Volume LI, No. 8 by The Smoke Signal

MISSION SAN JOSE HIGH SCHOOL

VOL. 51, NO. 8

41717 PALM AVENUE, FREMONT, CA 94539

April 29, 2016

MSJ competes at HOSA state conference MSJ students participate in annual competition By Anu Asokan & Ansh Patel Staff Writers MSJ Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) competed at the annual State Leadership Conference from April 5 to 7, 2016. MSJ sent 121 students to the tournament, which was held at the Anaheim Convention Center. In total, 5,200 students from over 100 schools throughout CA attended, demonstrating their outstanding skills and knowledge in healthcare-based events. For example, teams competing in the Medical Innovation event were asked to analyze up-and-coming technologies in health that relate to science, computers, engineering, biotechnology, math, and the delivery of healthcare, and later share their understanding with others. Other event topics ranged from Health Education to Medical Reading, with the primary objective of the competition to teach the latest developments in health technology and to build leadership skills necessary for a successful career in health care. In addition to presenting their projects, taking exams, and networking, the students also attended presentations by medical professions and workshops where they learned

MSJ senior gives speech at coalition luncheon By Didi Wu Staff Writer Senior Imani Brown spoke at the 18th Annual Madam C.J. Walker Luncheon on April 8, after winning first place in an essay contest hosted by the Bay Area chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women. According to the coalition website, the luncheon serves as a fundraiser and awards “African-American women who have demonstrated excellence in entrepreneurial efforts and community outreach . . .,.” In her speech, a recital of her essay, Brown discusses what leadership means to her, the role models who have influenced her, and helping others through stepping up to be a successful leader, especially emphasizing the importance of giving back to the community. People in the audience included coalition leaders, representatives of donation sponsors such as AT&T and Wells Fargo, and other honorees and speakers. Brown was able to participate in the essaywriting competition as a member of Positive Steps, a mentoring program set up by the coalition that focuses on developing leadership skills and personal growth in African-American girls. She was selected along with approximately 20 other young women to become part of the program after completing the applica-

The MSJ HOSA chapter poses at the Health Occupations Students of American State Leadership Conference.

about various topics. Workshops were presented by professional partners that provided information about current health care issues. MSJ did extremely well at the conference, winning 52 awards across all categories. After months of practice and preparation, the team was able to qualify 18 students, who placed tion process. The program provides mentors, people ranging from doctors to teachers and lawyers, who share their life experiences and knowledge, and support the members in all possible capacities. The group meets every third Saturday of the month to discuss current issues, listen to speakers, or learn skills through workshops. Brown received 11 awards from various organizations acknowledging her role in the event. Regarding the luncheon, she said, “Overall, it was probably one of the greatest moments in my life . . . it’s always motivating when people accept your message, it just makes me want to work harder. It was a very exciting time for me. People responded well even though I was very nervous.” Money raised from the luncheon will go towards scholarships geared for young women looking to further their education and a health and wellness program for people suffering from AIDS. ▪

staff writer didi wu

Senior Imani Brown’s award-winning essay highlighted her definition of leadership and its role in her life.

within the top three of their event, to attend the National Leadership Conference, which will be held in Nashville, Tennessee from June 22 to 25. Created in 1976, HOSA has attracted over 170,000 members from more than 4,000 high school and collegiate chapters across the na-

Schedule changes to be made for 2016-17 school year By Tanvi Raja Staff Writer In the 2016-17 school year, MSJ will be undergoing schedule changes that will add an advisory period and additional learning minutes. The change, which will consist of a forty-six-minute Advisory period every Thursday, is being created to ensure that students and teachers alike get the chance to work together during school hours. In this process, half of the subject departments will be in collaboration while the other half will have a chance to offer “office hours” to students. The departments will switch weekly. During Advisory, students will have many options, including working with team members on a project in a cafeteria, visiting a teacher to clear up questions about the curriculum, taking a make-up test, working on homework, or simply shooting hoops at the basketball courts. Furthermore, students will also have the option of listening to possible guest speakers organized by the school. The school will ensure that the safety of students remains intact, however, and there will be a closed campus policy during Advisory. The schedule change will lessen the need for students and teachers to spend time before school,

THE HUNTING GROUND

GREEN WEEK

On April 7, seniorsand parents were invited to view documentary, to raise awareness about assault on college campuses.

