop any music videos — other than the three she had already released for her first three singles — and instead posted lyric videos for the other songs on the album. All the lyric videos follow the similar theme of a scrapbook that the album cover has: the lyrics appear in a font resembling handwriting and images of Rodrigo throughout the videos look cut out and pasted onto the page. Considering how young and new to music Rodrigo is, “SOUR” is surprisingly well done and cohesive. Rodrigo’s future in the music industry looks promising as fans are already anticipating her next album.

Just a few days after its release, all 11 songs from “SOUR” made Spotify’s Top 50 globally as well as in the U.S. and the United Kingdom, making Rodrigo join Ariana Grande as the only female artist to place all their tracks in the top 20 on these charts. Filled with upbeat anthems that make you want to scream the lyrics, to slow ballads that make you want to bawl your eyes out, “SOUR” is the perfect album to turn on no matter what you’re in the mood for.

partner move on and live a better life. With the final chorus sporting the lyrics, “Good for you/You’re doing great out there without me, baby/Like a damn sociopath,” this song is sure to make you feel angry, even if it’s at someone who doesn’t exist.

Some fans were expecting a more upbeat album in general after hearing the single “good 4 u,” so it came as a surprise to many when a majority of the songs on the album had slower melodies and more somber stories. For example, the album’s closer, “hope ur ok” centers around Rodrigo telling the stories of people that she lost touch with who needed her support the most. Mentioning a boy whose parents didn’t care for him enough, along with a middle school friend who raised her siblings and also had absent parents, Rodrigo reflects on her regret of not checking in on them as much as she should have, and makes listeners feel that same regret. To close off the song, she sings the lyric, “God, I hope that you’re happier today/ Cause I love you/And I hope that you’re okay,” in a wispy voice that could make your heart break.

Although it’s important to note Rodrigo’s talent both lyrically and vocally, Rodrigo herself has srocha@redwoodbark.org

Plan ahead for next year with these dorm room basics

By AnnaLise Sandrich

With graduation and summer less than a week away, many seniors are preparing to leave for college soon.

Living away from home for the first time is sure to bring new changes to your daily life, both good and bad, so taking some of home’s comfort with you may help the transition. As seniors start to get ready for next year, here are some dorm room essentials for their next major phase in life.

Mattress Topper College students are notorious for pulling all-nighters to study, spending late nights with friends and generally getting an abysmally low amount of sleep. That being said, sleep is crucial to learning capacity and mental wellbeing. Even if new factors in college make it more difficult to sleep a sufficient amount each night, it’s still

important to prioritize the quality of whatever amount of sleep you do end up getting. Dorm room mattresses can be uncomfortable, so if you’re picky about your sleep, investing in a mattress topper may be for you. A mattress topper can help you experience all the new things college residential life has to offer while allowing you to keep the comfort of your bed at home. Although they can sometimes be expensive, there are a wide variety of options to choose from at Target, Amazon, Bed Bath and Beyond and other furniture stores.

Fan Many dorm rooms don’t have air conditioning, and heat can make sleeping or studying difficult and uncomfortable. Especially if you’re going someplace out of state with more extreme, hot seasons, investing in a fan can help keep your dorm cool and comfortable. Fans are a

great, inexpensive way to control the temperature. Look for a small, portable option that won’t take up too much space in your dorm room or can fit in your closet, but will still provide optimal cooling.

Shower Caddy and Shoes With small, shared bathrooms in dorm buildings, shower caddies are a cheap and convenient way to fit everything you need in the shower and stay organized. Using a caddy means that small bathroom shelves won’t prevent you from being able to take all your shampoo, conditioner, body wash and other hygiene products. If you’re uncomfortable with the idea of bacteria and germs lurking on the bathroom floor, shower shoes can protect you from any infections. You can either bring flip-flops from home, or buy a new pair of water-proof shower shoes.

Just make sure to look for options with traction, you don’t want to slip!

Photo by Sophia Rocha

INCREASING COMFORT OF standard dorm beds, mattress pads are an essential sold at Bed Bath and Beyond.

as possible. Especially if you’re going somewhere with fluctuating temperatures, you’ll want to have a way to store your cooler clothes during the winter and warmer clothes during the summer while keeping the items you need accessible. A closet organizer will help you minimize the mess in Water Bottle your life and start the semester off on Be sure to either bring a reusable the right foot. water bottle with you from home or purchase a new one when heading While the transition from high off to college. Staying hydrated is school to college can be challenging important for studying and maintaining and unpredictable, from bomb threats physical and mental well-being. It is to a pandemic, the class of 2021 is crucial to take care of yourself as you no stranger to adapting to unusual start the next chapter of your life and circumstances. As these chaotic four take on new challenges. If you want to years come to a close, remember to have even more fun, you can customize celebrate all you have accomplished your water bottle with cute stickers and during your time at Redwood. different colors as an inexpensive way Hopefully these recommendations will to add more personalization to your life help you as you take the next step in and to your space. life.

Closet Organizer Dorm rooms aren’t usually large, LOCATED IN LARKSPUR Landing, Bed Bath and Beyond is the perfect place to so be sure to take advantage of your purchase college essentials. closet space by staying as organized asandrich@redwoodbark.org Photo by Sophia Rocha

bark Trader Joe’s frozen meals to save dorm room disasters Page 17 • Review

www.redwoodbark.org

texture. The dish came with a packet of ginger soy sauce, which elevated the meal, and is a plus for college students without ample condiments. The shu mei themselves looked a little slimy coming out of the package, but the chicken flavor was delicious and left me full and satisfied.

While the pork buns cooked unevenly, giving the diner whiplash through unexpected temperature changes, the shu mei were thoroughly hot, which provided a nice sense of consistency. Overall, nothing really stood out about this dish. It was tasty, nothing more, nothing less.

