Highlander Volume 13 Issue 6 May 2022

Volume XIII, Issue VI | Scots’ summer schedules - Page 16 | Embracing embarrassment - Page 38

FROM HEALTH TO HARM Read on page 25.

Highlander Staff Highlander Editor-in-Chief Isabelle Nunes

Scot Scoop Editor-in-Chief Elle Horst

ScotCenter Editor-in-Chief Phoebe Gulsen

Social Media Editor-in-Chief Mira Bhatt

Managing Editors Chelsea Chang Amber Chia

Faculty Adviser Justin Raisner

Editors Allison Raisner Andrew Shu Anika Marino Austin Li Chesney Evert Claire Tseng

Erin Kee Grace Wu Lindsay Augustine Malina Wong Raina Lahiri Rebecca Von Tersch

Staff Writers Aidan Lynd Andrew Tolu Anita Beroza Anna Wilkinson Anoushka Mekerira Cali Shohet Cambell Kirk Carolina Cuadros Catherine Eikelbarner Elise Hsu Erin Kee Ethan Man Gem Kryhina Glydelle Espano Isabel Wright Izaan Masud Hayes Gaboury Hudson Fox Isa Khalak Isabel Wright Jack Hansen Jessica Conley Julia Roseborough Kai Yoshida

Karla Lee Kasey Liu Katherine Tsvirkunova Kaylene Lin Kayley Ebaugh Keegan Balster Kiana George Leanna Gower Lucy Lopshire Madelyn Mercado Mandy Mah Marrisa Chow Maya Campbell Maya Kornyeyeva Niamh Marren Nyah Simpson Oliver Fichte Payton Zolck Robin Linares Sabrina Lo Soleil Dam Sophia Gurdus Sophia Mattioli

Highlander is a newsmagazine dedicated to providing Carlmont students, staff, and community with highquality news, features, and opinion articles. We want to keep our readers informed on important issues ranging from events at Carlmont to international news, and want to engage them with unique stories and designs.

Highlander is a publication completely run by the students of the journalism classes at Carlmont High School. Story ideas are generated by the students and the published content is up to the direction of the editorial staff. This issue’s inner cover cartoons are designed by Andrew Shu.

LETTER FROM THE EDITORS Dear readers, Protein Powder. Weights. Muscle Mass. Body image issues are extremely prevalent in today’s society, and the consequences are too often ignored. In this issue’s Scotlight, we discuss the harms of such fitness habits. Although we focused primarily on telling this story in regards to “bulking up” culture in this issue, the problem is relevant to those from different backgrounds. We hope the experiences presented in this Scotlight will shed light on how the diet industry impacts people in all different areas of life.

Furthermore, May is National Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. With the events that have occurred over the past two years related to Asian American and Pacific Islander hate, we took our platform as an opportunity to raise awareness of this issue. Throughout the fun section, we hope you enjoy the movie and food recommendations to support the community.

Reflecting back, we made it to the final issue of the school year! As current seniors, it is insane that in less than a month, we will be walking down the Carlmont football field in our caps and gowns, ultimately closing this chapter of our story. We are eternally grateful for the opportunities and lessons that journalism has provided for us and the support Mr. Raisner has given us throughout the past four years. At the end of this issue, we have included a compilation of quotes from 5th-period journalism seniors inspired by Julia Roseborough’s spread from issue five.

Although our departure is bittersweet, we are incredibly excited to announce that the new editorial board for the 2022-2023 school year has been chosen! The editor-in-chief for next school year will be Chesney Evert, and the managing editors will be Grace Wu and Lindsay Augustine. We are confident that they will build on the legacy that Highlander has created thus far and continue the role of serving our student body through journalism. As this year comes to an end, we cannot thank each and every one of our readers enough for the incredible journey you have guided us through.

With all the love in the world,

ISSUE 6 / HIGHLANDER 2022

CONTENTS CAMPUS 16 Scots’ summer schedules 18 Life after Scots 20 Juniors anticipate their senior year 21 New schedule raises student concern

SPORTS 22 High athletic costs foster inaccessibility 24 U.S. Women’s soccer team scores equal pay

OPINION 33 Reality TV warps romantic expectations 34 Tourist traps: Hawaii locals on gentrification

Scotlight: (Un)healthy habits Read on page 25

35 Autosteering into danger: Tesla must put the brakes on vehicle autonomy 38 Embracing embarrassment

FUN 4 [M]AAPI movie recommendations 6 3 simple summer recipes 8 Deliciousness around the Bay Area

39 Editorial: There is no such thing as a summer body

FEATURES 41 Surviving the war on terror 42 Influence of movie posters

10 Types of tea

46 Posing behind the camera

12 A scoop of Asia

48 The feline perspective

13 Timeless summer basics

50 Everybody shocks

14 What type of bike are you?

52 Sincerely, 5th period seniors

[M]AAPI Movie Recommendations Writing and Art by Soleil Dam May 1 marks the beginning of Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. In recent years, the AAPI community has struggled to gain representation in the media, especially in movies. AAPI-produced movies often don’t get as much exposure or attention, so here are some film recommendations directed by and starring members of the AAPI community.

1993

1994

Synopsis:

In a movie adaptation of Amy Tan’s bestselling novel, four aging Chinese women have weekly meetings to play mahjong and trade traditional immigrant family stories. The film explores the strained relationships and the cultural conflict between a group of first-generation Chinese-American women and their mothers.

Synopsis:

Why I recommend:

Why I recommend:

“Joy Luck Club” is definitely one of my favorite movies. I loved the emphasis on relationships between Chinese mothers and daughters. It explored the families’ fascinating and emotional Chinese immigrant stories. It’s important to know where you come from and this film confirms just that.

Jade Li, an independent Chinese immigrant in her twenties, has a hard time trying to live her ideal life while also trying her best not to disappoint her traditional family. Jade struggles to get into a relationship until she meets a Caucasian graduate student who her parents completely disapprove of.

“Double Happiness” is an excellent film because it explores different perspectives on social pressures felt as a child of Chinese immigrants. The struggle of striving for your independence and not disappointing your family is difficult but I was happy to see Jade eventually find a healthy balance.

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2019

Synopsis:

Billi and her family travel back to China to attend a fake wedding to stealthily say their final goodbyes to their beloved grandmother, Nai Nai. However, the only person who doesn’t know she has a couple of weeks left to live is Nai Nai.

Why I recommend:

I loved this movie because it reminded me so much of my own Chinese family, especially with its constant smell of food and a grandmother who wants nothing more than to care for her grandchildren. “The Farewell” is an accurate representation of Asian family culture and is an intriguing film to watch.

2021

Synopsis:

The Eternals are a group of immortal beings with superhuman powers who have secretly been living on Earth for the last 7,000 years. In the first film of this franchise, the Eternals reunite for the first time in decades to face their past and battle evil beings known as Deviants.

Why I recommend:

“Eternals” was one of my favorite Marvel films from Phase Four, which includes those released from 20212023. I was so excited to see the diversity of the leading cast and the story did not disappoint. It kept me on my toes with its plot twists and the ending was a perfect setup for a sequel.

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3

Simple Summer Recipes

Writing and Art by Leanna Gower

The timeless summer season, sandwiched between long stretches of pressure, brings boundless fun and relaxation. These simple recipes’ fruit flavors emulate both. This summer, slow down, find a sunny poolside spot, and savor these three sweet treats!

Summer Breeze

Smoothie • • • • •

2 cups orange juice 1 cup strawberries 1 cup pineapple ½ cup mango (frozen or fresh) ¼ cup vanilla yogurt

1.

2.

3.

4.

Add mangos to a blender.

Add strawberries to the blender.

Add pineapples to the blender.

Add orange juice or 16 tbsp of orange concentrate to the blender.

Add vanilla yogurt to the blender.

Blend until it’s smooth, then enjoy!

5.

6.

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Orange-Strawberry

Sunrise Pop • • •

1 cup strawberries 2 tbsp pink lemonade concentrate 2 tbsp orange concentrate

1.

2.

Add 1 cup of strawberries into a blender.

Add 2 tbsp of pink lemonade concentrate into the same blender.

Blend until it’s smooth.

Pour ¾ the way into each popsicle mold.

3.

4.

Second Layer: 5. Add 2 tbsp of orange concentrate into a clean blender.

6. Add ⅓ cup of water into the blender.

7. Blend until it’s smooth.

8. Pour into the remaining space of each popsicle mold.

9. Freeze overnight, then enjoy!

Sun-sational

Lemon Bars • • • • •

2 ¼ cups flour 2 cups sugar 4 eggs 1 cup butter Juice from 2 lemons

1.

2.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a bowl, blend together softened butter, 2 cups flour and ½ cup sugar. Press into the bottom of an ungreased 9×13 inch pan.

Bake for 15- 20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until firm and golden. In another bowl, whisk together the remaining 1 ½ cups sugar and ¼ cup flour. Whisk in the eggs and lemon juice, then pour over the baked crust.

Bake for an additional 20 minutes in the preheated oven, then wait for them to cool for 15-20 minutes, then enjoy!

3.

4.

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FOOD TRIP:

Deliciousness around the Bay Area Writing and Art by Glydelle Espano

Due to the overwhelming number of restaurants in the bay area, many delicious eating spots go undiscovered. Here is a selection of mouthwatering local Asian restaurants that are definitely worth a visit.

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Hayward: Volcano Island Chicken

1

Across the San Mateo Bridge lies Volcano Island Chicken, a small Korean restaurant with delicious dishes. One of their most popular menu items, Korean fried chicken, delivers a savory crunch. I usually order the soy garlic flavor, as it adds a hint of sweetness to the chicken; every bite brings me a feeling of joy. Their Caveman’s lettuce roll is also a must-try. This heavenly roll is filled with crab meat, crispy shrimp, and cucumbers, all wrapped in crunchy lettuce.