Gallery: Check out photos of the live animal exhibit, which was presented in the lunchtime assembly.

courtesy vincent chong

tion. California HOSA was founded in 1986 and continues to be one of the fastest growing state chapters in the nation. California HOSA recently also expanded to include chapters that participate at the middle school level through the Junior Upcoming Medical Professionals program. ▪ during lunch, or after school on make-up work and tutoring sessions. The schedule maintains the current latestart Wednesdays and class periods will remain approximately 50 minutes long. Time for the advisory period is created by decreasing MSJ’s passing period from seven to six minutes for all school days.

“The collaboration is an opportunity for [teachers and] students to work together...on what they think is important to them. It’s a win-win situation for everybody.” - Assistant Principal Jeff Evans Assistant Principal Jeff Evans spearheaded this process with a team of teachers after attending a conference in October that emphasized collaboration and teamwork in school. Additionally, FUSD has been encouraging schools to adapt a more collaborative atmosphere in schools for adaptive learning. The team then worked to get staff opinions on a possible schedule change, with inspiration from neighboring high schools. After receiving positive responses, they created a tentative schedule that fits the district’s requirements for learning minutes and policies. Evans says, “The collaboration is an opportunity for [teachers and] students to work together.... on what they think is important to them. It’s a win-win situation for everybody.” ▪

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2 News

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Class Costs By Ella Chen, Deeksha Raina & Brian Tseng

>> Freshman

The Smoke Signal

Friday, April 29, 2016

This month, the Smoke Signal sat down with the class officers in order to take an inside look into how each class receives funding and manages their budget. While each class has its specific expenses, one overlap among all is the mandatory $2,500 donation to ASB for campus beautification. Furthermore, the main sources of class revenue stem from Multicultural Week and Orientation food sales, Homecoming Week spirit gear, and fundraisers. All information and numbers were provided by class officers and class websites.

Fundraisers/Sponsorships:

Because of a large number of recent fundraisers, the Class of 2019 has been able to pay off its current expenses.The freshman class officers will also hold a joint fundraiser with Irvington High School’s Class of 2019 called "Bond n’ Chill.” Freshman Class Treasurer Flora Chang said, “Irvington approached us with the idea of doing a joint fundraiser, and since we had been already thinking of planning a joint fundraiser, we agreed and began planning. Unfortunately it had to be delayed due to bad weather, and we didn't want to risk losing any money.” The fundraiser is meant to help students meet people from other schools and will be held later this year.

Most of the Sophomore class’s revenue has come from donations and selling Homecoming Week spirit gear. The Homecoming Week spirit gear brought in a profit of around $3,000 this year, and a similar amount the year before. They also made significant profit from Multicultural Week and Orientation food sales, as well as $720 from a Perfect 1600 fundraiser, held to inform students about the new SAT. Other fundraisers include a CreamWings fundraiser with Irvington High School’s Class of 2018. The class also recently decided to start selling class apparel, starting this year with windbreakers, which, according to the class officers, has been one of their most successful fundraisers yet.

Freshman Revenue Sources:

Expenses: The Class of 2019’s major expenses include class apparel, for which they bought $1,500 worth of baseball t-shirts, and homecoming, for which they spent $1,200. The freshmen also spent money on Krispy Kreme doughnuts for orientation, with other minor expenses being paid for several fundraisers, such as Rockin Jump, Blaze Pizza, laser tagging, and Menchies.