By Martha Fishburne I can’t cook. There, I said it. It’s not for lack of effort either: I’ve helped my mom make dinner multiple times, and am always in the kitchen to lick the spoons when my sister whips up cookie dough. I have put in my 10,000 hours, but somehow every boxed macaroni and cheese I’ve touched is a watery mess, every pot of rice I’ve set on the stove (and promptly forgotten about) has boiled over and every piece of toast I’ve put in the toaster practically comes out fossilized. Let’s just say I’ve earned the last name FishBURNe. As a result, I was concerned (and rightfully so) about my food prospects in college, so you can imagine my excitement to find out that American University, the school I’m attending in the fall (go Eagles!), has a Trader Joe’s nearby. Perfect for a dorm microwave and easy enough that even I can’t mess them up, the Trader Joe’s microwavable meals are a lifesaver for all the helpless kitchen loiterers like myself.

With so many options, though, it’s hard to know which are must-tries and which are better left on the shelf. Armed with my hot sauce, I set off to try some of the meals that piqued my interest. After all, what better way to give back to my community than to brave the front lines of the Trader Joe’s frozen aisle. If the fire alarm going off is just a normal step in your pasta boiling experience as well, read on and let me change your life for the better.

Hatch Chile Mac & Cheese

Chicken Tikka Masala

Photo by Martha Fishburne

THE HATCH CHILE Mac & Cheese consists of noodles submerged in a creamy, spicy cheese sauce, resulting in the perfect comfort food. creamy, cheesy glory. It was love at first bite. The dish was cooked all the way through, with no awkward cold spots in the middle or weird clumps of congealed cheese. As Sonoma Academy senior Lila Gamble said as I took it out of the microwave, “I would f*ck this mac and cheese.” The Hatch Chile flavor was a delightful play on the traditional pasta dish, though it could definitely induce a heart attack. Regardless, I’d happily buy this one again — which I did three days later. Your mouth will be in heaven with this meal, although your arteries may not be as pleased.

Steamed Pork Buns As both a mac and cheese and a spice lover, I couldn’t resist buying this Hatch Chile Mac & Cheese. Although visually After receiving a rave review of this unappealing before heated, the meal came dish from a fellow Barkie and Trader Joe’s out of the microwave a steaming pile of employee, I had high hopes for the steamed

pork buns. Unfortunately, it seems my excitement was misplaced. Even after I put them in the microwave for extra time, they were hot on the outside with a frozen solid filling. This temperature identity crisis and the fact that the buns were drier than a Burger King biscuit (and rubbery for some reason!) made this a must-miss microwave dish. Admittedly, the poor texture could be due to errors in my “cooking” skills, but a good microwave dish should be easy to prepare. Sure, I’d eat it after a long night out in college, but if you’re planning on eating this in the daytime, do yourself a favor and just pick something else.

Chicken Shu Mei Not life-changing, but not so bad that I’d spit it out, the chicken shu mei was right in the middle in terms of flavor and

Second only to the mac and cheese, the chicken tikka masala is a dish I will definitely be adding to my microwave meal repertoire. The rice was moist and steamy, a feat for having only been cooked in a microwave. Poured over the bed of rice was a rich, tangy chicken tikka masala.

The chicken itself tasted fresh, not sketchy, which enhanced my love of the dish. It wasn’t quite as good as the curry from Lotus in San Rafael, but it was pretty close and astronomically cheaper.

This is my last Bark article. As I prepare to move 2,809.6 miles away from my dog, my friends, my family and, most importantly, my mom’s cooking, I’ve had to come to terms with the fact that it’s time for me to grow up and learn how to take care of myself. But until that happens, it’s nice to know that the Trader Joe’s frozen food aisle always has my back.

mfishburne@redwoodbark.org

Zero waste by 2025? Here’s what you can do

By Isabel Ames Motivated by worldwide pollution, Marin has set the goal to reach zero waste by 2025. With the help of Zero Waste Marin, a regional agency that provides information on waste and ensures adherence to state mandates, the county currently manage our waste with recycling and repurposing programs. This management is helpful, but there is more to the solution. Intuitive and backed by science, creating less waste to begin with produces the greatest results. Consider a simple example: we can collect plastic grocery bags and recycle them into a new product such as plastic lumber. However, a better option would be to take no bag at all, as no natural resources or energy would have to be used to produce, collect and reprocess the disposable bags.

So, if you are like me and worry about the impact of pollution on our planet, take comfort in knowing you can make a change! I’d like to share some of my favorite products and resources that can help you lead a less wasteful lifestyle.

Package Free Shop The Package Free Shop was created by American environmental activist Lauren Singer, a trailblazer in the zero-waste movement who is known for collecting all of the waste she has created since 2012 in a 16-ounce mason

Image courtesy of Pexels

ROUND SHAMPOO AND conditioner bars work like a regular bar of soap; just lather with warm water and apply to your hair.

jar. Every item from the Package Free Shop is packaged waste-free using materials that can be reused or composted –– hence the business’s name –– making it the ultimate resource for conscious consumers.

Among other creative alternatives to traditional personal care items, the Package Free Shop sells shampoo and conditioner in bar form. Not only do these hair care bars eliminate the need for plastic bottles and packaging, but because they are solid and compact, they’re also amazing for travel. Shampoo and conditioner bars for any and every hair type are available on the Package Free Shop website, as well as all the necessities for personal hygiene, food storage, laundry, makeup, skincare, sexual health, dish cleaning and more. Rest easy knowing these products are made from only the highest quality vegan and organic ingredients and are 100 percent package-free.

Menstrual cup The average person who menstruates will throw away 300 pounds of tampons, applicators, pads, wrappers and other period-related waste in their reproductive lifetimes, making for a lot of bloody waste. A great alternative is a menstrual cup: a medical-grade silicone cup that can be inserted into the vagina where it collects blood throughout the day.

In terms of effectiveness, the menstrual cup is the best period product by a landslide. It can be worn for up to 12 hours, which eliminates the worry of potential leaks and inconvenient trips to the bathroom to change a tampon or pad. After it took me a day or two to get accustomed to insertion and removal, my menstrual cup was so comfortable that I barely noticed my period. Best of all, one $40 purchase can last over a decade of menstrual cycles. While tampon and pad users will spend an average of $6,000 in their reproductive lifetimes, menstrual cup users will spend a fraction of this price.

Dropps As a replacement for those huge plastic containers of laundry detergent, Dropps laundry detergent is packaged in water-dissolving pods. The pods come in compostable cardboard packaging and are shipped carbon neutral.