San Carlos: New Flower Drum

2

New Flower Drum on Laurel Street offers a variety of Chinese food. The little shop offers an extensive menu of flavorful, reasonably priced items in hearty portions.

Their food always comes hot and freshly cooked in the to-go container. My favorite, their Mongolian beef, comes out perfect every time, with just the right amount of spice.

3

San Mateo: Ponzu Poke This Hawaiian poke place serves fresh poke quick-to-order. Ponzu Poke mixes their poke with other sides besides fish, providing a unique selection of poke for customers to enjoy. Customers can order countless combinations, mixing different pokes, sides, and toppings. They have flavors like Poke Cali, which is my favorite from the bunch. It includes salmon mixed with masago, sriracha mayo, shoyu, avocado, cucumber, and green onion. Ponzu Poke also offers Bahn Mi and spam musubi.

San Francisco: Binka Bites 4

Bibingka is a chewy, moist rice cake from the Philippines. Binka Bites brings these delicious treats to the Bay Area and bake them fresh daily. The shop offers a wide arrangement of bibingka flavors, ranging from unique ones—like classic salted egg and cheese—to more well-known ones, like Nutella. The shop sells out quickly, so ordering ahead online is more efficient.

5

Belmont: Eats Meets West Bowls Located on El Camino Real, Eats Meets West Bowls specializes in customizable Indian salad and rice bowls. They utilize Indian curry and dressing to create flavorful bowls. One can order a variety of vegetable bases and healthy protein choices topped with crunchy additions. This restaurant is perfect for those who seek a nutritious, yet tasty, quick grab.

Newark: Pan-Fried Dumplings 6

Pan-Fried Dumplings lies right across the Dumbarton Bridge, offering a vast menu of Chinese dishes. Their most-ordered dish, the snowflake pan-fried dumplings, has a satisfyingly crispy exterior. Their menu also features other tasty items, such as wonton soup and sweet mochi osmanthus cake.

Pacifica: Starbread Every order at Starbread comes out fresh out of the oven every time. Starbread is widely known for its Filipino señorita bread–buttery, sweet rolls that tingle in your mouth with every bite. Their prices are cheap for such mouthwatering desserts, selling ten pieces for only four dollars. Starbread also offers donuts and other Filipino desserts.

7

MAY 2022 HIGHLANDER 9

Types of tea Writing and Art by Mandy Mah

Matcha. Earl Gray. English Breakfast. These names resonate throughout cafés, restaurants, and lounges. With the various types and flavors of tea, some may not understand the differences between them. All tea leaves come from the same plant: Camellia sinensis. Tea can be sorted into six basic categories. The main differentiating factor between the categories is the amount of oxidation and the processing method for each.

White Tea

Green Tea

Yellow Tea

White tea is the least processed type of tea. The majority of white tea leaves are plucked, withered, and then left to dry.

Green tea is plucked, withered, heated to prevent oxidation, and then rolled or pressed for flavor.

Yellow tea undergoes a similar process used to develop green tea, but with an additional step called wrapping (also known as heaping or yellowing, it is a deenzyming process)

Potential Benefits:

Potential Benefits:

Potential Benefits:

Reduces risk of heart disease, improves dental health, reduces risk of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, slows skin aging

Improves brain functioning, prevents cell damage, prevents Type 2 diabetes

Keeps arteries healthy, strengthens bones, helps treat inflammatory bowel disorders

Examples:

Examples:

Examples:

Silver Needle (Bai Hao Yin Zhen), White Peony (Bai Mu Dan), Longevity Eyebrow (Shou Mei)

Sencha, Matcha, Dragon Well (Long Jing)

Jun Shan Yin Zhen, Huo Shang Huang Ya, Meng Ding Huang Ya

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Oolong Tea

Black Tea

Dark Tea

Oolong tea is partially oxidized via processes that promote oxidation (such as leaf bruising) before heating to stop oxidation.

Black tea is withered, rolled or cut for a faster oxidation process, and then fully oxidized.

Also known as post-fermented tea, dark tea is processed similar to green tea initially, but then goes through microbial fermentation and is aged for months or years.

Potential Benefits:

Potential Benefits:

Potential Benefits:

Reduces risk of diabetes, improves heart health, boosts metabolism

Improves gut health, improves heart health, improves focus, helps prevent cancer

Improves digestion, lowers blood pressure, reduces cholesterol levels in blood

Examples:

Examples:

Examples:

Phoenix Tea, Iron Goddess of Mercy (Tie Guan Yin), Wuyi Oolong Tea (Da Hong Pao)

Assam Black, Darjeeling Black, Keemun Black

Pu’er, Golden Flower Brick Tea (Jin Hua Fu Cha)

MAY 2022 HIGHLANDER 11

A scoop of Asia Writing and Art by Karla Lee

These Asian ice cream flavors provide a delicious escape from the approaching summer heat.

Ube Although ube is a starchy vegetable, it has a sweet, coconutlike flavor when processed into ice cream. I recommend eating ube ice cream with halo-halo, a popular Filipino dessert filled with jelly and various fruits.

Thai Tea The perfect caffeinated dessert, Thai tea ice cream, contains a mixture of black tea and various spices. Those who enjoy a hint of caffeine and have a bit of a sweet tooth will enjoy this flavor as it also contains condensed milk, giving it a unique sweetness and creaminess.

rating:

rating:

Passion Fruit

Black Sesame

If you want to savor a sweet and tart ice cream this summer, you should consider passion fruit ice cream. It has a refreshing, tangy flavor that can satisfy anyone.

This silky ice cream has a nutty flavor, which perfectly compliments its sweetness. I recommend the black sesame flavor for those looking for something simple to delight their taste buds.

rating:

rating:

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Timeless summer basics Writing and Art by Phoebe Gulsen

E) B)

A)

F)

D)

G)

C)

P) Q)

K) H)

N)

L)

I)

R)

O)

M)

S)

J)

A) “The Grateful Dead” thrifted T-Shirt (yellow)- $10 B) Urban Outfitters Cabana Cropped Cami (baby pink)- $25.99 C) Danedvi Linen Pants (white)- $25.99 D) Milk Tea Tied Sundress (lilac)- $15 E) Thrifted Pink Floyd baseball cap- $10 F) Vans Tagged T-Shirt- $24.50 G) Quiksilver Taxer 17” Elastic Waist Shorts (airy blue)- $22.99 H) Target Women’s Woven Halter Tank Top (green)- $18.00 I) BDG Pleated Corduroy Skirt (brown)- $25.99 J) Thrifted platform sandals- $15

K) Brandy Melville Connor Tank (white)- $16 L) Urban Outfitters Mini Skirt (black)- $35.00 M) Dr. Martens 1460 Women’s Smooth Leather Lace Up Boots- $170.00 N) Milk Tea Ribbed Solid Tank (red orange)- $10 O) Target Women’s High Rise Cutt-Off Jean Shorts- $15.00 P) Uniqlo Long-Sleeve Sweatshirt (yellow)- $39.90 Q) Uniqlo U Crew Neck Short-Sleeve T-Shirt (white)- $19.90 R) Levi’s Men’s Carrier Cargo Shorts- $50.00 S) Birkenstock Boston Soft Footbed- $150.00

MAY 2022 HIGHLANDER 13

QUIZ: WHAT TYPE OF BIKE ARE YOU? Writing and Art by Malina Wong May is National Bike Month, and many are cruising into summer. Cycling is an activity beneficial to one’s physical and mental health. The activity reduces risks for diseases, builds muscle, and decreases stress levels. What bike will you be riding?

How often do you prefer to spend time with people?

Would you rather solve the world’s most difficult puzzle or solve elementary school math?

What speed do you prefer to work at?

A) I enjoy socializing with others for days in a row B) I like time to myself before I socialize A) The world’s most difficult puzzle B) Elementary school math You hear a noise while camping, How likely are you to go skydiving at least once in your lifetime? what do you do?

A) Stay in the tent B) Leave the tent and investigate the source of the sound

A) Fast-paced B) Slow-paced

A) Very likely B) Not likely

If your answers are similar to the sequence A, A, B A, B

If your answers are similar to the sequence A, B,A, A, A

If your answers are similar to the sequence B, B,B, B, A

Bicycle Motocross (BMX) bike

Cyclocross bike

Recumbent bike

Cyclocross bikes are designed for racing in any condition. The built-in barriers support dismounting and carrying the bicycle in short periods during races. You are a fast-paced person who enjoys challenges and competition, much like a cyclocross bike and its rider.

A recumbent bike has a low seat with a backrest that requires the rider to lean back in a sitting position. Its aerodynamics enables the rider to produce less drag and feel at ease in an upright position. Like a recumbent bike, you are laid-back, easy-going, and down-to-earth.

BMX bikes allow riders to perform stunts, tricks, and jumps. The bike makes for swifter speed changes, mobility, and strength, causing riders to tend to their legs and arms more to absorb shock.

Similar to this bike, you take risks and associate with more adventurous activities.