Sponsorships 33%

Fundraisers 29%

Class Donations 18%

Homecoming 20%

With the large number of fundraisers planned by the Freshman Class Officers, the Class of 2019 has been able to pay off its current expenses. Freshman Class Vice President Annie Meng said, “All of the fundraisers were very successful as we fully paid back our Homecoming costs with plenty to spare, as well as getting sponsors from companies such as Excel and Elite.” Winter Ball Fundraisers 5% Orientation 9% 7% Class Donations 16%

Sophomore Revenue Sources:

The Class of 2018’s biggest expense was the cost of buying Homecoming spirit gear, which came to about $2,100. The only other major expense was from class apparel, which also cost several thousand dollars. However, the windbreakers were priced to both cover the expenses and produce a profit. Other minor expenses come from buying food for Multicultural Week, Orientation, or general reimbursements.

Current Financial Situation:

>> Sophomore

Expenses:

This year, the Class of 2018 made considerably more profit than last year. Their current standing is around $3,000 more than what they started off with in the beginning of the year. Sophomore class Secretary Sanil Chawla credits this increase in profit to spending more efficiently and the better handling of funds due to experience. Chawla says, “All in all fundraisers have definitely been successful in covering class expenses as well as making profits, leaving us with extra money that we can put towards future activities and events, like prom.” Though most other classes mentioned that their expenses have risen over the years, the sophomore class expenses have stayed relatively similar over the past two years, as they have not needed to worry about Junior Prom or Senior Ball. Chawla said, “It's tough to estimate the costs for the larger events such as Junior Prom and Senior Ball since we're in the very early stages of planning prom and haven't started thinking about Senior Ball yet.”

Homecoming 63%

corrections

for the MARCH 24, 2016 issue News Pg. 1: Pictures were also taken by Kevin Chen. News Pg. 2: Shane Koyczan was misspelled. Feature Pg. 10: The organization that provides bookbags is Raising a Reader. A&E Pg. 14: To Pimp a Butterfly was released

NEWS IN

brief

in 2015. Sports Pg. 17: MSJ Wrestling finished 23rd out of 88 teams. Photo Pg. 24: Amber Lee is currently in Art 3.

Compiled by Staff Writers Anu Asokan, Amber Lee & Mustafa Ahmed

theatlantic.com UC Davis under speculation for hiding police violence.

laintimes.com Texas sues US administration over program regarding immigration.

cnn.com Significant damage is caused by a massive earthquake in Ecuador.

Expensive UC Davis cover-up unveiled The University of California at Davis spent over $175,000 to remove online reports of a negative 2011 incident in which Davis campus police peppersprayed student protestors. The incident and the cover-up were under the tenure of Chancellor Linda Katehi. The Sacramento Bee obtained legal contracts Davis had signed with consultant firms and unveiled the cover-up in April 2016. Katehi nearly doubled UC Davis’s strategic communications budget to $5.5 million in 2015.

Supreme Court hears immigration policy case The Supreme Court held a hearing of the case United States v. Texas on April 18, in which Texas sued the US administration over the program Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents. This program defers deportation for undocumented immigrant parents with children who are US citizens. There are concerns that there will be a 4-4 tie between the eight justices.

Ecuador struck by massive earthquake, killing hundreds Ecuador was struck by a massive 7.8 earthquake on April 16 that claimed at least 500 lives and injured more than 2,500. The damage was widespread throughout the country and economic aid poured in from various countries and charities. The cities of Manta, Portoviejo, and Pedernales, all of which are popular tourist attractions, were especially impacted.

Friday, April 29, 2016

The Smoke Signal

www.thesmokesignal.org

News 3

Prom Due to low ticket sales and rising venue costs for this year, administrators have decided to combine Junior Prom and Senior Ball into one event next year, just as other FUSD high schools have done. Prom venues usually require a guest minimum, and if attendance does not meet the required number of people, ticket prices will rise significantly for students. Thus, by combining both proms into one event, it is easier to meet venue attendance requirements as well as keep ticket prices relatively low. Ultimately, this will also lower the chances of class debt. Class officers have announced that combined Junior Prom and Senior Ball will be next year at the California Academy of Sciences. Junior Class Secretary Brian Wu said, “We recently got confirmation from Mr. Breazeale that next year's junior and senior prom will be combined into a single event held at California Academy of Sciences. Since the deposit was already paid for California Academy, it made the most financial sense to hold it there. The exact details are unclear, but most likely next year's junior and senior officers will be working together to plan the event. With the combined prom, we'll see increased attendance due to the combination of both classes, as well as lower ticket prices which will attract more attendees from each class.”