According to Dropps, 68 percent of traditional liquid laundry detergent bottles are not recycled, and this wastefulness leaves approximately 606 billion pounds of plastic in our oceans annually. By using a biodegradable pod and zero plastic, the company aims to reduce plastic consumption and waste.

Image courtesy of Pexels

THE MENSTRUAL CUP brand Diva Cup is available at CVS, Walgreens and most other pharmacies.

Dropps work just as well as traditional laundry detergent; they perform perfectly on food stains, daily grime and dirt, and clothes come out clean, soft and smelling fresh. They are available for purchase on the Dropps website.

Other tips to get started It’s helpful to understand that a product’s impact on the environment extends beyond what happens after it’s thrown away. Waste is generated throughout the life cycle of a product, which begins with the extraction of raw materials, continues throughout transportation, processing, manufacturing and actual product use, and ends with its eventual disposal. Conscious consumers can pay attention to these processes when choosing products.

In general, the best products in this context can be used over a long period of time before needing to be replaced, come package-free or in environmentally friendly packaging, have non-toxic, organic and crueltyfree ingredients and are sourced and manufactured locally.

Finally, there is no rush to go out and buy a bunch of waste-free or “sustainable” products. The idea is to simply consume less. So do the environment and your wallet a favor by using what you already have before purchasing anything new. iames@redwoodbark.org

Page 18

AP Research projects showcase seniors’ interests

By Samantha Elegant and Caroline Scharf Finance. Drugs. Personality traits. Although these topics may seem to have nothing remotely in common, there is one class that encompasses them all. In Advanced Placement Research (APR), seniors complete a yearlong research project on a topic of their choice as part of the two-year AP Capstone Program, including AP Seminar and AP Research. According to APR teacher Emily LaTourrette, the program stands out as a class that provides students with research and analysis skills not often taught in the common core curriculum. “[APR is] great because we’re guiding them through a process and skills that are very high-level, but because the content is something that they’ve chosen, there’s so much enthusiasm and passion,” LaTourrette said.

In May, students gave oral presentations and completed a paper on their research to submit to the College Board. Here is a look into the projects and experiences of three APR students after a year-long process.

Karin Amir Senior Karin Amir chose to do her APR project on evaluating the feasibility of incorporating financial lessons into the Redwood math curriculum, a decision primarily motivated by Redwood’s lack of financial studies.

“When I got [to my AP Economics class during] the first week, I realized that I was … almost 18 and [that] was the first time I’d been formally introduced in my education to any sort of financial topics, which I found to be a little bit ridiculous,” Amir said.

To conduct her research, Amir talked to different math and economics teachers to see if incorporating finance lessons into math classes was realistic. She found that the most feasible way to incorporate finance lessons was through smaller activities, instead of an entire unit, as it is already difficult for teachers to fit in all math units. After completing this project, Amir believes that APR is a class that every student should consider taking.

“I think in some AP classes, there’s a demographic of kids that you can pinpoint that would take a specific class,

but what’s great about AP research is that there’s really no demographic,” Amir said “It’s really just based on your personal interests.”

Bella Petrini “[Over quarantine] my mom always yelled at me about going on the internet too much. I decided to do a project and prove her wrong that our generation isn’t on the internet too much and we have good personalities and social skills,” senior Bella Petrini said.

Petrini’s project focused on how the internet influenced the personality traits of younger generations.

Petrini became inspired to learn more about this topic over quarantine, as they found themself interested in whether the stereotype of chronically online teenagers with personality traits that were influenced by the internet was true.

Through their research, Petrini found out that on a scale of the Big 5 Personalities in psychology that are essential traits to building personalities — extraversion, conscientiousness, agreeableness, openness to experience and neuroticism — younger generations scored, on average, lower than older generations. However, they proved certain stereotypes wrong about younger generations, specifically in regards to social skills.

“Generation Z is considered [by many] to be less extroverted and less positive because we spend so much time on our computers, but my findings suggested that Gen Z has a higher rate of extroversion than the Baby Boomers,” Petrini said.

As Petrini reflects back on their research, they found that the results of their project differ from previous ideas, showing that modern teens’ personalities were not as different from those of older generations.

“I thought [the data] was really cool because it goes against cultural perceptions of our generation,” Petrini said.

Asal Razavizadeh “I was watching ‘Euphoria,’ and I thought about [the drug use] because I heard some of my friends being like, ‘Oh my God, like this makes me want to try drugs’ [while other] people [were] like, ‘This terrifies me,’” senior Asal Razavizadeh

said.

After hearing other teens’ opinions about certain popular shows and movies, Razavizadeh decided to reach out to around 200 students at Redwood to understand what emotional response they had when watching different media portrayals of drug use, such as in “13 Reasons Why” and “Beautiful Boy.” She found that many people reacted differently to media based on how the drug use was filmed, whether it was with negative or positive connotations.

“In ‘Euphoria’ there are lots of bright colors and makeup, and then [in] ‘Beautiful Boy’ every time there are drugs, it’s gray and gloomy and the main character’s on the ground,” Razavizadeh said. “[The shows and movies] varied and [so did the way] people responded.”

Beyond APR AP Research teacher Ernesto Diaz believes that, although these projects do not necessarily have future implications, the passions found and skills learned sometimes influence what students choose to do in college and beyond.

“In college, [this program] usually makes [students] feel that they are running circles around their peers because they’re used to doing work regarding research, [are] self-guided and motivated. That experience actually gets internalized,” Diaz said.

According to LaTourrette, students learn many skills about research and data collection for college courses through APR, but the class’ benefits extend beyond surface-level expertise.

“I think even more than [the academics] it’s also about them figuring out who they are and what they’re interested in. They’re not the super academic skills, they’re more of the personal skills of finding what you’re passionate about [and] finding out who you are that lead you to what you want to do later,” LaTourrette said. bark@redwoodbark.org

bark

Page 19 • Lifestyles

June 4, 2021

Withitgirl shreds surf and skate stereotypes

become safer.

“Post COVID-19, [we are] really excited for traveling The tide breaks against the shore as local surfers and being able to do group events with all the people [at roll in and out of the waves, balancing on their boards Withitgirl] throughout California, the United States [and in the warm California sun. Among them, women show the world],” McGee said.