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MAY 2022 HIGHLANDER 15

Scots’ summer schedules Writing and Art by Oliver Fichte

With students putting more effort into academic excellence and extracurriculars, many eagerly anticipate the summer months to further their expertise. However, many students look forward to the summer as a relaxing time to hang out with friends and family or travel. This begs the question: How are Scots spending their summer?

la, summer For freshman Miraj Bhala , giving back, ing nd wi un means three things: plans to take a and preparation. Bhalala , Mexico, with cas Lu vacation to Cabo San mer, a perfect way his family during the sum ool year. to relax after a stressful sch apply to be a ll wi la In addition, Bhala iper Elementary camp counselor at Sandp summers as a School, where he spent his m, he plans to child. Through the progra h, and go on field wit es watch over, play gam trips with camp attendees. ys a role in his Of course, school also pla for many students. summer plans, as it does the summer Bhalala plans to complete classes next year. his for reading and prepare e familiar with “I’m sure I’ll try to becom year so it’s not the math I’m taking next t’s what happened foreign to me, because tha started struggling, this year,” Bhalala said. “I that and make so I want to get ahead on xt year.” ne go to sure that I’m ready

Miraj Bhalala Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

of Rather than stressing about academics like much to plans Mehta i Anjal senior body, nt Carlmont’s stude enjoy herself this summer.

“This is the first summer in a very, very long time no where I don’t have anything planned because there’s I’m so e, colleg s beside for re prepa to year l schoo next going to focus mostly on spending time with family and friends,” Mehta said.

In previous years, Mehta had always made sure ties to cram all sorts of academically enriching activi to plans she year, this into her summer schedule; travel enjoy “what summer should be for.” She plans to around California to visit family, including her sister in Los Angeles. Additionally, she wants to do things visit stereotypically associated with teenage summers: do and s, friend her with out go , parks t emen amus whatever else she can to enjoy her last few months before college. [in “I think senior year is very stressful. And I think hs mont three the] summer before college, all of us need [a] to go we before lves to unwind and recharge ourse whole new environment,” Mehta said.

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Summer for sophom ore Jessie Rizvi looks a little bit differe nt. After visiting the Caribbean with he r family on a trip to Aruba, she plans to jump straight back into academics. Rizv i is planning to take Spanish III over the su mmer to skip it in her junior year. After continuing from AS English II this year, sh e will take AS English III Honors in her jun ior year, a far more difficult class than th ose she is used to.

“I’d like to get ahead of the curve and practice some timed essays and things that we’ll be doing next ye ar that I haven’t had much practice in,” Ri zvi said.

Additionally, Rizvi wa nts to get a job during the summer to earn some extra money. As she is turn ing 16 in the coming year, she also plans to practice driving to ge t her license when she is ready.

Anjali Mehta Los Angeles, California

Jessie Rizvi Noord, Aruba

joys ic oldi en drew B g the academ g n A r io in in n n r r u ju a d r, arned After le umme g his s knowledge le as projects. their knowin r u D such se for g the forms, oratin e no u ldi, on incorp ear into new students hav history ; Bo world r y o y l al, n e o a h r r, m scho and , mat the yea cience ncepts during ubjects like s it to new co s es nd had how in r hand, appli istry a mer, I m e h e c h t t is sum lum or the o abou arned ns. u id. “[Th situatio summer, I le es,” Boldi sa , like a pend clear s v a a n e w io t v “Last h a la scil to h t wit projec ulate o trying a cool king] to sim down, and in .” es into up and was th oving alizing them ts, Boldi div school year, m s g c in u the spr roje g r vis ating p during . Combinin g tion fo anima dition to cre interesting joys din n n e e d e tt d a h n a s u In s he fo dge in a field Boldi enjoy stitutes of , n c topic specifi g his knowle t in learning e Stanford I y college th es nit sin increa and his inter ams, such as , or commu r m ts g a c r o r g je p o o r r r e p hP esearc s summ variou e Summer R s 100. place to lying s e a great pp in Medic ch as Busin rograms are st you and a ase your su p re wc s r o te e e s h in s s m t r la c k sum iety o gs tha “I thin arning thin ibute to soc elax e... le contr er to r combin potentially . e summ ing down, to id h ] t a s s m i e e s h ld w [t o iu ges nds: slo dge,” B e, Bold hallen knowle , like anyon mily and frie l from the c rts. ly a o t r fa s p e La e with sing in gen e beach or s end tim th res and sp g, and dest ugh trips to in d ro h in t fe li unw l o scho of high

Boldi w e r d An ornia f i l a C , nt Belmo

MAY 2022 HIGHLANDER 17

Gyldelle Espano

Life after Scots Kayley Ebaugh With the end of the year coming faster than ever, more than 500 students in the Carlmont community are making the difficult decision to continue college or transition into a financial career. With so many different goals and beliefs in mind, certain decisions can seem detrimental. Many people still believe that going straight into a four-year college should be the only goal to have, but that isn’t the right choice for everyone. Options like community plans and financial opportunities are also available. Many people fear the next step in their lives and don’t know what to do.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in October 2020, 66.7% of high school graduates aged 1624 enrolled in college or universities, compared to 66.2% in 2019. Due to almost two years in quarantine from

COVID-19, a preliminary report from March 2021 by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center shows the pandemic’s effect, with college enrollment declining by 6.8%.

With the return to in-person school, the class of 2022 is up next for their step into the future. These three Carlmont seniors are no exception.

Jasleen Singh has been playing softball for 14 years, including all four years at Carlmont. Singh is interested in psychology and hopes to become a therapist one day. Avik Majumdar has been planning his future while attending Carlmont by taking marketing and business classes at Carlmont, as well as networking with other students with similar business goals. Leo McBrian has kept his creativity in Carlmont through illustration classes and is a part of both the guitar and philosophy club, passionate about the different views of the world and the creativity one can achieve.

18 HIGHLANDER CAMPUS

Jasleen Singh “I used to live in the Hayward area, which is across the bridge. I used to go through a lot, and I felt like I couldn’t talk to anyone, and all my colored friends felt like they couldn’t talk to anybody. I always used to want to be a nurse, which my mom was doing, but then I realized that people really don’t have anyone to talk to. It was always in the back of my mind, but then I met more people who had a lot of stuff going on in their lives. They feel like they have nobody to talk to on campus or just in general. Now, after Carlmont, I’m playing softball at Howard with an athletic scholarship and will be studying psychology for the next four years, and I hope one day to own my own practice and become a therapist.”

Leo McBrian “I’m going to Cañada Community College, 20 minutes away from my house, because the prices are so high for schools like UC’s, I don’t have to pay for community, and it still seems like good quality education, especially with how well funded the Bay Area is. Most people think that’s a really good option, but there is probably some underlying idea that’s thinking, ‘Oh, they can’t get into a UC or something.’ But for me, I think Cañada is just your starting point or any community college, and then you get to a school where you can pursue some sort of craft or career such as art. After two years of Cañada, I can go to an art school, since a lot of art schools are really expensive. Two years would be just enough since I’ll need only two years of the school that charges $40K a year. That would only be $80K in college debt rather than $160K.” Leo 1 (1).psd

Avik Majumdar -

“I plan on attending a four-year university. I haven’t decided on which school yet, but I plan on majoring in information systems, and my career goal is to become an entrepreneur and have my own business. I’m trying to see the best route I could take that can account for my career and also the amount of money I want to spend on school. My family has a business in real estate, and from a young age, I’ve been working with my mom to see what it takes to run a business. I’ve been reaching out via LinkedIn to people in my school who are also doing similar things to me because I take the business pathway at Carlmont, which is the marketing and integrative business class. I had the opportunity of meeting a lot of people who are like-minded at Carlmont’s business program. I’ve done work in school, and I’m trying to do some work out of school with a couple of friends to maybe start something.”

MAY 2022 HIGHLANDER 19

Juniors anticipate their senior year Andrew Ghazoulli

Catherine Eikelbarner

Since being freshmen in 2020, juniors have not yet gone through a full year of standard high school. Their development and experiences were cut short, and they are now entering their last year at Carlmont. Not knowing what a regular high school year is, many worry about what it will look like and when “normal” school days will return.

“In Zoom, you can control which parts of you are seen.

You can show only your forehead [or] only like your face, you don’t have to show your body…or even have your camera on at all,” said Katie Barton, a junior. “I’m not used to being in a situation where I have to live with my outfit choice all day.”

Scenarios such as what happened to Barton are ones that many experienced when in Zoom class. Students were able to wake up and go to school in their pajamas, but even though the stress of one’s appearance at school was not present, the pressure did not decrease.

According to the American Psychological Association, 81% of teenagers ages 13 to 17 experienced higher stress levels throughout the pandemic. Many had similar sources of tension and pressure, with three stressors identified as reoccurring themes: 13.2% felt increased stress caused by homework, 8.5% suffered from social isolation or lack of social interaction, and 12.3% felt a lack of support for mental wellbeing.

The restraints caused by the pandemic are still impacting us today. Although the mask mandate and other restrictions are being removed and not enforced anymore, the social effects are still prevalent. Activities, events, and social interaction with friends were all cut out of the high school

Andrew Ghazoulli

lifestyle for a year and a half. Students are now getting to participate in those adventures, with many excited about what they will bring.

Nicole Miranda, the incoming Senior Class President, shared her thoughts on what she is excited about for senior year.

“I’m excited to have [Class of ‘23’s] sweatshirts and make all the activities for senior year extra special since it will be the whole class’ last year,” Miranda said. “I just want to make everyone comfortable and make a year everyone will remember as their last high school year.”

Juniors will get to go through the entire cycle of high school traditions during their senior year, and for many of them, it will be the marking point of life returning to normal. New events are not the only thing that the Class of ‘23 will have as part of their senior year: they will have to bear the weight of being at the top of the high school class hierarchy. Senior status may come with some benefits, but do juniors feel prepared to be in that role?

“It’s a weird experience being the only junior in my Spanish class,” Barton said. “All of these kids are so new to high school, and they keep asking me questions; I’m their Carlmont source of information [even though] I’ve only really been at school for a year.”