Expenses:

Fundraisers/Sponsorships: The main class revenue over the years comes from class donations

and Homecoming Week profits, although they were not fully able to cover all expenses this year. Homecoming sales bring in about $1,000 to $1,500 each year to the junior class. This year the officers decided to sell class apparel. Because it was the first time a class had decided to sell windbreakers, the officers thought that selling windbreakers would be risky cost-wise. However, the class managed to earn around $1,000 in two rounds of windbreaker sales, leading the officers to deem the fundraiser a success. The class officers also teamed up with Perfect 1600, which donated about $235 to the class at its informational sessions.

Overall, the Class of 2017 has maintained a $2,500 balance each year, but financial difficulties have grown as expenses increase. Junior Prom deposits for a 300-person venue posed challenges because of the small class size. The venue deposits were around $37,000 and $50,000 for Junior Prom and Senior Ball respectively. According to the officers, they will also be covering the deposits for a class picnic that will replace the Senior Waterworld trip. In the 2015-16 school year, the class had to pay off a total of $38,000 in deposits, which depleted class funds. Thus, the current junior class officers are looking for more fundraiser opportunities to maintain the class balance.

Current Financial Situation:

>> Junior Homecoming 36%

Junior Revenue Sources:

Fundraisers 64%

The junior class officers are currently seeking sponsorships from local businesses to buy window decals (window stickers) with the Class of 2017 logo, which shows the business’s support of the current junior class. The officers project to raise $2,000 from sticker sales. Moreover, through food sales during Multicultural Week, the officers typically raise around $500 for the class. Junior Class Secretary Brian Wu said, “A big part of the difficulties we faced this year stemmed from a lower-than-usual amount of class participation in our fundraising efforts. Speaking more specifically, Junior Prom was definitely the toughest expenditure difficulty. A success would be our windbreaker fundraiser. It was a gamble for us, because we had no experience with selling windbreakers as a fundraiser and we hadn’t seen other classes host a fundraiser like that. However, in the end, we were pretty successful and made a decent amount of profit.”

Fundraisers/Sponsorships: The Senior Class’s largest source of revenue is Waterworld, which earned a total of $36,000 and a profit of $15,000. Winter Ball brought in $5,200 in revenue, while Senior lanyards made a profit of $600. The Seniors are also selling Second Semester Senior and Senior Bhangra Apparel, which have brought in a profit of $600. The milk tea that the seniors sold at orientation earned $110 in revenue, with a profit of $450. Fundraisers mostly follow the same pattern each year, and officers keep track of student interest and the amount of money needed to determine pricing.

>> Senior Orientation Fundraisers 2% Class Donations 2% 9% Winterball 11%

Expenses: Most of the expenses for the Class of 2016 come from Senior Ball, which costs $57,000, and Waterworld, which costs $21,000. The seniors also spent $3,200 on Winter Ball and $5800 for their Homecoming Week backdrop, apparel, and materials. Other expenses include the $650 spent on buying milk tea for orientation and the $1,800 spent on Senior lanyards. Second Semester Senior apparel and Senior Bhangra apparel cost a total of $1,200. Class expenses have also been rising over the years, “mostly just as a result of inflation, and [the venues] just expect us to pay more for each person,” said Senior Class Treasurer Michael Hsiu. “The venue costs are increasing for them, which is why they are charging us more, but our number of participants doesn’t increase significantly from year to year. Sometimes it does vary a lot, so it’s very hard to prepare for that when the prices are only rising, but we have to fundraise to make up the difference.”

Waterworld 76%

Senior Revenue Sources:

Current Financial Situation: Despite the increasing expenses, the senior class officers have been able to keep prices from rising. “For the most part, we’ve been able to fund all of the events we’ve had,” says Hsiu. “We’ve had pretty good prices and there’s been a lot of interest in our events. I think all of our pricing has been pretty fair and pretty in line with what it has been in the past, and in the process, we’ve still made enough money to have competitive prices for Senior Ball and other events.” Senior Class President Natalie Sin said, “Part of it also is that for the last year, class participation has also been rising pretty dramatically compared to previous years for our class.”

