Highlander Newsmagazine Volume 11 Issue 1 by Highlander

HIGHLANDER CAN A TREND SAVE THE WORLD? Scotlight: Trendy Environmentalism READ IT ON PG. 16

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:

Carlmont behind the scenes .................... PG. 12 What is a sport? ..................................... PG. 22 The price of environmentalism ............... PG. 30

Vol. XI Issue I | September 2019 | Carlmont High School | scotscoop.com

HIGHLANDER newsmagazine

Highlander Editors-in-Chief Nisha Marino Emma Romanowsky Scot Scoop Editor-in-Chief Veronica Roseborough ScotCenter Editor-in-Chief Mandy Hitchcock Publicity Director Rachel Matatyaou Faculty Adviser Justin Raisner Editors Andrea Butler Molly Donaldson Francesca D’Urzo Rachel McCrea Kimberly Mitchell Emma O’Connor Mari Ramirez Auva Soheili Staff Writers Joshua Baxter Audrey Boyce Brianna Cheng Samantha Chu Eoin Cunningham Natalie Doud Anna Feng Nihal Karim Zachary Khouri Viveka Kurup Ailee Lim Audrey Luey Ayal Meyers Miki Nguyen Miles Ozorio Bella Reeves Ava Richards Alena Ruhstaller Leela Stuepfert Maddy Ting Taisiia Yakovenko Highlander is a newsmagazine dedicated to providing Carlmont students, staff, and the 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 editorial was written by Emma Romanowsky and the editorial cartoon was drawn by Rachel Matatyaou.

in this issue... features 4-11

The VSCO Girl phenomenon Eighteen years in Afghanistan Colleges want more from students than ever Lying in the news

campus 12-15 Carlmont behind the scenes

Sam Stampleman's ballet career

sports 22-25 The definition of a sport How coaching styles impact teans

opinion 26-29

Why take a language in high school? Garbage management needs to change

SCOTLIGHT: Trendy Environmentalism Scotlight is Highlander newsmagazine’s in-depth cover story section. In this issue, Scotlight is focused on the environmental movement that has picked up in the past few years, particularly the clout that now comes with being an “environmentalist.” Now that there’s a worldwide concern about climate change, is trendy environmentalism enough to save the planet?

READ ON PAGE 16 Scotlight was designed by Kimberly Mitchell and written by Maddy Ting.

Carlmont High School 1400 Alameda de las Pulgas, Belmont, CA

CARLMONT AT A GLANCE Every day, students have options for how they spend their lunch. Eating, chatting, and playing games are all ways they unwind in preparation for the second half of the day. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lunchtime on Wednesday, September 17, 2019. Carlmont at a Glance pictures taken by Francesca Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Urzo and Nisha Marino.

“And I oop—”

The ‘VSCO Girl’ stereotype personality shames girls Nihal Karim Here’s the tea, sis. The VSCO Girls have been seen all over the internet. Well known phrases such as “sksksksk” have been repeated and made fun of by many teens. The “VSCO Girl” stereotype is a basic girl stereotype that emerged online and became popular in 2019. Many memes were posted which contributed to the creation of the VSCO Girl aesthetic. VSCO is a popular app among teens for photo editing. Aside from the app’s appealing filters, many users like it because the app does not allow people to comment or like someone’s pictures, which makes it seem like a more accepting and inclusive platform to many of the users. The app influenced the VSCO Girl stereotype of a teen girl who likes to shop at brands like Urban Outfitters and Brandy Melville, wear oversized t-shirts or crop tops, use accessories like friendship bracelets, and more. In general, it is seen as a trend where teenage girls embrace popular brands and use a lot of products associated with the stereotype to create a beachy, street aesthetic. The trend became mainstream through social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok. These memes typically make fun of or parody those who use some of the stereotypical items worn by VSCO Girls, such as Hydro Flasks, friendship bracelets, and scrunchies. In addition, these parodies often include popular phrases used by the girls such as “and I oop—,” which emerged from a viral Instagram video of drag queen Jasmine Masters, and “sksksksk,” which signifies laughing or snickering in text conversations. “I don’t think it’s right to have a negative connotation on VSCO Girls. It’s not right to say that this is what VSCO girls are and that they are really annoying. Not everyone who wears things that are a part of the stereotype considers themselves a VSCO Girl or even has a VSCO account,” Tayler Wise, a senior, said. Even though the stereotype has VSCO in the name, it centers around the behavior and the fashion style of the girls who are considered a part of the trend. “I think the stereotype is kind of funny, especially because many girls identify as VSCO Girls,” Leah

4 HIGHLANDER FEATURES

McMillen, a junior, said. “This doesn’t apply to everyone who uses VSCO, though.” Since the memes increased in popularity, many teenage girls have been teased for conforming to all or some parts of the stereotype. Although the VSCO Girl lifestyle often includes promoting positive environmental change, that aspect is made fun of as well. “I think the VSCO Girl stereotype can be perceived in many different ways. On one hand, the girls are spreading awareness about a bunch of different environmental concerns, such as the plastic levels in the ocean,” Taylor Snow, a junior, said. “On the other hand, the stereotype is hurting a lot of girls who just want to fit in with the high school crowd that can be harsh at times.” The memes portray VSCO Girls as annoying or basic, which may result in some false assumptions about teens. “I think that having this ‘basic girl’ stereotype could be annoying for people who like some of the things that are considered stereotypical like shell necklaces and messy buns,” Wise said. “This causes them to be put into categories that they may not necessarily fit into.” Since the stereotype is seen as a joke, many teenage girls dislike the term VSCO Girl and being associated with it. “Honestly, I don’t get why people are shaming VSCO Girls because they are just being themselves. People should just be able to do or wear what they want without being made fun of or teased for it,” Megan Lo, a sophomore, said. However, since so many of the items considered stereotypical are commonly used by teenage girls, many people stop caring about the negative trend and wear what they want. “Since we’re in California, many of the typical VSCO Girl items like Hydro Flasks, Birkenstocks, and friendship bracelets were pretty popular here before they blew up nation wide,” Snow said. “At the end of the day, it isn’t really a big deal.” Because the trend makes fun of commonly used things and is generally seen as a joke, most teenagers tend to look at the situation as a meme and continue to wear and act in these stereotypical ways. “Personally, I think the whole trend should be taken with a grain of salt and not too seriously,” Snow said. “We should all just laugh about it.”

Some traits characteristic of the VSCO Girl are common around Carlmont, like friendship bracelets, Hydro Flasks, and scrunchies.

SEPTEMBER 2019 HIGHLANDER 5

Afghanistan turns 18

The effects of the US’s longest ongoing conflict Anna Feng America has been at war in Afghanistan for your entire life. From your very first breath to this exact moment, this MiddleEastern country has been a constant on the newswaves. Afghanistan has been one of the defining events of this millennium. Longer than World War II and the Korean War, the war in Afghanistan is one of the most drawn out American conflicts in recent history. Since its start in 2001, the Afghanistan War has claimed the lives of more than 6,000 U.S. soldiers, with nearly 50,000 soldiers wounded and upwards of 30,000 Afghan civilians dead. The war began on Oct. 7, 2001 as a direct result of the 9/11 attacks, which the U.S. believed to have been orchestrated by Osama Bin Laden, the man in charge of the terrorist group al-Qaeda. The Taliban, a radical militant Islamic

group, allowed al-Qaeda to set up training camps in Afghanistan. According to the BBC, the U.S. pressured Afghan leaders to hand over Bin Laden. When they refused, the U.S. began bombing the area. In the beginning, polls showed a high approval rating of the war. However, in a 2018 report by Pew Research, approval ratings have dipped from 83% in 2002 to just 45%. “The goals [of the war] were to oust the Taliban, eradicate the al-Qaeda presence in the country, kill or capture al-Qaeda leaders, and prevent Afghanistan from becoming a safe haven for terrorists,” said Kenneth Schultz, a professor of political science at Stanford University. “We achieved the first three goals, but stabilizing Afghanistan has been hard, and we may not be able to prevent the Taliban from coming back to power.”