Although juniors may be feeling different levels of stress and the expectations put on them, they still have some advice on how students can make their high school experience less stressful and more memorable.

No matter what grade level students are in, Miranda suggests they should “get involved in different clubs and groups at school because that will benefit them in the long run. It looks great for colleges, and it just makes their overall high school experience so much better.”

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Nyah Simpson

New schedule raises student concern Nyah Simpson It’s common knowledge that high school students don’t get enough sleep.

Many believe that this is due to how early schools start.

Carlmont’s current schedule is a zero through a six-period schedule that goes from 8 a.m to 3:15 p.m, with two block days. Next year, the schedule will be somewhat different, going from one through seven, from 8:30 a.m to 3:45 p.m; the two block days will remain.

This is ironic because, in the school’s effort to allow students to start later, the majority end up starting earlier.

With the current schedule, the 8 a.m start time applies to less than half of the school, meaning that only about 783 out of the 2,216 students at Carlmont are on campus at 8 a.m. The remaining 1433 students can start 50 minutes later.

Studies have shown that high school students are deprived of vital sleep hours due to the workload given by their classes. It would make sense that schedules with later start times are better for the students than earlier ones.

Many schools in California have

early start times, some even earlier than ours. To amend this issue, California lawmakers passed California Senate Bill 328 in 2019, which states that any middle school cannot start before 8 a.m, and no high school can start before 8:30 a.m.

This must be implemented in schools by the end of 2022.

This is a beneficial change for other schools and for Carlmont students who have a zero period. However, for the majority of students, such change is an annoyance; they would have to get to school 20 minutes earlier.

In the small town of Belmont, there are 20 schools, public and private, spanning from preschool to high school.

These schools start at around the same time, 8:30 a.m.

As it stands now, the schools’ start times are staggered to alleviate some of the morning traffic. The schools are not separated by much, about five or ten minutes in between, but those few minutes are crucial.

Ask any Carlmont student, and they will agree that leaving five minutes later than usual can mean the difference between a 10-minute drive and a

30-minute drive.

If the Carlmont start time is moved to 20 minutes earlier, it could result in near gridlock traffic in the mornings, which would cause more students to be tardy to their first period.

This new schedule is not bad for everyone; it is great for athletes.

During their season, many students have to miss their last period of the day to go to their games. They have to make up for their missed work, which can take more time than just being present in the period itself.

With this new schedule, studentathletes can end their day at 2:48 p.m rather than 3:15 p.m. Thus they are missing less school.

These changes were implemented to appease this new law yet only ended up helping the minority of students.

No matter which way the schedule was implemented, it would be surrounded by controversy. That’s what happens when changes are implemented, some people love it, and some hate it.

Many are searching for methods to resolve this issue, and the solution is simple: the student body must deal with change.

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High athletic costs foster inaccessibility Payton Zolck The competitive nature of sports has sparked a desire to provide athletes opportunities to excel and compete at high levels, with many sports clubs popping up to meet this demand.

However, behind the gleaming photograph of the club sports team holding their trophy at their national tournament, there is another story.

For some, this image can not become a reality as club sports cost a significant amount of money. These costs can make sports inaccessible, as socioeconomic factors can have more influence on athletic excellence than natural talent or love for a sport.

Youth sports has become a $17 billion industry, according to the Aspen Institute’s Project Play initiative and Utah State University’s Families in Sport Lab. The expenses which overwhelm the youth sports industry draw consideration to the idea of money as a major determinant in someone’s ability to pursue a sport.

According to a survey done by Qualtrics Internation, which collected insights from 1,032 adults in all 50 states whose children played sports, the median household income of Maya

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respondents was $70,000, compared to the U.S. average of $61,937.

Sports such as volleyball, soccer, and softball have become heavily based in the area of club sports. The expenses accompanying club sports have some student-athletes reflecting on the idea of “paying to play,” “The travel is super expensive because if you’re on a club team, there’s a lot of traveling; most tournaments are in other places. All the equipment can be very pricey as well. Bats can be upwards of $400. Also, if you have pitching or hitting lessons, then that’s another expense,” said Ava Conti, a junior and softball player.

These expenses have oozed into the very makeup of some sports. Many feel pressured to play in a club to make one’s school team or have access to opportunities to showcase themselves to play at the college level.

“If you look at who’s on the team, everyone does play club. So I think playing club is crucial if you want to play high school. If you want to be a recruited athlete or go play college, you’re going to have to be seen by the college coaches as you need to travel and go to showcases,” said Madeleine Cunningham, a senior soccer player.

Tournaments play a significant role in the club sport experience, but can add an extra burden on some families as transportation costs, from plane tickets to hotel reservations, must be considered. However, depending on the club one is involved in, or the coach one has, there may be ways to work around these costs.

“I’ve had teammates that won’t go to certain tournaments because they can’t afford it. But if you’re a good player, coaches will usually help you.

There will be expenses you have to pay, but there are ways to save money if it’s

hard for you to afford,” Conti said.

However, these financial support systems vary. Without a set financial aid program in place or financial support through clubs or coaches, some athletes have to quit a sport altogether due to an inability to pay.

“Expenses cause fewer people to play and don’t allow as many people with talent to play. I know my teammate; she couldn’t play anymore because she couldn’t pay for the club anymore, and the club didn’t want to help her pay,” said Delia Paiko, a sophomore soccer player.

“Expenses cause fewer people to play and don’t allow as many people with talent to play.”

Delia Paiko

Quitting a sport for financial reasons has shaped sports into less of an accessible extracurricular for athletes, even at a young age.

The negative financial narrative surrounding sports leads to some parents not allowing their kids to play certain sports entirely due to the fear of having to pull one’s child out.

“I know some parents don’t allow their kids to play certain sports when they know in the future they can’t pay

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for their kid to play. They don’t want their child to feel bad about it. So that’s why a lot of kids stop when they are younger,” Paiko said.

Expenses being a significant contributor to an athlete’s performance creates a disadvantage for people living in lower socioeconomic areas and athletes in low-income homes.

According to Aspen Institute’s Project Play initiative and Utah State University’s Families in Sport Lab, Youth ages six to 18 from low-income homes quit sports because of the financial costs at six times the rate of kids from high-income homes.

“I feel like if you live in a lower socioeconomic area, you may not be able to even reach the potential of

some of these athletes just because those athletes were fortunate enough to afford clubs to get to that level.

Whereas someone with the same capacity and room for improvement doesn’t have that similar opportunity just because of their financial place,” said Roya Shirkhodaei, a senior at Irvington high school who plays volleyball.

Club sports provide great opportunities athletically with scholarships and college opportunities or merely the benefits of meeting new people or playing in a team environment. Yet, these opportunities are sadly not accessible to all.

“Sports clubs are a great way to form connections and build your

teamwork. I feel like, for the kids that don’t have that opportunity, it’s truly heartbreaking because after experiencing it myself, it’s such a great experience. I’ve met some really great people and their families,” Shirkhodaei said.

With the club industry having significant influence over the face of sports, some believe that the inaccessibility should be acknowledged.

“I think that the money barrier takes away from the true appeal of sports because not all people have access. Everyone should be allowed to play sports,” said Cienna Cattaneo, a senior at Woodside high school and volleyball player.

Gary Nakayama

MAY 2022 HIGHLANDER 23

US Womens soccer team scores equal pay Anoushka Mekerira and Robin Linares

While women’s soccer has gained more popularity and respect since the first competition 30 years ago, the concept of gender discrimination in soccer is still prevalent. For the FIFA World cup in 2018, the prize pool for teams was $400 million. In contrast, the FIFA Women’s World Cup had a prize pool of $30 million.

There was a disparity in viewership between these two events since the Men’s World Cup received 3.572 billion total viewers. In contrast, the Women’s World Cup received 1.12 billion total viewers; the range between the prize winnings isn’t a remotely equitable divide and shows what FIFA values more.

Gender discrimination doesn’t just occur on an international scale as it is also present locally. Kaylee Dartnell, the captain of the Carlmont girls varsity soccer team, noted the discrimination she faced by men’s players in the sport.

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As the Women’s U.S. National Team wins their lawsuit against the U.S. Soccer Federation with a $24 million settlement, the precedent is set for women’s sports overall to make way for a more equitable future.

The suit, which the team filed back in March 2019, sought to give the U.S. Women’s National Team equal compensation as the U.S. Men’s team. The Women’s team consistently outperforms the men’s team through winning international competitions like the World Cup four times, while the men’s team hasn’t even won one.

Despite this, as the women’s team explained, the Men’s team got more compensation and, according to CBS, would be paid a maximum of $99,000 for 20 non-competition games, while men were paid, on average, $263,000.

Over the past three years, there have been various deliberations regarding this issue, culminating in the final verdict given in February 2022. The deal gave the team $24 million, with $22 million going to the players themselves and another $2 million for charitable funds and their post-career endeavors.

While this is a significant win for the Women’s National Team, there is something to be said about the systemic treatment of professional women’s teams compared to their male counterparts.

For instance, according to National Geographic, in the first Women’s World Cup back in 1991, players got handme-down uniforms, played with a lighter ball, and had little recognition in the U.S. media, despite their win in the tournament. By contrast, the Men’s World cup tournament received recognition for decades, with the first tournament in 1930.

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N U

HEALTHY ^ CHOICES

Written by Elle Horst and Kat Tsvirkunova Designed by Chesney Evert

MAY 2022 HIGHLANDER 25

THE BULK OF THE PROBLEM Elle Horst

Content warning: this article contains mentions of eating and body image disorders.

His alarm goes off at 5:30 a.m. It’s time to go to the gym.