4 Opinion

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WHAT ARE YOU DOING THIS SUMMER?

SANIL CHAWLA, 10

EMILY SHIANG, 11

ARE YOUR SUMMER ACTIVITIES GOING TO BE YOUR CHOICE?

“This summer, before heading off for college, I’ll be sitting at home, hanging out with friends, and maybe take a trip with my family.”

“This summer, I’m working on my nonprofit named Hack+, where we empower high school students to code and create amazing businesses.”

“This summer, I hope I get to attend some programs and I’ll be probably going [on] a cruise with my family, on a 10-day cruise to Alaska, and I guess preparing for senior year and Homecoming and all that [sic].”

SHAYAN PANJWANI, 9

“Taking AP Psych and an Art class at Ohlone. And I’m probably going to be visiting my cousin in Texas about starting a business and getting a job on the side with my mom in Subway for a while.”

DEVESH KODNANI, 10

“SAT prep, school prep, volunteer work and maybe an internship. As Rihanna once said, ‘work work work work work work.’ But I’ll also spend some time with friends and kick back. Everyone needs some of that once in a while.”

KAREN TRINH, 12

SURYA PUGAL, 10

Friday, April 29, 2016

Journalists from theSmoke Signal asked MSJ students about their summer vacation plans. All quotes were given directly to a journalist.

Summer Vacation Plans

AASHNA SHAH, 12

The Smoke Signal

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THE PURPOSE OF SUMMER VACATION IS?

“Summer vacation is a nice downtime from the otherwise stressful year. For “My summer activities a lot of us it also gives us a chance to will all be things I want join programs or internships which help to do.” us figure out what we’re interested in doing in the future.” “The original purpose of summer vacation was probably to give us a complete break from the work of school that we have to do every day, but it’s really just turned into a time of the year when “This is 100% by my everyone tries to compete for the best choice.” internship or tries to do more, above and beyond. It isn’t even really a break anymore because everyone’s so focused on summer programs and other activities, usually just because of college.”

“Actually, they are. My parents are okay with me spending my vacation doing anything I want. It’s mainly my choice.”

“I think the purpose is to have more a balance that you can’t find during the school year. So during the summer, you can actually do the activities you want to do along with hav[ing] a healthy lifestyle.”

“I mean I guess, “So that the U.S. doesn’t feel bad about because I’ve made overworking their kids. I feel like it’s the whole plan with something that’s really necessary my sister and my because if we have year round school, parents. But most of children have lower work productivity it is following in my and it’s actually really bad because you sister’s footsteps or get homework for the entire year, and what my parents want nobody likes that. I think that it’s just me to do.” more time to get ahead for college.”

“First and foremost, it’s a vacation. Everyone is entitled to a break from “Some are, and some the pressure of school. But it’s also aren’t. I think that’s a great opportunity to get ahead by how it ends up being preparing for what’s to come in the for most people.” next year and beyond. Summer is really just what you make of it.”

“This summer I’m planning to “Honestly, my parents “I think the purpose of summer go to Cabo with my family in are the ones that vacation is to have the freedom to July. Before that I’m actually pressured me into use your time and make whatever planning on starting a summer getting a job, but I decisions you want to on your own. job working at the Ardenwood think it can be a good Park as camp specialist for a thing for me. I just wish I think school is very restrictive and summer camp as well as a tour that they had given me it comes with a lot of guidelines guide in a historic mansion. I’m a little more liberty to telling you what to do, but summer hoping that I can get a lot of do what I want with my vacation is your opportunity to find money together in preparation time and to make my out who you are beyond school.” for college.” own decisions.”

“As of now, I’m not really sure. Probably, I’m going to India to meet my grandparents and also going to COSMOS, a math and science program offered by UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC San Diego, and UC Santa Cruz.”