U.S. opinions on the war in Afghanistan have changed over time

2009

62% of adults believed the U.S. would succeed 29% of adults believed the U.S. would fail

2012

58% of adults believed the U.S. would succeed 34% of adults believed the U.S. would fail

2015

36% of adults believed the U.S. has mostly succeeded 56% of adults believed the U.S. has mostly failed

2018

35% of adults believed the U.S. has mostly succeeded 49% of adults believed the U.S. has mostly failed

Source: Pew Research Center

6 HIGHLANDER FEATURES

Nisha Marino

This sentiment is echoed in the same report by Pew, with 49% of adults saying that the U.S. has failed in Afghanistan. With half of the population suggesting that this effort is a failure, it begs the question: why continue the effort? Part of the reason why the war has gone on for so long is the fact that the Taliban has been extremely effective in regrouping and mounting an insurgence against U.S. troops and the American-backed Afghan government. Schultz said, “A variety of factors have contributed to the Taliban’s success, including the ability to operate from across the border in Pakistan, corruption in the Afghan government in Kabul, and the diversion of U.S. resources after the March 2003 invasion of Iraq. Plus, as the war dragged on, it became less popular with the American people, making it harder to sustain our presence there.” Overall, the Afghanistan War will cost American taxpayers about $975 billion by the end of 2019, according to a report by The Balance. Although there are talks of pulling out of the war, Schultz doesn’t believe that will happen anytime soon. “Trump very clearly wants to pull out, and it seems like he would like to be able to do this before next year’s election. Knowing this, the Taliban do not have incentive to concede much, and it’s hard to see why they would honor any promises they make once we leave,” Schultz said. “The main concern is that, if the U.S. pulls out, the government in Kabul will fall to the Taliban, and the country could once again become a magnet for terrorist groups. The first would be seen as a major defeat, as well as a loss for any hopes of democracy and human rights in Afghanistan. The Trump administration is looking for guarantees from the Taliban that they won’t support terrorist groups, but it is hard to know whether such a promise is credible.” Now, kids that grew up in Afghanistan’s shadow are old enough to fight in it. Vinny Cagno, a junior, plans to join the Air Force after graduating from Carlmont. “I have an older brother in the military

President Bush visits Bagram Air Field / Staff Sgt. Samuel Morse / U.S. Air Force / {{PD-USGov-Military-Air Force}}

Former President George W. Bush greets military members at the Bagram Air Field in Afghanistan on Dec. 15, 2008, seven years after the beginning of the war. and I wanted to join the military because I want to do something good for the community,” Cagno said. “Just because you hear violence is a key topic when it comes to the military doesn’t mean you should be afraid of learning more.” For those who are aware of the perils of war, there are many mixed opinions. According to a report by The Military Times, veterans are more likely to disagree with the Afghanistan War, with 58% saying the war is futile. Gregory Schoenstein, a history teacher at Carlmont, joined the military in the 1990s and served in Germany and Bosnia. While he agrees that it was appropriate to invade Afghanistan after 9/11, he believes that several key decisions have led to the Afghanistan stalemate. “I think that there were some missed opportunities to reach more decisive outcomes earlier when our country decided instead to launch an ill-conceived invasion of Iraq, which drew important resources away from the legitimate fight in Afghanistan against those who had

actually attacked us. Because of the unnecessary distraction and tragedy of the Iraq War, the Afghanistan War has become our longest war,” Schoenstein said. “As a soldier, you do not get to choose when or where you are sent to fight, so you hope and expect that decision-makers respect your willingness to serve and only send you into harm’s way when it is necessary, and when it has been well thought out. It angers me when decision makers disrespect the service and sacrifice of young Americans by recklessly sending them into war without adequate planning or preparation, or a legitimate cause.” Meanwhile, as someone who grew up during the Afghanistan War, Cagno believes that it was necessary. “War is something that happens in order to prevent more violence,” Cagno said. “Obviously it isn’t a positive thing, but in order to have a solid country and foundation, war is inevitable.”

However, as the war drags on, that solid foundation seems unlikely. In the end, Americans must remember that they are fighting against an enemy in their homeland. Schultz said, “Whatever you think of [the Taliban], they live there and are fighting for their vision of their country while we are foreigners. We are not going to outlast them because we can leave and they can’t. Some kind of deal that paves the way for our exit seems like a prudent move after 18 years of war there.”

Anna Feng

SEPTEMBER 2019 HIGHLANDER 7

Students find new ways to cope

As colleges demand more on applications, She hits the alarm clock, silencing the blaring tone that woke her from her five-hour slumber. As she walks out of the house, she makes a mental list of her tasks for the day: a history outline, a couple of math assignments, an English paper, and a science lecture. During school, she takes meticulous notes, making sure not to miss a thing lest it appear on a pop quiz. She skips lunch to finish up math assignments. After school, she goes to soccer practice, where she plays to exhaustion. She dashes to the coffee shop, where she works until 11 p.m. Only then can she come home and do her homework. Finally, at 2 a.m., her head hits the pillow, and she sinks into a dreamless sleep, only to be woken up again by the blaring alarm. This is the life of a high school student, who is expected to balance rigorous courses with time-consuming extracurriculars and still have a life. Is this really the best way to experience childhood? To have a competitive college application in this environment, many students feel the need to demonstrate academic, extracurricular, and testing rigor. They focus solely on activities related to their college application. In order to understand how college admissions have become so rigorous, one must look at how the college populations have changed to become so competitive. One of the most significant changes to student populations was the introduction of the GI Bill in 1944. The act gave World War II veterans low-cost loans, including tuition support, which helped put hundreds of veterans through higher education. According to TIME magazine, in 1947, over 50% of college students were veterans. This has led to a vast number of people attending college, causing growing competition over spots in highly-ranked colleges. “At Saint Francis, my old school, a lot of people are completely focused on college; they don’t have a life outside college applications. Instead of going to dances 8 HIGHLANDER FEATURES

on Friday nights, they’ll stay home and do homework,” said Emilia Cadenasso, a junior transfer student at Carlmont. “If you overthink the college admissions process, then it becomes a lot harder to get there. But because they have a specific goal in mind and work towards it, they end up getting into the schools they want.” Due to the competitive environment that college applications create, students are pressured to participate in extracurriculars for the sake of those applications. “I’m trying to get on the soccer team again because it looks better for my application if I’ve been on the team for many years,” Joshua Stattenfield, a junior, said. Some students at Carlmont have also taken this approach, using the GPA system to their advantage and boosting their grades. “Last year, I was kind of stressed out because if I even got one or two B’s for one semester, it would screw with my GPA. But it doesn’t matter as much this year because I’m taking five five-point classes. So I can get two B’s each semester and still have a 4.5 GPA,” Darren Yao, a junior, said. For others, the difficulty of creating a competitive application can dissuade

them from applying to certain schools. This leads to a more pessimistic view of the system as a whole, especially when compounded with parents’ expectations for their children to succeed. “The other day, I was with a friend, and we were in line for drinks. This mom was talking about her daughter that goes to Harvard. She was saying how her daughter took seven AP classes and did all of these extracurriculars. I thought, ‘I don’t think I can do that. I don’t think I can compete with people like her or her daughter,’” said Maya Devalcheruvu, a junior at Sequoia High School. The intense competition and comparison, especially over grades and classes, can have a negative impact on a student’s mental health, especially when they feel that they are not smart or good enough. “I’m not taking any five-point classebecause I don’t think that’s the right level for me. I try not to compare myself, but I think everyone does. If someone says, ‘Oh, they have a 4.3 GPA,’ I always think, ‘Well, I could have done that. Right? I should try and push for that,’” Stattenfield said. This cutthroat and cynical view towards the college application system can pull