He drags himself out of bed to the kitchen and groggily makes himself a shake for breakfast, scooping multiple cups of protein and supplements into the mixture.

He arrives and immediately grabs a pair of weights, completing a grueling workout. When he can barely do another curl, he heads home.

The next day, when he looks in the mirror, he’s unhappy. He wants to be bigger, more muscular. So he repeats his routine, hoping he can finally bulk up.

The goal of a perfectly sculpted, muscular body is a common one for teenage boys. Influenced by their peers and what they see online, many feel the desire or pressure to build up their bodies.

“A lot of my friends definitely want to appear muscular,” said Charlie Smith*, a senior at Carlmont.

Smith and many of his friends dedicate time to working on their bodies. Many of them lift weights regularly and follow protein-heavy diets to help them increase muscle mass, a common trend among teens.

“I would say most of my friends have some sort of proteinbased diet and workout. It’s something that’s typical for a lot of guys,” Smith said. “I think fitness is becoming a little bit more trendy now. People are getting into the gym, and a lot of that is due to social media. You see people on social media bulking and gaining weight to lift stronger and get bigger, and it kind of just makes you want to do it.”

The prevalence of these kinds of images and videos on popular platforms like TikTok and Instagram is staggering. For a teenage boy, it is incredibly likely that their pages will contain content of workouts, gym videos, supplements, and diets, all with the promise of a muscular body type — a body that can be unattainable for some.

“All body types are different, and there is no ‘one size fits all’ for everyone,” said Heidi Flaig, a registered nurse at Carlmont.

“Adolescence is a time of rapid changes within your body physically and mentally, and it is important to focus on overall well-being. But, it can be very tempting for boys to look up to others with that body type and hope to mirror it. I think social media plays a huge role in perpetuating unrealistic expectations and body ‘ideals.’”

When social media constantly pushes this content out to young, impressionable males, it becomes easy for them to feel pressure to look the same. Not unlike the millions of pictures of slim women with hourglass bodies that wreck the self-esteem of many young girls, these images and videos of broad chests, rock hard abs, and enormous shoulders that swarm magazines, movies, and even video games can have poor effects on the selfconfidence and body image of boys who feel they need to meet that standard.

“A lot of guys I know struggle with body dysmorphia and image,” Smith said. “Some of my friends have expressed dissatisfaction with their bodies due to lack of muscle. It’s almost an inside joke within the lifting community. Almost everyone actually gets increased body dysmorphia when they start lifting weights.”

This kind of dissatisfaction can lead to habits that quickly get out of hand. Innocent behaviors like exercising and trying to eat well soon spiral into obsessive, self-consuming thoughts and lead to more dangerous actions.

That’s not to say that working out and eating healthy, nutrient-rich foods are bad behaviors. In many cases, the gym can be a supportive place for teens to lead a good, positive lifestyle.

“Guys mostly go and work out together, and it always seems very positive and filled personal goals, and having a good time,” said Sarah Jackson*, who has friends that lift. “I see them correcting each other’s form or cheering for their friends when they meet a goal.”

Smith shared similar sentiments to Jackson.

“Fitness is definitely not a bad thing. It can be social and encourages people to do things that are scientifically proven to be good for you, like exercising a little every day.”

However, with these behaviors, there is a fine balance

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between health and harm. Goals can soon turn into obsessions.

For many boys, working out becomes more about the aesthetic reward than just doing something positive. This can lead down a slippery slope.

“I still know plenty of people who lift weights and work out because they enjoy it, and it keeps them healthy,” Jackson said. “But a lot of times, the emphasis changes to be on actually seeing results, which can definitely become concerning.”

The fixation on results can lead many boys to be at risk of turning to unhealthy mechanisms like severely restrictive diets, compulsive workouts, supplements, and even steroids if unsatisfied.

“The true physical health risks are what boys sometimes do to attain muscle growth,” said Dr. Robin Drucker, a pediatrician at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation. “Some are severely restricting their food intake. Some are even taking steroids and supplements, such as creatine, which are not studied in teens and are not FDA regulated. We have seen permanent kidney damage in some kids taking creatine, and there can be liver damage with other supplements.”

According to a study conducted by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology and Harvard University, boys and young men struggle with body image at much higher rates than previously thought. Of 2460 18 to 32-year-old men surveyed, 10% struggled with a severe body image disorder. Many admitted to being unhappy with at least one aspect of their bodies, felt guilty if a workout was missed, or were tempted to try anabolic

steroids.

This kind of body dysmorphia and unhealthy pursuit for a more muscular body type is becoming so common that doctors have started to coin it “bigorexia.”

“This is a health condition that has parallels with anorexia, bulimia, and other eating disorders and dysmorphia conditions. This can affect every aspect of life as people are consumed by thoughts of their bodies,” Flaig said. “This can take up a lot of space mentally as well as physically. They may be restricting what they are eating, over-exercising, participating in other risky behaviors such as taking steroids, and may not be getting the proper nutrients and pushing their body to limits beyond its capacity. All of these can be damaging to physical and mental health.”

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The line between health and obsession can be a difficult one to see.

“Any exercise or diet regimen that becomes “obsessive” is unhealthy, but the definition of what is obsessive is difficult,” Drucker said. “I usually tell my patients that if more than half of their thoughts per day revolve around food, exercise, and what their body looks like, then this counts as obsessive.”

On top of this, eating disorders and body dysmorphia are rarely talked about among males, and many boys are unaware and not knowledgeable that their behaviors are problematic.

“I don’t think the conversation about these topics for guys is where it needs to be,” Smith said.

“I hadn’t heard of bigorexia or that kind of thing before in guys, but talking about it makes me realize that there are some people I know who are kind of toeing the line.”

In Drucker’s mind, there are definite warning signs and behaviors that people can look out for to identify and help prevent these unhealthy practices.

“If you know guys who are always talking about their bodies, wanting to try new things to bulk up, or commenting daily on their diet, that can hint at a deeper problem,” Drucker said. “Just like any eating disorder, this shares a lot of qualities with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), so watch for those signs as well.” *Smith and Jackson’s names have been changed to protect them from any potential negative or false associations and assumptions based on the content. Their anonymity is in accordance with Carlmont Media’s Anonymous Sourcing Policy.

“If more than half of their thoughts per day revolve around food, exercise, and what their body looks like, then this counts as obsessive.”

- Dr. Robin Drucker

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THE REAL WEIGHT OF DIET CULTURE Kat Tsvirkunova

Walking down a grocery store aisle can be a nerve-wracking experience.

Choosing between the produce section or the chips and sugary snacks is often an either-or battle.

Choosing the chips would mean consuming extra fats and calories, a sin in today’s diet culture. It would imply that you are letting yourself go, losing control of your body, and ruining your appearance. At least, that’s what diet culture tells us.

Diet culture is the widely held belief that physical appearance and body shape are more important than physical, psychological, and overall well-being. It’s the idea that limiting what and how much you eat will help you control your body, particularly your diet.

You may not realize you have been a victim of diet culture.

When you catch yourself eating something you have been craving and saying, “I can eat this, I haven’t had anything else all day,” or, “I had a hard workout; these calories don’t count.”

Or, observe how many advertisements and articles promote detoxes or cleanses to “reset” or purge our bodies of “bad” food choices after any major holiday.

Both of these examples are obvious influences of diet culture.

“When you’re thinking of why you’re eating food or engaging in certain behaviors and thoughts, what is the reason behind it?” asked Lauren Smolar, vice president of the National Eating Disorders Association programs. “Are you doing it because your body is craving the food you need right now for nourishment? Or are you doing it because you feel it is the right thing to do? Is it that society has told you that choice is the better choice—even though your body might be telling you that there is a different option that it needs right now?”

Diet culture categorizes foods as good or bad and encourages thinking of food as transactional—something earned or that isn’t deserved based on how a person has eaten or exercised.

People conditioned to accept diet culture as a normalized part of life may have a negative self-image, engage in negative self-talk regularly, and glorify thinness. They might also have an all-ornothing attitude.

The notion that food is merely fuel and has to be earned is toxic and can lead to disordered eating.

According to a 2008 survey conducted by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 75% of women reported disordered eating habits, making disordered eating the status quo in the United States for women of all ages and races.

Trying to eat only “good” food can be classified as orthorexia, a severe case of clean eating. It is characterized by an obsessive focus on what a person considers the “right” diet. This obsession interferes with daily life, including social, emotional, and other factors.

Diet culture is linked to orthorexia because it encourages people to stray away from foods or confine their diet.

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Avoiding gluten when you do not have an intolerance or allergy, extreme veganism, extreme low-fat or low-carbohydrate diets, detoxes, cleanses, and avoiding all GMOs or non-organic foods are some examples.

Orthorexia can progress to anorexia nervosa and obsessivecompulsive disorders, including body dysmorphic disorder.

The key issues with diet culture are that it promotes discrimination against people with larger bodies, fuels a business designed to take your money, sets you up for feeling like a failure, and normalizes disordered eating.

People and corporations are constantly profiting from and creating insecurities revolving around body image. A whole market is built upon believing that people must be thinner and change their appearances.

When people are self-conscious about their bodies and appearance, they are more likely to purchase a diet product, a “low-calorie” food item, exercise equipment, shapewear, an exercise program, a gym membership, etc. Diet culture compels exercise abuse, particularly in the fitness industry, such as purchasing exercise equipment to target problem areas. For example, someone influenced by diet culture is more likely to buy ankle weights if they are insecure about their ankles.

Foods are labeled with terms like plant-based, organic, gluten-free, and fresh to make them sound healthier than their often cheaper counterparts. However, pesticides are still used on

organic food, and gluten-free food is frequently loaded with sugar and salt to make it taste better.