“Probably not. My parents usually dictate how my plans go. I have some say but not a lot of influence on what I can do.”

“Summer break is so that you can get away from the stress at school from the workload you have. It offers opportunities for leisure time.”

Friday, April 29, 2016

the

The Smoke Signal

Smoke Signal

Mission San Jose High School Est. 1964 Vol. 51, No. 8 | April 29, 2016 www.thesmokesignal.org

41717 Palm Ave. Fremont, CA 94539 (510) 657-3600 Mission Statement: The Smoke Signal’s mission is to represent the voices of the Mission San Jose High School community and serve the public by providing accurate, meaningful, and engaging information presented through print and digital mediums. School population: 2086 students

Editors-in-Chief Alice Cheng, Katrina Cherk News Michael Hsiu, Apoorva Rajanala Opinion Grace Dong, Harshita Gupta Feature Chakshu Hurria, Katie Sun Centerspread Neha Shah, Annie Tang A&E Sarina Chitre, Andrea Tam Sports Amrith Krishnan, Rishab Ramapriyan Graphics Kevin Chen, Monica Tang Web Jacinta Chang, Nithya Rajeev Tech Andrew Chen, Brian Tseng Business Shivane Sabharwal Circulation Tanvi Raja Ads Andrew Choi, Sayan Ghosh Events Deeksha Raina, Ruiwen Shen Writers & Photographers Mustafa Ahmed, Anu Asokan, Ashley Chang, Ishika Chawla, Anthony Chen, Ella Chen, Kylie Cheung, Michelle Dalarossa, Carolyn Ge, Mallika Gupta, Andrew Kan, Amber Lee, Kevin Li, Lucille Njoo, Ansh Patel, Tanushri Sundar, Bindhu Swaminathan, Zen Thumparkkul, Chloe Velasquez, Didi Wu, Cindy Yuan, Richard Chenyu Zhou, Victor Zhou

Adviser Sandra Cohen Send letters to the editor to opinion@the smokesignal.org. Letters under 300 words may be considered for publication and must include a full name and school affiliation. The Smoke Signal reserves the right to edit for clarity and length. To advertise in the Smoke Signal, email ads@ thesmokesignal.org. Advertising that is included on the pages of, or carried within, the Smoke Signal , is paid advertising, and as such is independent of the news and feature content. The Smoke Signal’s right to freedom of speech and press is protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution. All policies on distribution, corrections, and bylines can be found at www.thesmokesignal.org/ about.

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harshita hashes it out

grace’s gray area

Prioritizing mental health services in school

Undermining accomplishments is unfair By Grace Dong

By Harshita Gupta

Opinion Editor

“Budget cuts.” A phrase that’s become a campus joke, laughingly yelled out when a classroom clock stops working or a light bulb flickers. In the face of constant compromises on which programs to spend on, newer yet increasingly imperative programs, like student support and mental health services, often get the short end of the stick. As schools make budgeting choices, it’s important to remember that counselors and school psychologists are critical to ensuring that students are well-supported to learn and grow, especially given the rising rates of mental illness in U S high schools. MSJ’s website clearly demonstrates the extent of services school counselors offer. Nine student programming services, four concurrent enrollment programs, seven career counseling and college counseling services, and five personal counseling components are handled by four counselors for more than 2000 students. At a student-tocounselor ratio of 500-to-one, MSJ has half the 250-to-one coverage recommended by the American School Counselor Association. Our school psychologist is on campus two days a week and serves 2000 students—a far cry from the maximum student-psychologist ratio of 1,000-to-one recommended by the National Association of School Psychologists. Our counselors handle 400 letters of recommendations, student crises daily, academic plan creation, and new student transitions. Doing justice to all is a difficult balancing act. Acknowledging and advocating for the importance of such services is critical to them being well-funded. Accord-