Fall enrollment in post-secondary institutions

Fall enrollment, in milions

Brianna Cheng

Infographic

15 10 5 0

1965

1975

1985

Source: National Center for Education Statistics

1995

2005

2015 Auva Soheili

with rising college expectations

students struggle to rise to the challenge people into a spiral of stress, doubt, and dissatisfaction. During their high school career, some high school alumni focused on creating the best application they could. They regret the fact that they weren’t able to spend more of their time experiencing their childhood. “Sometimes, I think our self-worth is based on GPAs, test scores, and the persona we built to be accepted by colleges while neglecting to take care of ourselves. I fell down deep into that rabbit hole. Sure, I’m at an amazing school now, and I have a lot of choices, but were all those honors classes in middle and high school worth it?” said Alyssa Higdon, a Carlmont alumna and freshman at Cal Poly SLO. Tammy DePaoli, Head Counselor at Carlmont, is also worried about the prioritization of college applications, especially over childhood experiences. “I don’t feel like teens are fully appreciating their adolescence when they’re concentrating so much on high school and getting into college. They’re not really enjoying their high school experience, and I feel that it’s taking something away from students,” DePaoli said. DePaoli remembers being able to earn a living wage off of a high school diploma in the Bay Area. Nowadays, with rising living costs, especially in the Bay Area, more students are required to get higher education to make the same living wage. The growing population of this area also has a significant impact on the number of students moving on to higher education.

"It may be easier to say than to believe, but the process really is about choosing what is best for you." Julia Brettle Olin College freshman

“Well, what’s happening in California, and you might know this from Carlmont’s population, is that the population keeps growing. The number of colleges isn’t growing proportionally to the population. That’s what’s making admissions even more competitive than they used to be,” DePaoli said. Despite this outlook, students are finding new ways to cope with and understand the admissions system. Some are taking a direct approach to reducing stress. “I’m trying to get stuff done early so I don’t have to worry about it within the next few months of applying to colleges. Then I won’t have as much stress because I have more time,” Jackie Zucket, a junior, said. Students have also relied on traditional approaches to reducing stress, like relying on a support system of friends and family. Devalcheruvu believes this support system is not only a good way to spend time with loved ones, but also helps balance the stress. Others are changing their mindsets about how they view the process. “For me, this mindset of comparing myself to others, especially from different schools, is helpful. But I think that reflects on how I am as a person. It definitely gives me the motivation to do stuff,” Yao said. Despite all of these changes and coping mechanisms, the one piece of advice that has truly stuck is really trying not to let these decisions become so serious. Julia Brettle, a freshman at Olin College, summarized that mindset best. “In the end, your self-worth doesn’t hinge on the college you can get into. It may be easier to say than to believe, but the process really is about choosing what is best for you,” Brettle said.

Brianna Cheng

SEPTEMBER 2019 HIGHLANDER 9

All the believable lies

False information in politics causes distrust Taisiia Yakovenko In 1846, President James K. Polk called for Congress to declare war on Mexico due to alleged hostilities from Mexico’s side. In a struggle that became known as the Mexican-American War, the American troops delivered the first blow over a rumored attack from Mexican soldiers. As it was later revealed, the Mexican attack was falsified. The declaration of war and the U.S.’s victory allowed the country to expand its territory and contribute to the idea of Manifest Destiny. The struggle that started over a false event led to a great political gain for the U.S. The Mexican-American War is just one example of how falsifying events or ideas could lead to political or economic gain. According to Public Seminar, a website that debates pressing political issues, in the past couple of years politics has become about falsifying information and debating on what the facts actually are. “Politics is all about compromise, and we have somewhat stepped away from that,” said David Braunstein, former mayor of Belmont and history teacher. “Today, politicians argue about what the facts are instead of focusing on the policies. It’s all about winning or losing so very little gets

done.” Whether or not false information in politics is deliberate, it creates some room for politicians to pursue different agendas. “Officials could choose to spread false information because if they say it enough times, many will come to believe it to be true. After that, politicians could use that as the rationale for any policy,” Braunstein said. Modern methods of communication have sped up the distribution of false information. According to LA Times, social networks such as Instagram or Facebook spread information efficiently. “Social media is the root of fake news,” said AP Government teacher Kristine Weisman. “In the past couple of years, the use of social media took off dramatically, and fake news has become a more prominent issue since social media is highly suited to promoting information that has not been fact-checked.” Modern technology may serve as a way to make people more connected to their government, but it can be a double-edged sword. In democratic societies, the general population needs to stay informed to be able to participate in politics and policy making decisions. “Fake news has been an issue in the

Historical myths

past couple of years. The existence and rapid spread of fake news places a lot of responsibility to the consumers. They become more responsible for fact checking and filtering all the information,” Tasneem Khalak, a senior, said. According to a 2016 Pew Research Center study, 64% of Americans are greatly confused about basic facts due to the spread of fake news. “Fake news, which includes false information and extreme bias, is a huge part of politics now,” Abby Brendza, a senior, said. “Sources with extreme political biases spread information that strongly favors their side, and most of the time, they do not include information that disagrees with their bias. In this way, publications become more opinionated and less trustworthy.” The existence and rapid spread of false information, especially in political fields, has resulted in the misinformation of the general public, which could have a longterm political and social effect. “When people realize that they are misinformed or that they can not trust their government, they generally do one of two things,” Braunstein said. “They can decide to take a more active role in politics and try to change the system, or they give

BUSTED!

Piltdown Man

In 1912, Charles Dawson claimed that he found a missing link between a human and an ape which became a major scientific breakthrough. However, in the 1950s, when technology became more advanced, it was discovered that Dawson fabricated the majority of the scientific findings by artificially producing scientific evidence. Dawson’s “missing link” turned out to be false.

The Pentagon Papers

The Pentagon papers, previously known as the “Report of the Office of the Secretary of Defense Vietnam Task Force,” were completed in 1969 and bound into 47 volumes. Some of the most damning information in the Pentagon Papers indicated that the administration of John F. Kennedy had actively helped overthrow and assassinate South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem in 1963.

10 HIGHLANDER FEATURES

Is it really your opinion? Francesca D'Urzo

up and no longer participate in politics. Unfortunately, many choose the latter.” Participation in politics is crucial because the U.S. government functions on principles of democracy. False information may affect democracy by creating false impressions about the political situation for the electorate and forcing them to argue based on untrue events. “Fake news can affect politics by altering the outcomes of elections,” Weisman said. “A misinformed society would be more likely to push towards the creation of new policies based on false information.” In addition, fake news can alter the purpose of the government since the pressure from society causes political officials to sway away from their primary goal of policy-making and forces them to debate the truth for further decisions. “The government is an institution that represents all the different ideas and needs of the society,” Braunstein said. “If politicians or elected representatives are arguing on what the facts are and having a ‘loser vs. winner’ mindset, then very little is getting done.” Although false information will exist in politics to a certain extent, the general

public needs to have methods to distinguish between true and false information to fully participate in U.S. politics and have the ability to make well-informed decisions. “Political efficacy is a concept that states

“Unfortunately, fake news undermines the very foundation of democracy since it compromises the society by providing false information.” Kristine Weisman AP Government teacher

that if people believe that they can make a difference in politics, they will participate more,” Weisman said. “Unfortunately, fake news undermines the very foundation of democracy since it compromises the society by providing false information.” In modern society, false information has become a tool that politicians used to advance their campaigns. “In the most recent presidential elections it became clear that media could be used as a strong political tool for the candidates,” said AP U.S. History teacher Jarrod Harrison. “Fake news, memes, and all the information that no one bothered to check is what made some candidates stand out among others. In a sense, it forced people to pay attention to the publicity around the candidates instead of their campaigns.” This use of media and news sources takes the attention away from pressing political issues and creates room for doubts from the electorate. “In the age of the internet it is very easy to fabricate information and interfere with political realities in that way,” Harrison said. “Government is all about legitimacy, so when people don’t know what they can trust, it all falls apart.”