Continuing their mission and expanding it throughout off their skills and agility in the water. Their athletic accomplishments have become the focus of Withitgirl, the world is significant to Withitgirl and the community an organization that aims to tell the stories of women in of female surfers and skaters. Although women have surf, skate and art culture. The website’s goal is to not made serious breakthroughs in surf and skate sports only promote female participation in these traditionally today, they still face barriers in achieving the same status male-dominated sports, but also to showcase media that as their male counterparts. Lil Dwyer, a skating coach at Proof Lab in Mill represents the perspectives of female surfers and Valley and founder of skaters both nationally and internationally. The Ladies Shred, a local members write stories ranging from discussing organization that the best sustainable surfboards to female athlete teaches girls to surf spotlights aiming to bring more awareness to the and skate, recognizes female surf and skating community. the importance of Marialidia Marcotulli, a San Francisco having a female local, founded Withitgirl in 1996 when she presence in these was first learning to surf. She noticed how the sports. representation of women who enjoyed surfing, “It can be really skating and other action sports was often empowering to be one stereotypical, which often pushed women away of the only ladies at from joining these sports. the skate park … but “Girls were either [seen as] babes or jocks. it’s [also] incredibly I felt that girls are really multidimensional, and intimidating. All eyes there wasn’t a website or a community that are on you. I’ve taken reflected that,” Marcotulli said. some really glorious Marcotulli and her friend Cory Peipon slams in front of some began building the Withitgirl website to create very good-looking a platform that would amplify female voices Asha McGee, dudes and really good and create a diverse community of women Withitgirl member skaters,” Dwyer said. inspired by surf and skate culture. The website “But I’ve found a lot acted as a forum for women to empower each of comradery with other, highlighting their accomplishments and other ladies. If there’s creativity. Despite their success, the website was another lady at the closed in 2007 due to Marcotulli’s busy schedule.

However, in the past year, the website was revamped by skatepark, I’m cheering her on.”

Withitgirl member Violet Reed shares a similar 19-year-old Asha McGee, a surfer from San Francisco.

McGee was inspired to revamp the website because she experience of feeling pressure while surfing, especially when male surfers automatically assume they are better wanted to foster a community of girls in the water.

“I have always surfed because my parents surfed but than the women and dominate the space to catch a I always really hated it until I had female friends to surf wave. Reed notes that this type of behavior has been a [with], so I’ve always wanted to create that environment longstanding cultural norm within competitive surfing.

“Internalized misogyny has been ingrained in us, and for other female surfers so they could feel like they there is a very competitive nature in the water … [some belonged in the water,” McGee said.

Renewing this website was important to McGee people think that] a woman who is prettier is only out there because women only make up between 20 to 30 percent of to look good in front of guys, which is obviously not true,” surfers and skaters today, according to Surfer Magazine. Reed said.

Despite the obstacles women face, there are many McGee’s revamp has proven successful; since its remodel, Withitgirl has published more than 80 new stories. Senior positives that come from surfing and skating which is Pearl Thompson, a local surfer and supporter of Withitgirl, why getting more women involved in these sports is so admires how the organization seeks to be inclusive and important. This is one of the reasons why Withitgirl tries to be as inclusive as possible in their work. Withitgirl has celebrates the unique perspectives of women who surf. “[Withitgirl] represents all aspects of women’s surfing not only widened the number of women participating and shows that women in the surf world come from all in surfing and skateboarding, but has also created a safe different backgrounds. They all look and act differently space for women learning to surf.

“In the last 10 years, there’s been more girls coming and have different stories to tell. I think that that’s really important because [it proves how] anybody can be a surfer. into the sport, [which has] been a lot more supportive, but there’s a blind spot here because sometimes the girls It doesn’t really matter who you are,” Thompson said.

While Withitgirl has already been so successful, their can get really catty and competitive … I think this is why team has even more ambitions for the future. McGee and Withitgirl is so lovely because it’s really trying to see the Marcotulli have been hoping to do more in-person events, best in and be very supportive of other girls and women,” and start up their own shop in Marin to sell surf gear. While Marcotulli said. many of their plans were limited due to COVID-19 they are still trying to plan group events for when conditions bark@redwoodbark.org

By Ava Koblik and Kate McHugh

Heart-to-Art: Livy Selden makes waves with her art

By Bella Piacente After a long, exhausting water polo practice, senior Livy Selden heads back home to relax. To decompress, she works on her latest art project: painting a friend’s surfboard. Having painted since she could hold a brush, art has not just become a creative outlet for Selden, but one of her greatest talents.

Selden has been in the Advanced Placement (AP) Art class since junior year. Excelling from the beginning, Selden develops her unique designs by utilizing both painting and drawing outlets.

AP Art teacher Lauren Bartone has taught Selden for the past three years, watching her art evolve and grow through her consistent work ethic in her class.

“She always had strong drawing skills. She came into the class with that, but her confidence grew. I think because she was just doing [art] so much, [her confidence] grew a lot. She’ll bring her hard work ethic to whatever she does,” Bartone said.

In addition to her swift progression in AP Art, Bartone also recognizes Selden’s personal style of art and the emotions she delivers through her pieces.

“It was really clear looking at her finished body of work that she wants to show people, particularly in the way they like to negotiate a complicated world. She has a special sensitivity to perceiving the feelings of others,” Bartone said.

Along with Selden’s involvement in AP Art, she also takes her creative abilities outside of school. She has enjoyed using unconventional canvases in her artwork such as surfboards, water bottles and ukuleles since she first started painting on shoes.

“I couldn’t figure out what shoes I was going to get, which was a big deal because I didn’t want to wear what everyone else was wearing because that would be lame. But I couldn’t pick a shoe so the person helping me pick shoes just told me to paint on them so that’s [where it started],” Selden said.

Her close friend and fellow water polo player Gwen Kallmeyer is a big supporter of her artwork. “[Her supporters] give her free reign to do what she wants because of how creative she is.

She’s an amazing artist, and her work definitely deserves to be [recognized],” Kallmeyer said.