Furthermore, celebrity endorsements of detox teas and appetite-suppressing lollipops never reveal the entire picture. Understand that when a celebrity endorses a diet or fitness product, it is not the product giving them that body.

They have far more access to resources than is made public, such as chefs, dieticians, and fitness trainers.

There is no “right” body size, and even if there were, it would be out of reach for whoever does the “right” thing or follows the “right” weight-loss trend at the time because diets fail 98% of the time, according to the US Federal Trade Commission. They are designed to make more money for the diet industry than help people lose weight.

This statistic alone exemplifies the no-win norm that everyone is socialized to accept. Diet culture encourages people to feel bad about themselves and pass judgment onto others while also implying that losing weight will make them feel better.

The reality is food is far more than just fuel. It is an essential social and cultural aspect of our lives. Fixating on food as energy prevents you from appreciating and experiencing food as a more profound part of your life.

So, next time you are in the grocery store, walk down any aisle you like.

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MAY 2022 HIGHLANDER 31

32 HIGHLANDER OPINION

Opinion: Reality TV warps romantic expectations Kaylene Lin 1.2 million pairs of eyes remained glued to their TVs during the season 14 premiere of “Married at First Sight.”

People eagerly watched as two people met each other for the first time and got married within the same 10 minutes.

Besides the already odd idea of people getting married without knowing each other, the increasing number of people tuning in to watch reality dating shows is jarring. Along with “Married at First Sight,” series like “The Bachelor,” “Too Hot to Handle,” and “Love Island” have grown increasingly popular within the past two years, with the first season of “Too Hot to Handle” earning over 50 million views on Netflix. Additionally, as new shows like “F-Boy Island” and “Sexy Beasts” join streaming platforms, longstanding series like “The Bachelorette” continue to bring in over one million views per week, according to ABC. Although reality dating shows are well-loved for their drama and contestants, many of these shows perpetuate toxic ideas of love by deflating relationships into month-long getaways with occasional cash prizes.

These series revolve around two people finding love, but many of them promote bullying and dysfunctional relationships.

For example, many viewers have called out “The Bachelor” for allowing several contestants to mock sex workers or those with ADHD in the name of “finding love.” During the 25th season of “The Bachelor,” viewers were shocked by the blatant name-calling and disrespect exhibited by many contestants for the sake of drama.

In an article for the Decider, Kaetlyn Liddy questions whether “The Bachelor” crossed the line between “indulgent entertainment and bullying” when one contestant decided to leave the show because of toxic behavior. Rachel

Lindsay, who was the bachelorette in 2017, commented that it has become increasingly normalized for reality dating shows to broadcast blatant bullying.

“You have to wonder, what kind of audience are you trying to attract?

And what kind of contestants are you attracting? Because right now that type of behavior is being rewarded, and that’s a problem,” Lindsay said.

Reality dating also shows often only portrays one type of love. The vast majority of participants are white, straight, able-bodied, and thin. There have been seven Asian contestants since “Love Island” aired in 2015; out of all 20 years and 44 seasons of “The Bachelor” franchise, there have only been four Black leads.

Additionally, none of the most viewed dating shows predominantly feature love stories between people of the same gender.

In 2019, Netflix did air a show called “Love on the Spectrum,” which aimed to depict seven adults who have autism and their journeys with romantic relationships.

However, this attempt at diversity is undermined by the continuing lack of representation in America’s most

popular dating shows.

Reality television has slowly started equating “finding love” with winning cash prizes, spewing disrespectful comments, and bullying others.

Although many of these types of shows have grown increasingly popular because of their binge-worthy drama, some also cross the line into being insensitive.

It is incredibly harmful to viewers to watch shows that reward behavior that makes marginalized groups the butt of jokes. Along with a continued disregard for diversity, reality dating shows fail to portray relationships and love in a healthy way — something that can severely damage the way people think they can treat others.

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Tourist Traps: Hawaii locals on gentrification

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Lucy Lophsire According to the Hawaii Tourism Authority, the tourism industry brings around $2 billion into Hawaii each year.

The industry itself is massive, and the appeal of the islands continues to fuel the growth of tourism throughout Hawaii.

While many reap the benefits of the millions of tourists, there is often a forgotten element of the islands, the locals. According to a study from the University of Hawaii, tourists outnumber residents 6 to 1, and they also outnumber native residents 30 to 1.

Diana Pao, a resident of Hawaii for 44 years, lives with her husband Leroy on Oahu. The two have noticed subtle changes over their several decades of residency, including an increase in business.

“The changes were subtle. The surf crowd would converge on the North Shore for the winter, and by March, they would all leave, and life would be quiet again. But then the North Shore became a summer destination, and today it’s busy all year round,” Pao said.

The increase in tourists has reached up to five million annually, written in several reports completed by the University of Hawaii. This noticeable increase has caused several issues within the islands, affecting the local communities.

“Before, people would stay in Waikiki and make the North Shore a day trip, but now the tourists want to stay out here, and the AirBNBs and VRBO are illegally flourishing. This has a big effect on our small area that is overrun with traffic, food trucks, and the overuse of many of our beaches,” Pao said.

Along with traffic and overuse, Pao mentioned that tourists tend to interfere with marine life as well, saying that touching turtles was something tourists should stray from at all times. The World Register of Marine Species

supports the idea, pointing out that tourism can disturb marine life with boats, disrupting of food chains, and can even contribute to overfishing.

Another issue that stems from the number of tourists is the increase in housing prices across the islands. Locals struggle with the housing market inflation as tourists continue to buy vacation homes and prices continue to rise.

“Multigenerational homes are becoming more the way of life for local people. I can’t see our kids ever having the opportunity to buy a home on the North Shore,” Pao said.

Pao’s mention of her kids having a lack of opportunities to buy homes reflects the several issues that tourists have created by using Hawaii as another vacation destination.

Although there seems to be more cost than benefit, it is important to recognize that the tourism industry provides jobs for residents and brings in massive annual income for the state. Pao mentioned that residents enjoy sharing their homes with tourists as long as they are respectful, emphasizing that the most important takeaway is to avoid encroaching on local lands.

“In my opinion, there should be a cap on the number of people flocking to our islands on a daily basis. Our infrastructure just isn’t growing with our own population, let alone the thousands of people who come here every day,” Pao said.

Paospeaks for a large portion of Hawaiian residents, who appreciate the revenue and want to find a compromise. The thing she asks of tourists is “to be respectful of our lands.

Most are, but common sense is lacking in many. You can’t make a U-turn because you missed your destination. You can’t park on the bike path because you didn’t know. You can’t touch our marine life. You can’t hike our mountains and get lost or injured and expect the state to pick up the tab. Do your homework before going anywhere on vacation.”

Photo by Amber Chia

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AUTOSTEERING INTO

DANGER

Tesla must put the brakes on vehicle autonomy Writing and Art by Elise Hsu

36 HIGHLANDER OPINION

Tesla’s mission is to “accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy;” that is, if they don’t unexpectedly lose speed and get rear-ended on the way there.

When people think of future technology, one of the first images to come to mind is often a self-driving car.

This is why Teslas seem so appealing; they are the closest to becoming autonomous vehicles. They also have a history of high safety ratings, including five-star ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Although these cars may be designed to be the “safest cars in the world,” their path to autonomy involves features that do more harm than good.

When Teslas were first introduced to the market, one of the features that made them stand out was Autopilot, which founder Elon Musk claimed would steer the auto industry toward an “autonomous utopia.” But in actuality, a Tesla in Autopilot mode is not autonomous and requires “active driver supervision,” according to the company.

Nevertheless, consumers believed that an Autopiloted Tesla was the same thing as a self-driving car. Among them was Joshua Brown, who was watching a DVD when his Model S collided with a semitruck, according to Reuters. Brown died as a result of the crash.

Following Brown’s death in 2016, Musk claimed that installing Autopilot in every car would save thousands of lives. This was supported by an NHTSA report from the following year which stated that installing Autosteer, an Autopilot component, decreased accidents (measured by airbag deployment) by about 40%. However, further analysis conducted in 2019 by Randy Whitfield revealed that this statistic was based on incomplete data; Autosteer actually increased airbag deployment by nearly 59%. Furthermore, Whitfield found that installing Autosteer was not associated with a decreased risk of airbag deployment, but an increased risk by a factor of more than 2.4.

Instances like Brown’s fatal accident have troubling implications for not just the future of autonomous driving, but also the future of driving as a whole. In the Bay Area, it is becoming more common to see Teslas with student driver bumper stickers on them. Why are children being trusted with vehicles that can barely be

controlled by adults? If these new drivers mistakenly believe that Autopilot is a substitute for manual driving, it could not only cause an increase in accidents caused by Autopilot, but also a decrease in manual driving skills, which still matter; Teslas can’t drive themselves. But even if new drivers understand Autopilot’s limits, their reliance on its components could prove dangerous, especially when it comes to automatic emergency braking (AEB).

AEB is a big step towards vehicle autonomy, but it stops short. In October 2021, Tesla recalled 11,728 vehicles due to a flood of complaints that cars on Autopilot were unexpectedly activating AEB at highway speeds, a phenomenon known to Tesla owners as “phantom braking.” Complainants alleged that their vehicles had decelerated anywhere between 11 and 55 miles per hour in less than a second, nearly resulting in a loss of control. In February 2022, the NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) launched an investigation into 354 complaints about unexpected AEB received over nine months. The investigation only affects Model 3 and Y Vehicles made between 2021 and 2022, but complaints concerning the 2021 Model S have indicated phantom braking as well.