SEPTEMBER 2019 HIGHLANDER 11

Hidden support Students lost in the crowd receive aid Rachel Matatyaou

Most students know her as the woman at the front desk helping with the bus schedule or locker difficulties. But to 18 Carlmont students, she is so much more. Terri Plack assists students in need and is a go-between person for various programs set up at Carlmont, such as the Pantry and Carlmont Cares. “Kids are not able to think and focus on schoolwork if their basic needs aren’t being met. I feel like it is my mission in life to make sure that all kids have their basic needs met, and from there, then we can support them to think about learning,” Plack said. “Otherwise, it’s hard for them to come to school and focus on an algebra test.” The Pantry is a program at Carlmont that provides students with free access to school supplies, snacks, hygiene products, and new clothing. All resources are donated by Carlmont parents and community members, and as of late, the program is receiving large amounts of donations. In addition, Plack also helps organize the Carlmont Cares Program in conjunction with Access Commission, a sub-commission of ASB’s Service Council. Carlmont Cares supports English language learners, foster, and homeless students at Carlmont. Because the 2019-2020 school year is Access Commission’s second year of existence, they are developing the program daily. This commission was set in place to help students step out of their comfort zone, whether it be socially, academically, or financially. And, with the main goal of ASB being to engage students beyond academics, their goal is being achieved. “Three years ago, we expanded Human Relations Commission and spent the 12 HIGHLANDER CAMPUS

summer planning. Lucy Perone, a 2019 graduate, spearheaded the whole program and gave us the direction of Carlmont Cares,” said Access Commission facilitator, Ayan Dixit. Carlmont Cares ensures that all students feel safe and comfortable by keeping their identity hidden; Access Commission doesn’t know any names of the Carlmont students they’re helping. Access Commission, Plack, and ASB advisor, Jim Kelly make it a priority to respect the privacy of all students involved, and that’s where Plack comes in the picture. Plack works one-on-one with students and Access Commission to ensure they’re receiving adequate support based upon their individual needs. For instance, Carlmont Cares provides back to school packages, bus passes, free and reduced lunches, as well as prom and homecoming accessories. “One of the girls came up to me at prom and tapped me on the back. She had on a dress that she got from here, she had on shoes, her hair was done, and she had on a corsage. Everything was done, and everything was provided by ASB; it was like Cinderella,” Plack said. While Carlmont Cares’ main goal is to ensure students have what they need in order to be successful, it has had some other long-lasting impacts as well. Students receiving support develop a close relationship with Plack, as she creates a safe and comfortable environment for them at school. An anonymous student in the English Language program said, “It makes me feel really special because they don’t forget about me. I would like to say thank you so much for making me feel better. It helps me feel less stress at school and I most of all, feel special.”

S E P T E M B E R 2019 H I G H L A N D E R 13 Rachel Matatyaou

Sam Stampleman dances into the

The dance journey of one of the youngest

Francesca D’Urzo

Sam Stampleman practices on strengthening his grand jeté and ballet technique in the dance studio.

Francesca D’Urzo The velvet curtains rustle as the dancers rush to rehearse their routines, perfect their appearance, and mentally prepare for the adrenaline of the stage. It’s the annual San Francisco Ballet Nutcracker performance. Interrupting the meticulously jeweled tutus and pink tights that line the walls of the dressing rooms sits a pair of black leggings and a small white jacket. That costume belongs to Sam Stampleman, one of the youngest professional male ballet dancers in the Bay Area. Stampleman has pursued dance within the Belmont community for over ten years and now, at age 14, focuses on further expanding his dance abilities and turning his passion into a career. “I began dancing when I was about four years old when my parents enrolled me in a few Irish dancing classes for fun. Little did I know, from that point on, dance would become a constant in my life and develop into a passion I never knew I had,” Stampleman said. After a couple of years of Irish dancing, he transitioned to a local Belmont dance studio known as HeartBeat Dance Academy where he switched his focus to a variety of different dance styles, such as lyrical, jazz, hip-hop, tap, acrobatics, and most importantly, ballet. Natalie Silfvast, one of Stampleman’s former dance teammates, said, “I will never forget the first day I saw Sam dance at Heart14 HIGHLANDER CAMPUS

Beat; the way he executes his movement is breathtaking. Sam brings such positive energy into the dance studio and he is such a well-rounded dancer. I always knew he was going to go far in the world of dance.” Stampleman accepted an offer to be one of the original members of HeartBeat Dance Academy’s competition team, where he competed in multiple group routines and solos that have been awarded regionally and nationally. “Joining HeartBeat Dance was one of the most pivotal moments in my dance experience as it opened my eyes to the possibility of boys being able to participate in different styles of dance, as well as my overall passion for dance,” Stampleman said. “I was the only boy on the competition team and in all of my dance classes which was an extremely valuable experience that molded me into the confident dancer I am today.” After almost seven years at HeartBeat Dance, Stampleman discovered his love for the style of ballet and decided to switch to Bravissimo Dance Studio, a studio that places a larger emphasis on male ballet training. After participating in an abundance of Bravissimo ballet showcases and competitions, Stampleman was invited to an exclusive summer dance intensive for the San Francisco Ballet where he was then offered an official professional position at their San Francisco studio. He initially declined the offer due to scheduling conflicts, however, the company was so interested in him that they convinced him to accept through an abundance of dance accommodations.

hearts of the San Francisco Ballet male ballet recruits from the Bay Area

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rz o

awaiting the annual Nutcracker auditions in the hopes of being cast again. “Overall, dance has been the one steady constant throughout my entire life and I do not know where I would be without it,” Stampleman said. “Dance has helped me grow into the ambitious person I am today and I cannot wait to continue to keep growing and learning throughout my future dance experiences.”

“Being able to be trained by such a prestigious company like the San Francisco Ballet has been the most surreal experience in my life so far. My technique has improved tremendously and I have finally been able to focus on a potential ballet career at a young age,” Stampleman said. “I went from this quiet little boy who took dance lessons for fun to the unapologetic ballet dancer I am today.” Throughout his professional ballet training, Stampleman has won an extensive array of regional and national awards and titles within the dance community. Some of his greatest achievements include placing in the Top 12 Youth American Grand Prix ballet competition in 2016 and winning full scholarships to the annual professional Houston Ballet dance intensives where he dances at Level 7, the elite dance division. Along with his magnitude of awards, Stampleman has also gained the opportunity to perform in the San Francisco Ballet’s infamous annual Nutcracker performances where he is one of the youngest ballet cast members. “As a kid, my family would always take me to see the Nutcracker every year and being allowed to perform in the show has been beyond surreal. Being able to train with such hardworking and driven performers makes me a better dancer and person every day and I would never trade that,” Stampleman said. “The atmosphere of the cast is one of my favorite aspects of the Nutcracker show as everyone is bonded through their love of ballet, no matter what gender or background, and I find that remarkable.” The San Francisco Ballet has offered Stampleman a positive and supportive environment where he can embrace his ballet talents free of judgment and focus on developing his professional career at a young age. Jordan Dooley, one of Stampleman’s former dance teammates, said, “I had the privilege of dancing with Sam for a few years at HeartBeat Dance Academy and it is truly inspiring to see him thriving in the world of professional ballet. He is such a dedicated dancer and would always make me a better dancer whenever we competed together. Ballet has always been Sam’s calling and I am beyond happy that he is turning that passion into a career at such a young age.” Along with furthering his ballet career, Stampleman strives to spread a positive influence to those who face adversity within the dance community, especially boys in ballet who may feel isolated by societal stigma. “The main piece of advice I would give to anyone who feels excluded from a community, whether it be dance or another group, is to focus on your personal goals rather than waste time attempting to please everyone else. Once I realized that my passion for ballet is individual to me, I stopped caring what anyone else thinks,” Stampleman said. “I have been in and out of intensive ballet programs where I have constantly been told that I will never be good enough, and that criticism is what lit a fire under me to keep going and to keep achieving my goals no matter what.” As of today, Stamplean continues to pursue his ballet profession through his San Francisco Ballet training and is currently