Appreciation of Selden’s talent and Photo courtesy of Livy Selden art has extended beyond her friends and family; she has had requests to make custom designs on various items such as skateboards and surfboards, which only fuel her love for art.

“People seem to really enjoy [my art]. They are always happy when they see it and they give me compliments. That makes me happy,” Selden said.

Her commitment to art is something she has carried with her through most of her life and plans to continue after high school. Although she will not be studying art in college because of a decision to focus on environmental sciences, her friends predict she will continue working on her art in her free time.

“I definitely expect her to keep pursuing art and making art because she’s very talented, one of the most talented artists [I have] ever seen. I’ve seen her do a lot of really cool things and try to make new things,” Kallmeyer said. “She’s never really satisfied with current works, which is good because it just makes her want to make more art.” bpiacente@redwoodbark.org

I’ve always wanted to create that environment for other female surfers so they could feel like they belonged in the water.

Photo by Ava Koblik

SHOWING OFF HER skills at the Wednesday girls’ skate night, Lil Dwyer skates beside community members at Proof Lab in Mill Valley.

June 4 , 2021 bark Page 20 • Lifestyles Filmmaker Sylvie Lodish shines behind the camera

By Mia Kessinger After gobbling down a big bag of popcorn while watching their go-to movie, many viewers think to only praise the actors — after all, they are the ones who dominated the screen for the past two hours. While this is true, the people responsible for the intricate editing, filming, screenwriting and directing that goes on behind the scenes are just as worthy of the spotlight. One of these people is senior Sylvie Lodish, who is attending the University of Southern California (USC) for cinematic arts this fall in hopes of becoming a filmmaker.

Playing instruments since she was in kindergarten, Lodish has always been engrossed by the arts. However, her passion for filmmaking did not arise until attending a summer camp in 2016 where she was introduced to cinematics and wrote her first short films. Since then, her interest in filmmaking has developed due to its collaborative and creative nature. “[I love] the bonds you make when you make movies with people,” Lodish said. “I also love translating a story or an image from my brain onto the screen. I am pretty detail oriented, so I like being able to execute that [through] storytelling.”

Lodish also joined Redwood TV when she was a junior, where she helps to film episodes and edit with peers. Persisting through hard deadlines for Redwood TV has helped further propel Lodish, according to Redwood TV teacher Erik Berkowitz. “[Lodish] is capable of [achieving] a long-term goal that has to be accomplished by a hard deadline, [which is difficult] because there are a lot of times where things don’t go the way you hoped. To keep a positive attitude and to have grit are [qualities] that any employer would love,” Berkowitz said.

Lodish’s enthusiasm for film led her to apply to colleges for cinematic arts, and she ultimately decided on USC — the top school in the country in that area of expertise according to Niche. However, developing the skills necessary to get into USC was not easy — Lodish had to adjust to the complexities of the entire filmmaking process.

“There are a lot of post-production actions like editing and cutting down on footage that goes unseen. Even preproduction shot listing takes a while,” Lodish said. “[For my college application], I had to do two days of reshoots because I didn’t expect to have so many things to correct, but it was all part of the process and worth it in the end.”

Along with her filmmaking pursuits, Lodish plays drums, bass and guitar in Redwood’s advanced

Photo courtesy of Sylvie Lodish

ATTENDING USC IN the fall, Lodish will continue to utilize inspiration from her short films, music classes and Redwood TV when she pursues cinematic arts in college. performance workshop (APW) class. According to senior Megan Bober, who has played alongside Lodish in APW since her sophomore year, Lodish’s diligent work ethic in both music and cinematic arts has contributed to her success.

“You would think things come easy to her because she is so talented at everything she does, but she has worked so hard to get to where she is. She is so dedicated, which I know will translate over to her work at USC,” Bober said.

Despite her experience from short film production outside of school and through Redwood TV, Lodish is mostly focused on improving her filmmaking skills at USC, where she will be surrounded and inspired by students with similar interests.

“The goal in the back of my mind is to win an Oscar by the time I am 32, which might not be super realistic.

[Ultimately], however, I just want to make films and learn

from and share ideas with all the experienced staff and students at [USC]. I am super excited to go to a school where everyone is just as ambitious and focused on film as I am,” Lodish said.

According to Bober, even though winning an Oscar could be improbable, Lodish’s determination and perseverance could get her there one day.

“We joke about her getting an Oscar all the time, and I know she is half kidding about it, but it is totally possible.

Both her work ethic and her creativeness are outstanding,” Bober said. “Although she could easily scare people away with how insanely talented she is, her openness to new ideas makes her so approachable. She always takes different perspectives into account, whether that is for music or for filmmaking — it will get her so far in life.” mkessinger@redwoodbark.org

Art students reflect on the importance of the art community

By Libby Hughes

While May signifies an eagerly awaited beginning to a vaccinated summer, for many students it also means the start to a rigorous process: Advanced Placement (AP) exams. Even though these tests are dreaded across the country, not all are as bad as they seem on paper, or in this case, canvas.

Student artists who are part of Redwood’s AP 2-D Art and Design class have been working for the past year on

art pieces to send to the College Board; between 15 and 20 images related to a theme that an artist has been developing over the past year are needed to complete the requirements. Senior Rebecca Dawson is one of these few accomplished students who has been composing a portfolio constructed of paintings and drawings.

At the beginning of the school year, Dawson explored ancient Greek inspirations, including the use of mythological characters like Atlas, the story of a red giant, to hone her technique.

Illustration by Rebecca Dawson

SENIOR REBECCA DAWSON uses Ancient Greek mythology as an inspiration in her art.

As she continued constructing illustrations and paintings, she shifted her concentration to childhood naivety. She was inspired by her imagination as a kid and how her perspective surrounding fairytales has changed as she enters adulthood.

“When I was younger, my dad would tell me about these fairytales that have always been in the back of my mind. So, I’ve tried to recontextualize them to better fit my perspective now with my knowledge of the outside world and history,” Dawson said.

Dawson hopes to continue creating art for the rest of her life, in part due to the different lenses she learned to view art through in the Redwood art program.

“I’ve become more open-minded since freshman year, and art has made me realize that the world is so broad,” Dawson said.

“If you look into each individual aspect of each individual artist, you will find that there is so much crazy drama in art that critiques and questions the world.”