One may point out that Autopilot and its components don’t fit Tesla’s mission statement at all; why include them? According to the Daily Beast, Tesla sees it as a way to speed ahead of the competition. Google announced their dabble into autonomous driving right when Tesla was gaining traction, and Musk likely thought his cars needed another feature to stand out. Autopilot isn’t a safety feature, but a marketing ploy. Nevertheless, it still fails; in 2019, Consumer Reports denounced the Navigate on Autopilot feature, which includes the ability to automatically change lanes, as “far less competent than a human driver.”

Given Autopilot’s link to open investigations, countless complaints, and even several deaths, now is not the time for Tesla to think about making vehicles autonomous. The only way forward is for Musk to grab the steering wheel from his dreams of a self-driving car and park the idea until it is proven that vehicle autonomy can make roads safer.

Otherwise, the brakes on the project will apply themselves.

TEsla by the Numbers

769 Complaints filed with the NHTSA for 2021 Tesla Model S, X, Y, and 3 cars

526 Complaints for all 2021 Tesla models that address forward collision avoidance software

510 Complaints for all 2021 Tesla models that use the term “phantom braking” or describe unexpected AEB

14 Total recalls issued for all 2021 Tesla models

3 Open NHTSA investigations for all 2021 Tesla Models All data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

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EMBRACING

EMBARRASSMENT Sophia Mattioli Embarrassment typically occurs following an accidental failure to meet the accepted social standards, such as tripping in public, forgetting someone’s name, or having private information leaked. This emotion can cause specific physiological changes, including blushing, sweating, or stammering.

Many argue that humiliation does good for society, as it signals to others that we care about social standards and can thus be trusted. But, perpetual enforcement of social norms, primarily through the threat of shame, can be extremely harmful.

Men may avoid getting prostate exams, women skip mammograms, and seniors might not even use hearing aids because of embarrassment.

Despite condoms effectively preventing pregnancy and the risk of STIs, a survey

by Fusion Condoms found that 56% of people surveyed were embarrassed to buy condoms. In addition, about 54% of men and 57% of women got red-faced while buying condoms.

According to GoodTherapy, a national program that connects therapists with people all around the country, just one embarrassing experience can be detrimental to someone’s confidence and sense of self-worth over a long period.

When in social settings, embarrassment can become crippling, according to the American Psychological Association. Whether it be making new friends or going on a date, most people do not know how to cope with their embarrassment. This can lead to anxiety, depression, and a decrease in confidence.

Essentially, embarrassment is the body’s way of apologizing for not meeting the accepted norms, making it a process through which societal standards are validated and enforced.

According to VetoViolence, a CDC anti-violence resource, societal standards can affect any aspect of our lives; they contribute to our clothing choices, beliefs, and even how we speak. However, not all norms are beneficial to society; harmful societal standards have evolved over the years, from racism to sexism, to homophobia, to body shaming. These rules have no specific reasoning behind them, yet people continue doing things the way they always have been done because they are embarrassed to do otherwise.

The journey to embracing embarrassment is packed with self-acceptance and confidence-building. A start can be developing attention control; try to focus more on the people around you and less on yourself.

Most importantly, stop hiding. Hiding can reinforce the belief that you have done something that needs to be hidden from others, but it most likely draws more attention.

After all, it isn’t worth letting the world know you care about their standards when the process ends in self-shame and insecurity. Live by your own norms and embrace embarrassment.

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Isabelle Nunes

Editorial: There is no such thing as a summer body As the summer season quickly approaches, body image issues and unhealthy eating patterns continue to rise with the heat. Plastered over social media are tips on how to “get skinny” or “bulk up;” practices supposedly necessary for people to look their very best in summer clothes.

The surge in media that negatively impacts body image applies to those of all genders, ages, and sizes. When the media is filled with promotions of dangerous diet or exercise patterns, feelings of inadequacy nearly always become inevitable.

Diets and issues pertaining to body image are especially common during the summer months when the pressure to look a certain way is at an all-time high. According to Mayo Clinic, preoccupation with appearance and fixating on perceived flaws can be symptoms of body dysmorphia that may

negatively impact other areas of life.

Low self-image can be particularly heightened during the summer when social media consumers are encouraged to achieve the perfect “summer body” everyone so often craves. But what does a summer body actually mean?

The idea of a so-called summer body is entirely fabricated by the media, encouraging viewers that they must look a certain way to feel good about themselves. In reality, a summer body looks no different from one at any other time of the year and merely pressures individuals that their bodies somehow need to change.

Generally, this idea is associated with practices that may not be in your body’s best interest; it can encourage undereating and overexercising, all for the sake of shaping into a “whole new you.”

The rise of diet culture also makes some believe that they must change

their bodies to fit into or fill out certain clothes. There is nothing wrong with wanting to feel confident in the way you look, but it is essential to remember that this can be achieved without transforming your body for the sake of a summer wardrobe.

Trying on a pair of old jeans that don’t fit anymore is not a sign to overexercise or restrict food for the sole purpose of buttoning them up. It is normal for our bodies to change over time, and constantly adapting ourselves to fit into clothes can be extremely harmful in the long run.

Rather than struggling to fit in clothes that feel uncomfortable, remember that clothes are meant to fit you, not the other way around. Embracing insecurities certainly sounds much easier said than done, but wearing outfits that make you feel confident and comfortable can be the first step toward that process.

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Surviving the war on terror

Izaan Masud and Maya Campbell Content Warning: This article mentions terrorism, bombings, and graphic descriptions of violence some may find disturbing.

Sharzad was nine years old, venturing out into the hot streets of Kabul to go home after spending time at her local mosque. She had gone to pray, hoping that she would get into her school of choice.

On either side of the street stood green and brown armored personnel carriers 20 times her size as she passed by. All around her towered massive walls of slate-gray concrete baking in Kabul’s blistering sun.

Suddenly, she heard a loud, gutwrenching sound ripple through the air as a flash of light took over her vision. Soon, she felt stabbing chunks of shrapnel in her sides. “​​The explosion happened on our way home. It cut my stomach open, and I thought I was going to die [...] I tried to walk after the explosion knocked me down, but when I got up, I fell down

again. I think I fell because I tripped on my intestines,” Sharzad recalled.

Sharzad was caught in the crosshairs of a Taliban bomb planted at the mosque to assassinate a local political figure. She survived due to the quick actions of her family. Many in her position are not so lucky.

Her story was featured in the report The Human Cost by the Human Rights Watch (HRW). HRW used pseudonyms for the victim and her mother to protect their anonymity.

This story stuck with Michael Shaikh, a former member of HRW and the Civic Center for Civilians in Conflict.

He helped ensure civilians did not come in harm’s way during the United States’ operations against the Taliban.

While Shaikh was working in Afghanistan, soldiers had to remain vigilant due to Taliban threats. At the same time, Afghans living in Kabul had to continue with their daily lives, whether or not there were soldiers. The Afghani citizens and soldiers had many miscommunications due to cultural and language differences, and those

Photos by Michael Shaikh

miscommunications could quickly become tragic.

“Americans are trying to tell cars to stay back and keep their distance so they can judge which cars are hostile or not. [...] But so many people ended up getting hurt in these accidents with the US military,” Shaikh said.

Despite seeing Kabul in great tragedy, Shaikh thinks of persistence when recalling stories of the war on terror.

“We talk about surviving, but surviving is not the right word because it almost feels passive. People are persisting. Persisting to live and persisting in making opportunities for their children and themselves,” Shaikh said.

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Influence of movie posters

Writing and Art by Maya Kornyeyeva at succeeding at the box office.”

You blink away the darkness as you dazedly make your way from the movie theater. A moment later, you come face to face with a giant movie poster.

Red sweeps before your vision, and expressive typography makes you stop in your tracks. Without a second thought, you promise yourself: “This is the movie I’m seeing next.”

Since the days of early television, movie posters have acted as one of the most high-stakes forms of advertisement. They are responsible for attracting an audience to the theaters and relaying the most important details of the film through a single image.

“The key idea behind a movie poster is to prominently show what the selling point of the movie is. Regardless of our conscious realizing, most people have a general sense of what makes a good movie poster and what makes a bad one,” said Nolan Scheetz, a senior and film enthusiast. “For a movie that doesn’t already have a built-in audience, a ‘bad’ poster can easily sink any chance it has

According to a Classiq interview with Dylan Haley, a Californian artist and graphic designer based in New Zealand, movie posters were most commonly commissioned by artists through the early 1950s and into the 1970s.

Professionals would typically hand-draw, paint, or create a collage that featured key motifs or characters. As photography became more readily available, scenes from the films themselves became the central selling feature, inspiring the public to see the static images in action for themselves.

“Sometimes, a good poster comes down to just picking the perfect image from the film, which is not as easy to do as it may seem. Some images look great, but they aren’t dynamic enough to carry a poster design,” Haley said.

If you think designing a movie poster sounds stressful and challenging, you are right. Movie posters often go through dozens — even hundreds — of variations, and designers must balance various elements such as font, color, and style to effectively capture as much of the public eye as possible.

Even today, in the age of digital design and technology, creating a movie poster is no small feat.

“One of the issues with [the modern film industry] is that the studios really want their actor’s faces on these posters, as it has been confirmed that the public loves their celebrities,” Haley said.

“Even with current technology, digitally editing dozens of overlapping photographs and adding color adjustments takes a lot of time to compose and render.”

Scheetz describes this celebrity-oriented trend as an embracement of “floating head” posters, which arrange the most prominent characters in a semisymmetric manner based on relevance.

Another phenomenon frequently observed in the cinema industry is a “copy-

cat” incorporation of certain popular design trends. When a movie poster does exceptionally well, it can influence other film companies and designers to duplicate certain details. This replication tends to give way to a new era of design, as seen in the incorporation of the “floating head” pattern within many 21st-century action films like “Avengers: Endgame” and “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.”