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SEPTEMBER 2019 HIGHLANDER 15

ARE Y REALLY #SAVI

THE

EARTH

YOU LY ING

er alarm rings, filling her room with soothing nature sounds as birds chirp outside. Sparrows and finches surround a bird feeder outside her window, nibbling at the seeds. As she gets ready for school, she slides her Lokai bracelet onto her wrist, fitting it into place alongside her Pura Vida one. She fills her eco-friendly Hydro Flask with filtered water before putting it inside her backpack, a warm yellow Fjällräven made from environmentally-friendly material. Next comes her notebooks, made from post-consumer recycled paper with her notes from the previous day’s lecture. Her family’s Tesla gleams in the morning light, charged by solar panels and ready to go. She opens the door only to dash back inside her house, quickly snagging her metal straw for later when she drops by Starbucks. At school, she pulls out a salad from Trader Joe’s from her Lululemon tote bag, dropping the leftover container inside the recycling bin when she’s done. Her metal lunch box is filled with apple slices, to be eaten later when she’s driving back home. During class, she hops onto Ecosia to finish her current events research project, which is due tomorrow. She colors her poster using Crayola colored pencils made from 100% reforested wood. After she finishes her drive home, she takes a quick 5-minute shower, putting on a purifying facial mask while sipping on a green smoothie. As she flops onto the couch, she scrolls idly through Instagram, liking posts and occasionally commenting. She hovers over a video of a turtle; the poor creature lies limp as a person struggles to extract a straw from its nostril. The video is captioned, “#SaveTheTurtles.” Immediately, she reposts the video to her story, writing, “Turtles need our help!” Within 5 minutes, she’s moved on, back to enjoying cute puppy pictures and aesthetic outfit designs. Another day, another video reposted. She does all of these things every day without fail. But is it enough?

17 Design by Kimberly Mitchell, Writing by Maddy Ting

For decades, people have sipped their Coca-Colas, milkshakes, and smoothies using plastic straws without a second thought. That is, until 2015, when a video of a turtle with a plastic straw up its nostril was filmed by marine biologist Christine Figgener and posted on YouTube. However, the video was relatively unnoticed until 2018, when it became the catalyst for one of the largest environmentalist trends to date: the plastic straw ban. The plastic straw ban gained traction on Instagram, shooting to stardom as the largest trend in 2018. Famous faces such as Tom Brady and Chelsea Clinton all pledged to join the #StopSucking movement. But celebrities weren’t the only ones spreading the word — normal, everyday people were actively participating in the trend too. Anthony Yip, a sophomore, noticed his feed filled with posts about the ban as the trend gained support and attention from society. “I heard about how San Francisco banned plastic straws over Instagram,” Yip said. “People were spreading it like crazy.” Business owners that offered alternatives to plastic straws saw a major increase in sales as more and more people joined the trend. Ryan Lysaght, the owner of Elegancy Jewelers in southern Maryland, sells packs of stainless steel straws on Etsy. In an interview by Money, he reported that orders for metal straws jumped 743% in 2018 compared to the same period in 2017. “It’s a struggle trying to keep up with the amount of people,” Lysaght said. The demand for alternatives to plastic straws also urged politicians to take action. In 2018, Seattle became the largest U.S. city to ban plastic straws, with smaller cities such as Washington, D.C., Oakland, Monmouth Beach, and Fort Myers in tow. Shortly after Seattle banned plastic straws, Starbucks pledged to ban all plastic straws by 2020 in favor of eco-friendly alternatives alongside other companies such as Alaska Airlines, McDonalds, and Disney. Despite all the hype surrounding the plastic straw ban, it’s hard to say whether the trend will last the test of time. According to Science X, a news service focusing on science and technology, straws equate to about 0.02% of the nearly 9 million tons of plastic waste that’s dumped 18

“PEOPLE FOCUS

SO MUCH TIME AND ENERGY AND MONEY ON THE PLASTIC STRAWS BUT DON’T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE BIGGER STUFF.” _

MAYA THOMAS

into our oceans each year. This has led some to doubt the ban on straws, noting that while many straws are used and discarded, they don’t end up accounting for a large part of all trash. “It’s a good idea in theory, but straws account for so little of the waste that’s in the ocean that it’s just a fruitless effort. They should actually try doing it where it matters,” Emma Evans, a junior, said. According to the Global Wildlife Conservation, the reasoning behind banning the straw lies in a straw’s simplicity. “To us, [straws were] the ‘gateway plastic’ to the larger, more serious plastic pollution conversation. Plus, plastic straws are social tools and props, the perfect conversation starter,” wrote Dune Ives, Executive Director of the Lonely Whale Foundation. “In starting the conversation by pairing something playful alongside our gross human overconsumption, we aimed to nudge people toward understanding the issue.” Maya Thomas, a senior at Carlmont, points out a potential flaw in this plan. “There is no doubt that yes, banning plastic straws is better for the environment than doing nothing, even if it is by a very small amount,” Thomas said. “But the problem is people saying, ‘Okay, now we’re out of plastic straws and we’ve saved the world. We’ve saved the environment. Let’s go back to thinking about something else.’ People focus so much time and energy and money on the plastic straws but don’t do anything about the bigger stuff.” Behavioral Scientist Emily Snoek defines the phenomenon that Thomas references as the “hassle factor.” “For most people, declining a straw is easy, painless, and effortless,” Snoek wrote in an article for Creative Science. “There is not much hassle to the process, and so the decision is far easier to make than one that is hard, painful, takes effort, or costs money, aka most of the other ways individual people can reduce their impact on the environment.” An example of a trend that lacks the ‘hassle factor’ is Ecosia, the eco-friendly search engine. Ecosia is a non-profit that donates 80% of the revenue it makes to planting trees. According to Ecosia’s blog, “every search with Ecosia actually removes about 1 kg of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This means that, if Ecosia were as big as Google, it could absorb 15% of all

global carbon dioxide emissions.” For every 45 searches, Ecosia plants one tree and currently claims to have planted 65 million trees. The search engine allows everyday users to have a positive effect on the Earth while not restricting their daily lives. Snoek also cites another reason for the plastic straw ban’s boom in popularity: societal pressure. For many, environmentalism is a temporary trend, something to brag about to their friends and post about on their Instagrams to garner “social points.” “I’m not sure if it’s the look of the metal straw that’s so cool as much as the badge of honor, ya know?” Mercedes Bleth, a social media manager in Chicago, notes in an interview by Racked. “It’s the good type of selfish — the ‘I’m doing something good for the planet and I want to show it off!’ type of ‘cool’ incentive.” This idea of ‘cool’ eco-friendly products expands beyond just metal straws. Hydro