According to AP Art teacher Lauren Bartone, being a part of this class takes an enormous amount of time and commitment. When preparing to assemble an AP portfolio, different kinds of skills are needed than conventional AP classes on science or literature. The need for students to possess advanced technical competence and the capability to translate those skills to a series of pieces makes the course unique.

“I’m not giving them a project, and they’re not following my directions. They have to come up with their own individual project where they have to formulate their own questions and think about how to best investigate them creatively without any structures or rules,” Bartone said.

However, not all students participate in the portfolio process both years. While

senior Natalie Pemberton compiled a portfolio to send to the College Board last year, she decided this year to focus on artistic experimentation with more freedom without the stress and strict regulations the AP project requires.

“During quarantine I was feeling really trapped and extremely unmotivated which had never really happened when it came to art, because I love it so much. I was stuck with creating the same thing.

The great thing about this class is you can really experiment with different things you are passionate about and expand on them, which really helped me,” Pemberton said.

Over the past few weeks, Pemberton has delved into incorporating different techniques and themes within her art. One area she has been infatuated with recently is surrealism; she has created trash and clay sculptures and one detailed illustration of a lizard man.

AP Art is an essential part of the culture at Redwood as it incentivizes students to be themselves all while being in a class setting that is competitive and pushes artists to think critically about art. Dawson and Pemberton encourage other students to take this class if they enjoy art and want to advance their skills.

“Before I took this class, I went to shadow art classes, and I just fell in love with the way [Bartone] passionately talks about art. I was like, ‘I have to take this.’ I loved it and doing art every day for eight hours a day made me realize that it’s something that is so important to me. Art is so much more than a painting or illustration: it creates a message that everyone conceptualizes in different ways,” Pemberton said. lhughes@redwoodbark.org

Page 21

PREPS OF THE YEAR

Ella Green

By Ava Koblik

The gymnasium buzzes as spectators cheer for their teams, deadlocked in a tense standoff for the win. Surrounded by her teammates at the center of the volleyball court, senior Ella Green energizes the other players and is fueled by the thrill of competition.

“I like games when I don’t know who’s gonna win [and] it’s going into tiebreakers because the adrenaline that gaining points gives me is by far my favorite part of the game. That’s why I love playing,” Green said.

Raised in a family of swimmers, Green began her athletic career not with volleyball, but with competitive swimming, however, she was never as interested in swimming as the rest of her family. At the age of 10, the course of her athletic career was changed forever when her dad signed her up for a volleyball clinic.

“I could not have been worse. I was absolutely awful, but I really liked it. It was the first sport that I had been doing that was my own sport,” Green said.

After playing on a club team for a year, Green decided to quit swimming and focus exclusively on volleyball. In addition to her practices, she watched volleyball matches every day after school to learn strategy and technique from the experienced college players. As her physical abilities began to match her understanding of the game, Green rapidly improved both on and off the court. She is now captain of both the Absolute Volleyball Club (AVC) team and the varsity girls’ team. Next year, she is committed to playing Division I volleyball at University of Pennsylvania. Green’s dedication and affinity for the sport has always shone through, exemplified by her countless hours of practice and diligent work ethic.

JT Dyer

“I love winning, and volleyball is a game where every single point is either a win or a loss. In high school volleyball, you get a big point and you hear the whole gymnasium rattling as people are cheering.

It’s my favorite feeling,” Green said.

Green’s achievements both on and off the court are impressive. She has led the girls’ varsity team in kills for the past three years and was chosen for the Don Kreps Award which recognizes the female athlete of the year at Redwood. Additionally, she is on the Under Armour All-American watchlist for 2021. Academically, Green is a member of the Redwood Honors Society, part of the California Scholarship Federation, has received the AP Scholar Award and was accepted into the Wharton Business School. As with most challenges she has faced in volleyball, she looks forward to the next level of competition and commitment University of Pennsylvania has to offer.

“The physical stress of playing college volleyball actually makes me excited because I think that adversity bonds people together. Having to do a super difficult workout with your team makes for a really good team environment because you are all connected through that really hard thing that you just had to do,” Green said.

Green has played on the varsity team at Redwood since her sophomore year. Last year alone, she made an impressive total of 432 kills (hits), 189 digs (passes) and 36 blocks, according to iStat Volleyball.

While Green strives to play her best every game, she focuses more of her attention on supporting her teammates and helping them reach their maximum potential on the court.

“I always try to cheer louder for other people’s points than for mine,” Green said. “If you’re projecting outwardly that you’re more excited for your teammates, I think it creates a more cohesive team environment.”

Green’s club teammate and close friend

Photo by Ava Koblik

LAUNCHING A BALL into the air, Green serves across the court at a home game against San Rafael High School.

Lauren Tam, a senior at San Ramon Valley High School, has served as a support system throughout her time on AVC. After their season was canceled last year due to COVID-19, Green and Tam often FaceTimed to discuss how they could improve and trained together over the summer. Through all of the challenges they have faced, Tam admires Green’s work ethic and commitment to the sport.

“She is very passionate about the game. She’s very determined. She comes to practice and is ready to work and put in what needs to be done in order to achieve what is possible, which has honestly led her to be one of the strongest hitters on our team and has allowed her to commit to the next level,” Tam said.

Green’s dedication as a player and teammate is central to her current leadership role on the court. Her coach at Redwood, Ursula Gruenert, has had the

By Declan McDaniels Ever since joining the North Bay Rugby team in eighth grade, senior JT Dyer has used his raw talent and hard work to establish himself as a dominant force on the field.

Switching to San Francisco Golden Gate Rugby (SFGG) in high school, JT played on the Varsity B team his freshmen and sophomore years, and has been the Varsity A team captain for his junior and senior seasons.

After years of dedication and training, JT will be attending Brown University in the fall, which is considered to be one of the most competitive colleges in the U.S. JT’s academic and athletic success was not achieved with ease, as he has worked intensely to improve his game and his grades throughout the past four years.

“As I’ve progressed, I’ve really started to focus on my craft and get much better around the rules and the fine aspects of the game. … Just working on a lot of the skills that other kids aren’t willing to work on,” JT said.