Opinion 5

ing to Art Terrazas, Director of Governing Affairs at the American Counseling Association, “When school districts are looking at areas where they might be able to save a dollar...those are easy programs to justify a cut if you don’t know what it does.” The stigma around mental and emotional health casts a shadow over mental health services, rendering them invisible to a large part of the community. If communities are not speaking up about their desire for better resources and smaller student-provider ratios, these services drop to the bottom of the budgeting priority list. The 2015-16 CA budget proposed by Gov. Jerry Brown increases funds towards education but focuses none on mental health and student support resources. Overwhelmed and stressed students without adequate avenues to support cannot do well. Larger efforts to tackle lacking student support resources currently receive little widespread support. The Student Support Act, a federal bill currently in the House of Representatives, would provide financial support to local educational agencies in hiring additional counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists or social workers. The bill would allow the federal government to make grants of over $1 million to encourage states to meet the school-based counseling, psychologist, and social worker ratios recommended by national professional organizations. Whether it’s at the MSJ, FUSD, or CA level, it’s our communal responsibility to support and demand these initiatives, as we continue to hold our schools to a high standard by ensuring student success and wellbeing. ▪

Letter to the Editor: Response to March 24, 2016 Article “New Service Learning Policy Discourages Service” I was a little disappointed by the lack of perspective about community service in the recent column, “New Service Learning Policy Discourages Service.” First of all, let’s be clear about the nomenclature. We’re talking about community service, not service learning. Community service is the process of performing work for the benefit of the community. Service learning is the process of learning specific curriculum through community service. Geometry students could learn principles of geometry through a project involving building park benches. That would be service learning. Students at Mission do not engage in this. They perform community service as a district-wide graduation requirement. Secondly, if the only reason people do community service is so that they can receive an award, they are missing the big picture. The reason for a community service requirement for graduation is not to provide students with awards to include in their college applications. It is intended to teach students the value of seeing themselves as part of a broader community and of contributing to the health and vigor of this broader community. Homeless shelters, pet rescues, Washington Hospital, or any other organizations that offer community service to students do not do so because students need awards. They do so because the organizations need help to function, and our community benefits from the success of such organizations. The column briefly mentions the intrinsic benefits of volunteer service, but it’s clear that the real focus is on whether or not a student can be recognized as “outstanding.” When people only do community service because they want to get an award, they are not likely learning the lesson they are supposed to be learning—that they are connected to their community and part of a network of people who sometimes need help. Instead, their thinking is all in first person singular. We all need help occasionally, and when we live in a community that can provide that help, we’re more likely to thrive. I wish the column had paid more attention to the real benefits of doing community service so that it would have challenged readers to re-examine why they volunteer in the first place. With 83% of the student body saying they would not do community service unless they can be recognized for it, Smoke Signal readers need to have their thinking challenged. Sincereley, Mr. Boegman

To be honest from the start, a huge part of me felt relieved after reading my acceptance letter because it felt like validation—as if just because I got into this college, I was suddenly “good enough” in my parents’ eyes, my peers’ eyes, and my own eyes. However, even as I was riding cloud nine, Facebook messages flooded me while gossip trickled back to me about the “validity” (or lack thereof) of my acceptance. The first question I would get from nine out of 10 people after they heard through the grapevine was, “What major?” After the first few interrogations, I would sheepishly reply, “I’m not sure but probably something humanities related,” anticipating the unimpressed and disappointed reactions. The advice many of us get from alumni friends or out-of-school college counselors when applying for college is to apply as a major that is perceived as “easier” to get in with and then switch to a major that is seen as more competitive and more beneficial for future careers. Typically, we’re told to apply for majors like English, Sociology, or Psychology and to switch into ones like Engineering and Computer Science. But what happens to those of us who actually want to be English majors? Or History majors? Or anything else for that matter? Discounting other people’s acceptances and undermining their accomplishments specifically due to their particular major or field of interest is not only unnecessary but unfair. None of us can truly say we understand how the college admissions process works, so none of us can truly say, “Oh, they only