Flasks, Teslas, and Fjällräven backpacks are all becoming increasingly popular due to the notion that they are environmentally-friendly. According to Google Trends, Hydro Flask search queries increased to 74% in 2019 alone, reaching an all-time high during the week of Aug. 25 to Aug. 31. However, Tasneem Khalak, co-president of Green Team, warns that many of the companies that create such products don’t tell the whole story. “There is an issue with ‘greenwashing’ when companies market their product as being environmentally-friendly, but really, there are no guidelines for that,” Khalak said. “It’s important for people to be critical about what they believe is ‘eco-friendly’ and what isn’t.” For others, however, environmentalism isn’t just something that they buy to put on display. It’s something that brings true meaning and purpose to their lives. They don’t just follow the trend. They

live it. Swedish environmentalist Greta Thunberg is 16 years old and has made international headlines because of her protests. In 2018, the Time magazine named Thunberg one of the world’s 25 most influential teenagers of the year. She’s skipped school to coordinate strikes, spoken at national conventions including TEDxStockholm, and given up flying on airplanes to reduce her carbon footprint. “I have found a meaning in a world that sometimes seems shallow and meaningless to so many people,” tweeted Thunberg. In August 2019, Thunberg sailed across the Atlantic Ocean to attend the 2019 UN Climate Action Summit in New York. According to the New York Times, she traveled on the Malizia II, a racing yacht outfitted with solar panels and underwater generator turbines to avoid producing carbon emissions. Others who are willing to go beyond convenient trends adopt zero waste life-

Auva Soheili

Thousands of Bay Area students crowd the streets of San Francisco in a global show of force to demand action on climate change on Sept. 20. The Global Climate Strike included millions of prostestors, the majority being children and teens from major cities all around the world. styles, a trend that’s also recently risen in popularity. The zero waste lifestyle revolves around five main concepts: refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle, and rot. “Zero waste is not about what we can afford to buy. It is about what we choose not to buy,” wrote sustainable lifestyle blogger Lindsay Miles. “Ultimately, zero waste is not a lifestyle of ‘buying’ or ‘stuff.’ The less we buy and the more we make do, the better job we do of living zero waste.” Although some trends are fleeting, others have become the norm. In 2016, California, along with several other states, banned single-use plastics, specifically targeting plastic bags. Within 3 years, reusable totes and paper bags have replaced plastic bags in most major grocery outlets. So what does this mean for environmentalism? Some teens hope that society can continue to search for ways to reduce plastic waste even after the straw ban fades from popularity. 20

“If this trend continues, I couldn’t care less about the fact that it would start with a straw as long as it keeps going from there exponentially,” Evans said. Activists, including Thunberg, have already started picking up where the plastic straw ban left off, continuing the trend of environmentalism. “We are right now at the beginning of a climate and ecological crisis. And we need to call it what it is: an emergency … We have to stop our emissions of greenhouse gases,” Thunberg said in her TEDTalk. “School strike for climate — save the world by changing the rules.” Thunberg’s strikes and speeches have inspired teenagers and children to find a solution to a larger threat: climate change. “I don’t want your hope. I don’t want you to be hopeful,” Thunberg said during her speech at the World Economic Forum. “I want you to panic. I want you to feel the fear I feel every day. And then I want you to act.”

“WE ARE RIGHT

NOW AT THE BEGINNING OF A CLIMATE AND ECOLOGICAL CRISIS. AND WE NEED TO CALL IT WHAT IT IS: AN EMERGENCY.” _ GRETA THUNBERG

Passion2Action

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ADVERTISEMENTS HIGHLANDER 21

Hobby or sport?

22 HIGHLANDER SPORTS

Miles Ozorio

The definition of a sport is changing Miles Ozorio The world of sports is being revolutionized. For the American sports fan, there is now the decision between watching a videogame tournament and a World Series game. For the child growing up, it is no longer a simple choice between soccer or basketball. In both situations, there are often too many sports to choose from. But what constitutes a sport? With the growing use of social media providing a constant outlet for opinion, many students find themselves fixed on the argument over whether or not certain activities are sports. Skateboarding is one of these activities. But for life-long skaters like Joseph Matatyaou, a freshman, skateboarding is less about the competition and more about the passion. “When I skate, I’m not competing against anybody. You’re not skating to be better than anyone else, you’re skating to better yourself,” Matatyaou said. Most sports create a rich environment for community. This is also true for skateboarding since skateboarding and activities like it often have tightly-knit communities. “Skateboarding is great because it makes you new friends. I never would have met the majority of my friends if I didn’t start skating,” Matatyaou said. However, competition is a key aspect in most sports, and skateboarding’s more relaxed manner has led many to argue the validity of it being a sport. Many critics will use the traditional definition of a sport to refute skateboarding from the conversation. According to the Oxford Dictionary, a sport is an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment. While some might see the traditional definition as a shot to skateboarding, Fletcher Smith, a junior, finds that skateboarding fits the description. “Depending on the type of skateboarder, you’re definitely going to use physical exertion,” Smith said. “It’s physically draining, but also takes a lot of skill and practice.” Skateboarding’s addition to the 2020

Olympics contribute to the problem. “Including certain sports as Olympic sports just disrespects the other ones,” Ji said. While some activities such as competitive jump roping are just trying to get their foot in the door, others seem to be reinventing the definition of sports. Esports is becoming increasingly more popular each year, somewhat due to its prevalence in social media. In the League of Legends 2018 Worlds Grand Final, there were over 200 million people viewing worldwide. And in 2021, the U.S. esports is projected to have more viewers than every major sports league except the NFL. Eugene Min, a junior, enjoys watching esports and believes it qualifies as a sport, despite its lack of physicality. “I think it requires the same mental fortitude as you would in any other sport. And I mean, in addition to that, you still need to practice. It’s a skill that you hone, and it’s just like a sport, where you have to practice to hone that skill in order to compete,” Min said. Despite the appeals from Min and esports athletes like him, many typical athletes refuse to acknowledge esports’ increasing role in sports culture. According to Min, the denial is understandable. “I know a lot of basketball players play Joseph Matatyaou NBA 2K. There’s a pro NBA 2K league, and Freshman those people understand why it’s so fun to watch and play. But if they don’t [play “Most of my friends think it’s cool video games], I don’t think they would because they’ve seen some of my videos. necessarily see how that’s entertaining,” Some of them still don’t think it’s a sport, Min said. though, because it’s not on ESPN,” Ji said. As more and more unusual activities In competitive jump roping, teams such as skateboarding, competitive jump compete against one another in multiple roping, and esports become prevalent in types of events. Additionally, competitive sports culture, it becomes increasingly jump roping requires a similar level of important how society identifies them. teamwork and practice typically found in Whether or not these new activities most sports. are sports is difficult to determine, and “My team, we practice together twice a it is unlikely that such a subjective line week for two hours. I know a lot of other will ever be drawn. However, the world teams practice even more,” Ji said. “But of sports is certainly changing. And for a lot of it’s just coordination because you athletes that play atypical activities, it is have to jump over the rope at the right changing for the better. time. And it’s harder than it seems because “It’s great to see all types of sports in the you have to go fast too.” Olympics,” Smith said. “I think it’s better It can be difficult for athletes that work for the event and it’s almost taking it to a hard when the world of sports denies the place where it’s really showcasing all the credit they have earned. Ji feels like the sports in the world.” SEPTEMBER 2019 HIGHLANDER 23 Tokyo Olympics backs up the beliefs of both Matatyaou and Smith. Along with skateboarding, surfing and rock climbing will make their Olympic debuts in Tokyo. These additions mark a new era for the Olympic games, one which leans into the developing culture of sports. It is clear through their Olympic participation that skateboarding and competitions like it have made a substantial leap forward into global recognition. However, there are still many other activities that fit the description but are not yet accepted by sports culture. Diane Ji, a senior, is involved in one such activity: competitive jump roping.