After attending Brown, JT plans on enlisting in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) in hopes of joining the U.S. Navy. Both of JT’s grandfathers served when they were younger, one in the ROTC Air Force and the other in the Navy during World War II. JT expects that Brown will be a great place to showcase his talent and set himself up for future endeavors.

“It’s a goal of mine to try and eventually become a Navy Seal, so I had wanted to go to the Naval Academy really badly. They have a great rugby team, a great culture and a really tight knit community,” JT said. “After visiting Brown, talking to the coach and meeting some of the guys there, I realized that Brown has a similar type of environment and it’s also obviously a really good education.”

His rugby skills were not the sole reason for his acceptance into Brown, as JT had to pass the first round of academic applications. JT’s dad, Rob Dyer, credits his persistence and desire to improve as main reasons for his

Photo courtesy of JT Dyer

WITH THE BALL in his hands, JT bursts through defenders in an effort to get downfield.

success on and off the field.

“He’s a very well-rounded individual who takes all aspects of his life very seriously … With all the sports he was playing, going to trainers and taking a big load of [Advanced Placement Classes], there was a lot of homework,” Rob said. “[It meant] making sure he had time to do that and providing the backup that he needed, and he took that very seriously. He worked just as hard on his academics as he did on his sports.”

As a lifelong athlete, rugby was not always the only sport JT played in high school. He played baseball until sophomore year and football until junior year, but decided it was best for his health and training to focus solely on rugby for senior year. His rugby coach, Tony Wells, saw JT’s potential years ago, as he displayed his prowess by

privilege of watching Green truly shine as captain of the team this season. Whether it is helping set up for drills before practice or serving as a uniting force for her teammates by always supporting them, Green consistently demonstrates what it means to be an elite player at the top of her game.

“The girls respect her in a different way than I’ve [seen] before, just because she takes herself seriously … and she’s really competitive and passionate about the sport,” Gruenert said. “She’s a naturalborn leader. She loves including everyone.

She’s really nice to the new people. She holds her teammates accountable. … It’s really cool to have [a captain like] that. It’s so rare.”

akoblik@redwoodbark.org

excelling in practice and games.

“When he was a sophomore, he scorched my senior guy at practice on a back line move, and I was like ‘woah who’s this kid?’ It was a big kid and JT just went right around him,” Wells said.

Whether it was juking upperclassmen or being a team leader, Wells believes that JT has some of the best attributes of a great rugby player, outlining his unparalleled work ethic.

“He’s got good leadership skills, he’s very hard-nosed, he trains extremely hard and he’s one of those unique players you get at that age that don’t come along too often,” Wells said. “He’s very driven.”

Similar to JT’s coach, Rob emphasized his son’s ability to be disciplined in his training and time management, as he is often awake far earlier than most to keep himself prepared.

“If you talked to any of his coaches or any of his trainers, [you will know that] nobody outworks JT. He is the hardest working person his age I’ve ever seen, and he is tireless in making sure that he’s prepared,” Rob said.

“This morning he was up at 5:30 a.m., waking up to go train and making sure that he was going to be ready when they go to the national tournament.”

JT will carry his work ethic and preparation with him into college at Brown, gaining new experience and knowledge in a different environment. His eagerness to get to work with his new team and his desire to propel them to the top will make him an impressive addition to the Brown rugby program from the moment he enters campus.

“I’m most excited about playing against Dartmouth, they’re the number one rival in the Ivy League for Brown, and they’ve had a strong showing in the past decade,” JT said. “I’m really excited about going there and trying to be the Ivy League champion at Brown for rugby.”

dmcdaniels@redwoodbark.org

bark

Page 22 • Sports

June 4, 2021

Preps of the year: honorable mentions Luke Neal

Lulu Smith

By Annie Goldstein

“His legacy will always be here, and the banners up in the gym [show that],” Craig Flax, the varsity boys’ tennis coach, said.

At the age of three, senior and Yale commit Luke Neal began learning the game that would later become a substantial part of his life. Although Neal was also interested in basketball and soccer, as he got older, tennis became his priority as he enjoyed the flexibility of the sport.

“I just felt that tennis was the one for me. I really liked the kind of individual aspect [of the sport], in the sense that I could play whenever I wanted, and I wouldn’t be put on the bench by a coach like other sports,” Neal said.

As a freshman, Neal played on the varsity boys’ tennis team, and while he was only on the team for two years, his skill and talent greatly contributed to the team’s successes. In Neal’s freshman year, the team won the Marin County Athletic League (MCALs), Northern California Sectionals (NCS) and reached the semifinals of the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) tournament.

Neal was recognized as the Marin County Player of the Year in 2018, selected as the league’s most valuable player and, in 2019, received the Northern California Scafidi Junior Sportsmanship award. Neal is ranked number one in Northern California in the 16s and 18s league and 19th in the country for the recruiting 2021 class.

“It’s the guys who are willing to go out there and bleed and do everything they can to succeed. They are the ones who are most tough mentally; [they] can win the close matches and impress coaches,” Neal said.

His quiet confidence, sportsmanship and innate ability to lead has been felt by

By Casey Braff

Photo by Annie Goldstein

his teammates and coach.

“He just led by example. He was always at practice on time and stayed late if he wanted to stay late. He would do anything that I asked him to do, play at any position that I asked him to play and he would play with anybody on the team, even [when] I asked him to play with somebody lower down,” Flax said.

From a young age, Neal hoped to play tennis at the collegiate level. Even though his time at Redwood is coming to a close, reflecting upon his growth and experiences gives him confidence as a rising Yale Bulldog.

“I’m looking forward to being on a high level team; junior tennis is mostly individual, and having teammates to support and push me in training will be a new experience,” Neal said. “Young me would be happy with what I’ve accomplished and glad that I’ll be going to a place where I’ll be able to grow and improve.” agoldstein@redwoodbark.org

Shannon Watridge

By Casey Braff

“I just have a lot of fun playing soccer.

It just makes me happy every time I step onto the field. Even if I’m really tired, I just get excited to play because it’s just such a fun game, and each game is different,” senior and New York University (NYU) soccer commit Shannon Watridge said.