According to Scheetz, the basic design elements included on any movie poster are the title, stars, director, release date, and featured review quotes or slogans. In addition, movie posters must reflect their film’s genre, whether it be thriller, comedy, romance, or action.

“Posters follow many trends, depending on the genre. Many are minimalist or try to experiment with art styles. Some of the best movie posters are those that don’t show a ton about the movie but still get me invested, such as ‘Gravity,’ ‘Underwater,’ or ‘Robin Hood,’” Scheetz said.

Science fiction posters like “Gravity” are known for their atmospheric lighting and futuristic sans serif fonts.

Drama films tend to advertise through vivid colors, serious theatrical tone, and immersive photography. On the other hand, a comedy poster is easily identifiable through its light colors, fun shapes, and expressive photography.

A horror poster may include dark color palettes accented by harsh colors, illustrative typography, and references to gore or fear.

Regardless of genre, Haley stresses that what matters most is the intent and personality behind the poster.“As long as there is a little bit of love and soul in the poster, that is the most important. In the end, that’s what will bring audiences running,” Haley said.

Next time you see a movie poster advertising for the latest film, why not apply a critical eye? Perhaps it may be promising you a celebrity, or it could be simply pulling you in with emotional colors or intriguing symbols. Whatever the case, movie posters often give you much more insight into the film than you may initially realize.

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POSING BEHIND THE CAMERA Isabel Wright

Glydelle o

Espan

Content warning: This article mentions sexual assault and sexual harassment, which may be disturbing for some readers.

The thrill of being cast, walking down a runway for Alexander McQueen or Mason Margiela and seeing your face on billboards or commercials is the dream for most fulltime models. However, as romanticized as this lifestyle is, there are darker issues hidden behind this glory.

Among these issues are sexual harassment and sexual assault attempts, which are rampant in the modeling industry. Younger aspiring models are more susceptible to these attempts and the harm that follows since they hold little power against the big names and agencies of the industry.

Studies from The Armstrong Law Firm show that 30% of women working in the modeling industry have experienced sexual harassment at some point in time.

“They’d send me out for test shoots to men’s apartments on my own, and it was really unsafe. One time, the man was really weird and kept trying to make me take my clothes off,” an anonymous source in compliance with Carlmont’s media policy said.

In addition to sexual harassment and

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assault, another issue in the modeling industry is the lack of adequate compensation.

“Sometimes I wonder if it’s worth doing this as a career. It’s a beautiful industry, but there’s a lot of stuff that’s not talked about” Chloe Nugent

Canadian model and mentor Coco Rocha, who educates young models on the importance of contracts and payment, had struggled with this for a while. She explains how important it is to have a concrete contract before agreeing to a modeling gig. Although some companies hire models with the

promise of compensation, other larger companies often have models volunteer to boost their own name and profit. Most of these companies use their reputation for free modeling work so that the company will be plastered on different models’ portfolios.

“I’ve only been paid for one shoot, and I actually didn’t end up getting the money until a couple of months later; that’s a really big thing in the industry,” said Chloe Nugent, a Dallas teenager who has been modeling ever since she was young and is signed to a modeling agency.

On top of not being compensated for most of the shoots, Nugent explained how models have to spend a large amount of money just to start their careers. Test shoots are needed to create a portfolio to present to agencies and can be upward of $1 thousand.

“In order to build your portfolio, you have to pay for test shoots,” Nugent said.

“Some of them can be like $800.”

Another one of the various issues in the industry is the effect of high expectations on mental health.

Balancing criticism and mental health

is a prominent issue throughout the industry. As part of their job, models are often pulled apart for their looks, so modeling agencies can uphold their look and their image. While beneficial for the agencies, the effects are quite the opposite for models.

“A New York agent came to Dallas to scout, and I don’t think I’ve ever been judged harder,” said Nugent. “The way that this person looked at me made me feel so gross. It seemed like I wasn’t even a person, like I was just a project or a doll that was there to be shaped like they wanted, and it was weird.”

Harsh and unrealistic standards for body shapes cause distress, eating disorders, and impacts on mental health.

In a survey for Model Alliance, twothirds of the women interviewed suffered from anxiety or depression.

Although the life of a model seems glamorous, the reality is nothing but harsh. Lack of compensation, rampant sexual assault cases, and mental health issues are just the tip of the iceberg. The modeling industry is as dangerous as the next, and one must be careful where one steps on the proverbial catwalk.

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The feline perspective Jack Hansen This Cougar is built differently. Very differently. Built... dumber.

I’m not talking about a 40-year-old woman with a room temperature IQ. I’m talking about a cat — a black shorthair tabby with a thirst for adventure.

Why am I writing about a cat when there are millions of vastly more interesting humans out there? Well, there’s a false premise in that question; humans are boring.

In general, humans do not get stuck on the roof. And should a human get stuck on the roof, they usually have the brain capacity to signal for help or try to get down on their own.

Cougar, however, does not. This is because Cougar is simply built differently. To reiterate, he is built dumber.

When he escapes to the roof, it isn’t with the precision and foresight of a well-planned CIA mission. Instead, his only two brain cells go into overdrive to recognize that there is a window open, and he can jump out of it to go outside.

Once he’s on the roof, he no longer knows what to do. That level of planning requires at least three brain cells, but he only has two. So he just stands there, letting his mind recharge. A couple of hours later, he sees his owners and realizes he wants to get down.

But he’s stuck. Now, he’s presented with two options to get down: the grill and the trampoline. The grill is less of a drop but has a harder landing. The trampoline, however, provides a gentler landing but is a further drop. Cougar starts to weigh the options, pacing back and forth.

He’s made his decision. He looks his owner in the eyes and jumps onto the grill. He lands with the elegance of a toddler on stilts, slipping off

the grill. He sprints into the safety of the house. He’s learned nothing and will repeat this same adventure someday.

He’s learned nothing because he is built differently. Built dumber.

Months later, Cougar still regularly jumps onto the roof. The only difference now is that he has figured out how to get down on his own without any coaxing from his owners. He has made some progress: he now jumps onto the trampoline… when it is covered in catnip.

o

Marin Anika

Rebecca Von Tersch

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Rebecca Von Tersch

Anita Beroza You do it all the time, but do you notice it? Media multitasking occurs when a person consumes multiple media forms on different devices simultaneously, like Twitter on a phone and Netflix on a laptop. While this does not always include news consumption, it can increase negative responses to current events when it does.

Mira Wakefield is a Carlmont senior who is the President of the Junior State of America Club on campus. As part of her role, she stays up-to-date on current events for club discussions. Part of that is being aware of where she gets her information.

“I try very hard to be cognizant of where I’m getting my news, specifically news that I’ll relate to others,” Wakefield said.

“I always try to check myself when I relay a current event and remember where I originally heard that.”

But Wakefield was not always so conscious, especially when she was younger.

“I would scroll not necessarily on social media, but just on news app where the news alerts pop up on your computer,” Wakefield said. “But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve become sort of

more cognizant of the reputability of certain news sources, and also the way that that can kind of bombard and desensitize, I’ve started to go directly to the source.”

The way a person consumes media and what they consume can affect their feelings towards current events. According to a study conducted

by Amy J. Lim, Edison Tan, and Tania Lim in PubMed, this is especially apparent in fake news consumption. “Fake news is more likely to elicit death-related thoughts than real news,” which causes “people [to] share the news articles to feel connected to close others as a way of resolving the existential anxiety.”

While this news consumption and distribution methods can be unhealthy, they often feel efficient. For people who are busy, they might seem the most appealing.

“If you are a kid, or you’re a teen, you’ve got a lot going on, you’ve got school, you’ve got friends, family responsibilities, extracurriculars, you want to stay informed; you want to know what’s going on in the world around you. But you don’t necessarily have time to sit down, you know, every morning with your cup of coffee and read the newspaper. It makes sense to head to Twitter or to Instagram,” Wakefield said.

The adverse effects of consuming news from social media are well-documented with respect to accurate perceptions of events: while nearly half of U.S. adults get their news from social media, according to Pew Research, fake news is more likely to spread farther and faster than true news, according to a study published by Soroush Vosough, Deb Roy, and Sinan Aral in Science. However, this does not diminish the fact that getting updates on current events from social media is also associated with negative responses to news, and not just in teenagers.

“That might be a bit of a misconception that older generations do more time with their news and are more direct

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about where they get their news from. Because I know that my dad, for example, is a big Twitter user,” Wakefield said.

With the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, many people spent more hours online, and Wakefield found herself media multitasking with news more often.

“There was like a COVID briefing every day [on] the PBS NewsHour, [...] I would watch it, but I would usually, at some point, keep it on but go to my phone. I’d either message people about what was going on when we started COVID,” Wakefield said. “I would actually go to another social media sometimes and look at current events on there.”

Excessive media consumption in any form is likely to increase anxiety, making the effects of media multitasking even more severe. One study on PubMed conducted in Russia on the effects of COVID-19-related news illustrated that “Time spent following news on COVID-19 was strongly associated with an increased [anxiety] adjusted for baseline anxiety level.”

On top of that, many people spent more time watching or reading news about any topic with the increased amount of time online during the pandemic.

“I think the pandemic has definitely increased people’s propensity to consume news in a really rapid, voracious way,” Wakefield said. “Sometimes it feels like the only way to keep up with all those things is to be constantly consuming news media in very small bites essentially all the time.”

Anita Beroza and Rebecca Von Tersch

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Sincerely,

5th Period Seniors Design by Malina Wong

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