“When I skate, I’m not competing against anybody. You’re not skating to be better than anyone else, you’re skating to better yourself.”

Coachesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; influences extend DEMOCRATIC

Democratic coaches often collaborate with their players to come to a consensus instead of making executive decisions.

AUTOCRATIC

Autocratic coaches usually make all of the decisions regarding the team. The players, in return, are expected to follow without question.

LAISSEZ-FAIRE Laissez-faire coaches rarely influence or teach their players in any way and allow them to be more independent.

24 HIGHLANDER SPORTS

beyond the scoreboard Samantha Chu Kids may spend the most amount of time with their parents, but a coach can easily change a kid with just one practice. The relationship between a coach and their player may greatly affect the behavior of the player, and a huge factor that determines this relationship is how the coach teaches the player. Although there are many different types of coaching styles, coaches tend to fall within three broad categories: autocratic, democratic, and laissez-faire. There are many subcategories to describe coaching styles, so most coaches will lie somewhere in between these groups. Over time, coaches develop their style and figure out what works best both for their sport and their particular players. “I try to be practical when coaching and try not to make it personal. But playing football [at Carlmont] is pretty demanding. If our players don’t do what we’re asking of them, we voice our concerns loudly,” said Jake Messina, the varsity football head coach. How a coach conducts practice and how they treat their players is entirely up to them, but many people forget to think about how the players feel. Just like how each coach has their way of coaching, each player has their preference on how they want to be coached. “When I see really harsh coaches, I usually appreciate that they are giving the team feedback even if they do sound mean. I usually don’t care if a coach is nice or mean as long as they properly teach their players about the game,” said Alexis Shohet, a senior soccer player. However, many athletes do not prefer to have an autocratic coach. Some, like Lauren Wang, a senior who plays varsity girls golf, favor a more democratic coach. “I feel bad for players who have tough coaches because they don’t have a good relationship with the coach and that changes the whole dynamic of the team,” Wang said. “I feel fortunate enough to have a supportive coach who can separate being a coach from being a friend.” Like Wang mentioned, having a strong

relationship with their coach is significant to many players. Not only does this bond affect the player’s performance, but it also impacts their life away from sports. “Coaches here at Carlmont are supposed to develop kids. Along the way, they teach kids life lessons, leadership, and just how to be a mature adult,” said Patrick Smith, the Athletic Director at Carlmont. For most high school sports, practices are around two hours long every day from Monday to Friday for the entire season. All of this time together allows the coaches to develop their players and get to know their

“When I see really harsh coaches, I usually appreciate that they are giving the team feedback even if they do sound mean.” Alexis Shohet Senior

personalities better. However, this significant amount of time also causes more problems. According to Smith, communication with a player is key to resolving any conflict. But to limit the number of issues in the first place, coaches often adapt to each player’s needs. “It’s the coach’s job to manage several different people. Different people are motivated in different ways. The coach has to figure out how to motivate a kid, but how he motivates that kid might be different for other kids on the team,” Smith said. In some cases, though, a coach lets the player motivate themselves. This laissez-faire approach can be beneficial depending on the sport. “Cross country [last year] was super

loose. We kind of just did whatever and individually made sure we didn’t overtax ourselves. Sure, we had organized workouts, but on the off days, we weren’t ever micromanaged,” said Max Hariri-Turner, a senior on the cross country team. But as luxurious as this independence sounds, it has one critical flaw that many would expect: some players take advantage of that freedom. “Some people either didn’t know what to do [during practice] or just didn’t want to do it. We have more structured workouts every day now, which I guess is nice, but it would overall be better if everyone were just personally responsible,” Hariri-Turner said. Since giving players more liberty to do what they want during practice frequently causes problems, coaches often choose to have more control over their players. Still, despite coaching style, some players do not work well with certain coaches. Alisilani Alusa, a senior, plays on a travel team for softball. Before she joined her current team, her coach did not work well with her personal learning style. “My coach wasn’t a ‘good job’ type of coach. He was a ‘you need to do this better’ coach. He definitely wasn’t a confidence booster for me,” Alusa said. “I don’t learn by someone constantly telling me to fix something without telling me how to. I learn more by someone telling me what I did wrong and what I need to do to fix it.” Although Alusa didn’t work well with her coach, many of her teammates did. Ultimately, every player is different, so while a coach may work well with one player, that may not be the case with another player. A lot of people, however, don’t understand the importance of the relationship between a coach and a player and only focus on the game’s score. But it’s crucial to recognize that the outcome is a result of how the coaches work with and teach their players. Smith said, “Playing a sport can’t just be about the wins and losses. Playing is about how much the kids grew and how the coaches got them there. There is so much more to a sport than playing the game.”

SEPTEMBER 2019 HIGHLANDER 25

Opinion:

The benefits of taking a language Audrey Luey

“I didn’t do my Spanish homework but I can still do it as I walk.” Statements like this are uttered by Carlmont students daily, each one made about the stresses induced by high school language classes. But maybe this stress is worth it. Though not mandatory, students are often expected to endure at least two years of a language in high school, a notion that many resent. But what if you could alter your perspective? Maybe taking a language isn’t all that bad. For me, at least, taking a language meant more than a basic class requirement. I was born in China and adopted by my parents when I was 1, so I have grown up in the United States all my life. Even though my classes can be difficult, I know that in the long run, knowing my root language will be helpful, as I plan to return to China and visit someday. Some of my friends question my choice to take Chinese for the third year, but I can look past that. It is not always just about receiving the class credits. We all are separate individuals who have different cultural ethnicities engraved into our family ties from multiple generations and ancestry pathways. Being bilingual can help enhance someone’s personal life and the lives of others around them. Taking a language may not only further your personal connections and abilities, but it may also help you advance your life after high school. Colleges such as Stanford, which requires that undergraduate students take at least one year of college-level language, will allow students to submit high school AP language scores in lieu of college classes. Therefore, taking an AP language in high school helps one get out of taking it in college and allows them to focus on other classes. Additionally, many colleges require students to complete a few years of high school language. For example, the UC system requires students to take at least two 26 HIGHLANDER OPINION

years of a language and recommends three. By taking a language, one furthers their chance of being accepted into a college. Furthermore, competitive colleges such as Harvard or Wiliams recommend students to take four years of language; taking four years of a language in high school allows a student to advance their college resume. The Carlmont language department offers Spanish, Chinese, and French, with AP classes for all three. Students can take any of these languages with the hope to succeed on the test and replace college classes. Another advantage of taking a language at Carlmont is that it can qualify as CTE credit. In order to graduate from Carlmont, students must complete a certified Career Technical Education class such as biotech or computer science. However, if a student takes three years of the same language, they can use the third year as a CTE class, replacing the need to take an additional elective. Taking a language does not only help with class credit, though. Knowing another language can significantly help one in the world of jobs, travel, and even everyday life. According to International Business Seminars, knowing a second language is not only a priority to colleges, but also plays an impactful role in today’s work industry. Earning trust with others is a fundamental component of landing a job. Being able to speak a language when traveling or in a different environment allows interactions to occur without the use of a translator and fosters trust by breaking language barriers. Thousands of companies within the U.S. also have offices in other countries, so should you apply to one such company or even work there, knowing another language can help when in the workplace. Knowing more than one language also has benefits for one’s health. Studies from the National Institutes of Health show that people who speak more than one language think more logically and rationally. This profound effect on the brain im-