Watridge is the co-captain of the girls’ varsity soccer team and has been playing soccer since she was five years old, the age at which she found her love for the sport. Before making the varsity team as a freshman, Watridge played on the Marin Football Club and the Olympic Development Team. In her four years on varsity, Watridge has achieved an immense amount, including being awarded North Coast Section Freshman of the Year in 2018. To further her future with soccer, Watridge committed to NYU to play Division III Soccer last fall, a goal she set in middle school.

“I’m really proud of myself for sticking it out through the whole recruiting process. It’s been really mentally taxing, because I’ve been thinking about colleges since eighth grade, whereas most people start thinking about it in junior year. I’m really happy that it worked out for me in the end,” Watridge said.

This season, Watridge leads the Marin County Athletic League in points with three goals and four assists. She was chosen to lead the Redwood team as varsity captainalongside senior Maya Rembrandt, who Watridge has played with since she was 9-years-old. Having played with Watridge for so long, Rembrandt has watched Watridge grow as a player, settle into her role as captain and become more assertive on and off the field.

“Our position requires you to be creative and risky with the ball and

“I wasn’t noticed at the top of the team in the beginning, then one day my coach pulled me aside and she [said], ‘I have my eye on you,’ because I was starting to do well, and I had no idea. So I [said], ‘Wow, I didn’t realize I could actually be good at this sport,’” Boston University lightweight rowing commit and senior Lulu Smith said.

Despite beginning rowing in her sophomore year, hours of hard work and dedication allowed her to grow as an athlete over her three years on the Marin Rowing Association (MRA) team. After attending a rowing camp in 2018, Smith discovered her love for rowing and has been a committed member of the MRA lightweight boat (for smaller rowers) ever since.

Smith’s team has been incredibly successful in the years they have been able to compete, with her novice boat placing first at the San Diego Crew classic. In 2019, Smith and her novice boat won the gold medal at their 2019 Youth Nationals, a competition with over 400 boats competing.

Junior Ciara Auran, who has known Smith since elementary school and has competed with her for the past three years, witnessed Smith excel as both a rower and a teammate. “[Smith is] such a hard-working person.

She’s someone who everybody would want in their boat because you know that she’s going to be giving everything she’s got. She’s super dependable, calm under pressure and she’ll always give you words of wisdom or words of inspiration if you need them,” Auran said.

All of Smith’s work paid off when she committed to Boston University, one of the top three lightweight rowing schools in the country. In addition to her tenacity, Auran has also seen Smith exhibit leadership skills and always provides support toward

Photo courtesy of Lulu Smith

her teammates during every practice.

“I don’t think I could have gotten through some of our races without her there … she’s just a constant reminder [that], ‘We’re in this together,” Auran said. “There’s a sense of ease that comes when she’s in the boat … it’s really, really inspiring to see how hard that girl is pushing. [It makes me think],‘I’m gonna push that hard too.’”

Despite the relief of an early commitment, it was a strenuous process for Smith to reach the necessary athletic level she needed to row collegiately. Even with COVID-19 bringing the 2019-2020 rowing season to a halt, Smith was ready to put in the work needed to continue rowing for the next four years in Boston.

“The start of this past season was just really hard because I had not done well over the summer. I ended up being able to work my way back up, and I’m very proud of where I stand right now,” Smith said. cbraff@redwoodbark.org

Tommy McKnew

By Annie Goldstein

Photo courtesy of Shannon Watridge

definitely just [have] a lot of confidence, meaning taking players on and taking shots. [Watridge] was a little more hesitant when we were younger and was more the behind-the-scenes player . . . but now she’s gotten more confident and is taking chances and taking players on,” Rembrandt said.

While she leads her team to success on the field, being captain has helped her improve her confidence and leadership skills.

“Sometimes I struggle with being loud on the field and having a big presence in terms of leadership, so I’m trying to work on that more on the field and be louder and more vocal with my teammates. I remember when I was a freshman, all the seniors were pretty loud and scary; I don’t want to be scary, I just want to be more of a captain figure,” Watridge said.

cbraff@redwoodbark.org

The lights shining over the Redwood pool beam on the exhausted faces of water polo players as the 2018 TamalpaisRedwood game comes to a close.

Redwood’s long-standing rivalry with Tamalpais High School (Tam) has brewed fierce determination within each Giant in the pool. Sophomore Tommy McKnew races down the pool, setting up in position next to the goal. Turning his defender, McKnew rotates and receives a pass inches from his hand. After creating space for himself, he then lunges for the ball.

Maintaining his grip, McKnew fakes left then right before launching it into the back of the cage, scoring a goal for Redwood.

Parents and students cheer as the game is taken to overtime.

Now a senior, McKnew has brought grit and persistence as a standout player on varsity for the last four years, during which the team won Marin County AllLeague (MCALs) in 2019. After years of training, he is now headed to the United States Naval Academy to play Division I water polo.

Initially, McKnew took an interest in competitive swimming and was on the Tiburon Peninsula Club (TPC) team until he was 8-years-old. However, he quickly realized he enjoyed the fast pace of water polo more and joined the TPC water polo team the following year.

“I’ve always been a water sport athlete.

I love the ocean. I love being in a pool 24/7.

[I like] the wrestling and the physicality of the sport and also that there are no breaks during the game unless a goal is scored,” McKnew said.

As both a friend and teammate, senior Joey Quirk has played with McKnew for the past eight years, witnessing his development firsthand.

Photo courtesy of Catharyn Hayne

“I was a [junior varsity] captain during my sophomore year and watched him on varsity, leading the team in goals versus Tam, in a big game for the team. Tommy made it a close game with four overtime quarters, which was pretty cool to watch,” Quirk said.

In and out of the pool, McKnew has stepped up as a role model by cultivating his leadership skills. Between organizing team bonding, leading the team at practice and directing his teammates in games, the varsity captain has taken his role to another level.

“Hopefully, I can offer a strong guiding hand to some of the freshmen that may be having a hard time this year because of COVID-19,” McKnew said.

“By being on a team, you learn how to work with others and take others’ ideas into consideration, and these team ideals are invaluable for future workplaces and other aspects of my life.” agoldstein@redwoodbark.org

www.redwoodbark.org

Page 23 • Sports

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