proves one’s cognitive skills as it exerts the ability of multitasking and activates both language systems. The Alzheimer’s Society states that conversing with a broader range of people reduces the risks of dementia in old age. The benefits of being bilingual are seemingly limitless, as according to Go Overseas, a program dedicated to finding education and jobs abroad, those that can speak more than one language are seen as more attractive than those who do not. Many people tend to like the aspect of having a partner who can speak more than one language. Lastly, speaking more than one language can help one better understand their native language. According to Eton Institute, understanding the grammar and roots of a new language can help someone better understand their first language, as they can connect a structure concept from language to language. While stepping out of a comfort zone and ditching a native language is challenging, the results are promising as they provide both a mental and social personal development. Knowing another language can help when traveling to a foreign country or even communicating with those who speak a different language in your own community. When thinking about becoming fluent in a language, one must look at the bigger picture and consider the beneficial long term effects, beyong the burdens of more homework and less sleep. Communication between a variety of people from diverse backgrounds is what creates networks of steady connections used daily. The beauty of language may provide opportunities available only to those willing to explore and experiment. Studying abroad, gaining cultural sensitivity, and relating to those around you are all examples. It is up to an individual to decide whether or not it is worth the time to invest in the power of international communication and language. However, good can come out of being open to learning new things.

LANGUAGE QUIZ

Should you take a language for more than two years? If you answered mostly A’s...

1. What do you want to do after finishing school?

I want to get a good job

I want to see the world

MORE school!!!!!

2. If you had the day off, how would you spend it?

Working

Exploring!

Learning something new

3. How do you like communicating with people?

People do what I tell them to do

I love meeting new people

I love learnng from others

4. How do you decide on what restaurant to go to?

I eat the same thing everyday

I love trying new foods

5. What is a big goal you have?

I want to get a good job

I want to see the world

6. What do you value most?

Success

Travel

I research a lot

I want to learn all I can

Knowledge

You are career-oriented In an increasingly globalized world, it’s crucial to buld connections with people all over the world. In being able to communicate with others in mutliple language, you will have the upper hand in whatever career you choose. You SHOULD take a language for more than two years. If you answered mostly B’s...

You are an explorer You want to take advantage of everything that the world has to offer. One way to expad yourself to other parts of the globe, is knowing another language. You SHOULD take a language for more than two years.

If you answered mostly C’s...

You are a learner You seek to understand the world around you. The best way to learn more, is to look at something from a different perspective. Learning another language allows you to step outside of your comfort zone and expand your mind. You SHOULD take a language for more than two years. SEPTEMBER 2019 HIGHLANDER 27

Opinion:

American waste management needs to change Bella Reeves

This summer I spent two weeks in South Korea and was shocked to see almost no trash cans on the streets and no litter anywhere. Where was all the trash? My question was soon answered. When I ordered breakfast at a Paris Baguette in downtown Seoul, the cashier asked me if I was going to eat in the restaurant or take my order to-go. I said “to-go,” thinking I could sit in the restaurant with my food and take-out, disposable cup. I was wrong. When I tried to eat my breakfast in the restaurant, I was asked to leave. Through simple English, the cashier explained that customers who eat in the restaurant can’t use disposable plates and flatware. I asked my tour guide for the reason why. She told me that using glassware when eating in the restaurant reduces waste. This inspired a long Google search of how much trash South Korea produces. Surprisingly, Americans create a staggering 4.5 pounds of municipal solid waste per person per day while South Korea produces only 2.2 pounds per capita. According to the Frontier Group, the United States produces more than 30% of the planet’s total waste, although they only make up 4% of the world’s population. Americans produce much more trash than the rest of the world. Am I part of the problem? Even though I try to stay environmen-

tally friendly, I still waste a lot of plastic. I drink a lot of coffee and milk tea, which are usually served in plastic cups. Surely one guilty pleasure alone couldn’t be killing the planet. According to the University of Southern Indiana, for every $10 spent, $1 goes towards packaging that is thrown away. Packaging makes up about 65% of a household’s trash. The U.S. is a wasteful society that overpackages and doesn’t recycle as much as it needs to. According to the Ocean Conservancy, 89 million tons of plastic enter the ocean each year; in the next 10 years, plastic production is predicted to double, which means there will soon be more plastic than fish. Although plastics are said to decompose over time in the ocean, they never fully do. In terms of chemistry, the phrase “like dissolves like” is important when talking about differing polarities and plastic in the ocean. Water is as a polar molecule and most plastics, which are polymers, are nonpolar due to their synthetic and orderly molecule structures. Circling back to “like dissolves like,” polar molecules and nonpolar molecules do not mix, meaning plastic never fully dissolves in the ocean. According to Coastal Care, around 10% of plastic bags end up in the ocean each year. Plastic bags hurt marine life and pollute the ocean.

My research made it clear that my seemingly simple habits were killing the planet. I could make some changes. In the documentary “No Impact Man,” Colin Beavan and his family live a year producing no waste. “If the pleasures we seek are not permanent, then how important are they?” Colin Beavan asked. So, I stopped using plastic bags. My family was using at least three plastic bags for our weekly trips to the grocery store. Now we try to reuse our bags or use paper ones instead. Every time I order something online, I always end up with a shipping box that is two times bigger than what I ordered. To make it worse, there are usually plastic puffs in the box to “protect” the product. So, I will minimize my online shopping and help the environment wherever I am able to. I can’t say that I am living a carbon-neutral life, like Colin Beavan and his family. But I do think that I’m making progress. America should too.

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Editorial: It costs to be environmental It pays to be environmentally conscious. You get to be a part of the massive effort to save the planet, you get to be proud of yourself that you devoted yourself to such a vital cause, you get to show off your selflessness to the world, and you get to create a better planet for you and the generations to come. If you want to be an environmentalist, it will be worth it. But be prepared to spend some money. It’s great that it’s finally cool to want to save the planet. VSCO Girls, whatever you think of them, are making an effort to be environmentally conscious. They made reusable water bottles trendy, popularized oversized t-shirts, and made sustainable food mainstream. All of these things are great, for the planet and for the individual, but many fail to consider all that goes into following the trend. The average reusable water bottle retails for somewhere between $5 and $10. The average plastic water bottle goes for $1. You can buy a white t-shirt for under

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$5, but an organic cotton white t-shirt will cost you $40. Want organic fruit? Be prepared to spend over $3 more for a pound of organic strawberries. For some, a difference of a few dollars is nothing, but for others, it’s everything. Many people simply cannot afford to spend the extra money when something similar is cheaper. If you have $20 to feed a family of five, are you going to spend it on organic, sustainable, and expensive food? Probably not. There are ways to be eco-friendly without spending an entire paycheck. You can go thrift shopping so you don’t contribute to the fast-fashion industry, you can garden so you don’t release pesticides into the air, and you can reuse plastic containers to minimize garbage. While these things don’t cost much money, they do cost time. It’s easy to forget that being environmental is a choice, one that often indicates a level of privilege. Those who can’t afford to be environmentally conscious aren’t choosing to be “wasteful.” We live in a

world where being eco-unfriendly is the default. But for those who can choose, it’s important to recognize that the majority of the world cannot. This should instill a level of responsibility. If you have the power to do something to save the planet, you should use it. Use the resources that you have to benefit the less fortunate. As important as it is to make an effort to reverse the effects of climate change, we also need to recognize that many people can’t afford to. So, if you have an extra $8, spend it on that metal straw. Buy organic food if you can. Drive that electric car. But don’t judge others who don’t.When you see somebody who doesn’t drink from a reusable water bottle, think that your contribution to the planet is from both of you. Use your privilege to help the world, don’t use it to show how much cooler you are than others. Take a second to think about what it means to be able to buy a Hydro Flask — most can’t.

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