got in because of their major.” All MSJ students have their own set of skills and accomplishments under their belts— saying one is more valid than the other simply based on what they wish to study in college reveals a deeper issue with our mindset. The humanities versus STEM debate is common at MSJ. Many of our parents are engineers or work in similar fields prevalent in Silicon Valley and thus, the misconception is that only STEM majors can get reliable, high-paying jobs. However, pursuing a humanities degree does not equate to a “shameful” future in a low-paying job as stereotypes dictate. Williams College reached out to 15,600 of its alumni to chart what career paths they ended up taking after college. English majors found all sorts of careers, ranging from Writing/Communications to Government to Technology. Computer Science majors also found all sorts of careers, ranging from Writing/Communications to Government to Technology. Associate Professor of Mathematics Satyan Devadoss, who led the study, summed up the findings, saying, “You can study what you love and then go do what you want.” Years from now, our student body will be dispersed around the world, hopefully studying what we love and doing what we want. Whether someone is a “STEM kid” or a “Humanities kid” or neither shouldn’t matter—at the end of the day, neither field is more or less important than the other, no college acceptance is more or less valid than another, and every student deserves to take pride in their interests and achievements. ▪

the Opinion of the Smoke Signal Editorial Board

Editorial: The Significance of “Soft Skills” “Good enough never is.” Built into the very foundation of MSJ, this quote epitomizes the work ethic and mentality of the student population. The mindset cultivated here is fueled by hours and resources funneled into developing and refining our technical skills. We tend to see success as a carefully calculated combination of diligence and academic excellence. This blinds us from the fact that succeeding in college and the professional world requires qualities that aren’t as quantifiable or as concrete as GPAs, SAT scores, or even a list of extracurriculars. In order to fulfill a formula that will supposedly guarantee our future success, we nurture an environment of harmful competition instead of trying to learn and grow off of each other. Our tunnel vision and ambition often cause us to neglect our “soft skills,” or interpersonal skills such as collaboration, empathy, adaptability, problem solving, creativity, and confidence. Communication skills and empathy foster open-mindedness as we learn to see from different perspectives. Skills such as resilience, flexibility, and problem solving push us to take risks and gain insight from past failures. Through exercising soft skills, we open doors to discussion and internal reflection. We become stronger individuals both technically and in terms of emotional intelligence, factors that can set us apart from other candidates in the increasingly competitive college application process and job market. MSJ students can practice soft skills daily both in and out of the classroom and work to foster a more supportive learning environment. As students, we can actively participate in discussions, ask questions, work with our peers, and take

the initiative to strengthen our soft skills with every opportunity. Teachers are often open to answering questions or working with students if we are willing to be selfadvocates and request their assistance. By understanding the importance of soft skills and practicing them now, we can prepare ourselves for college and beyond, while getting much more out of our classes and extracurricular activities. Since soft skills are essential to personal and professional growth, MSJ administrators and teachers should work to offer students more opportunities to work on these skills. MSJ has taken a step in the right direction by implementing a new 46-minute advisory period every Thursday which will begin in the 2016-17 school year, in which students have the autonomy to choose their own activities. During this time, students can practice communication and interpersonal skills by hosting club meetings, talking to counselors, socializing and collaborating with peers, or visiting teachers one-on-one to clarify academic questions, address concerns, or simply get to know them more personally. With this level of freedom, similar to that of a college setting, we can take initiative and develop confidence and independence. However, it’s up to us as students to use this time to our benefit. High school and college afford multiple chances to learn to forge connections between the skills we learn outside of school and time spent in the classroom, but we can only capitalize on the potential advantages if we approach these occasions with the right mindset. ▪

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Opinion 7

Online study guides are a short-term solution to a longterm issue in English classes Whether it’s CliffsNotes, GradeSaver, Shmoop, or SparkNotes, online study guides are a controversial resource that many of the most devoted and enthusiastic English students can’t honestly say they’ve never utilized. Online plot summaries and literary analysis may be helpful and even enriching, whether a student is cramming for a test or just seeking an additional perspective after completing a reading assignment. But overall, study guides often constitute a short-term solution that falls short compared with the long-term, intrinsic fulfillment of coming up with your own ideas on literature.

Despite warnings in registration packets of the time an Honors or AP level English class will require of students, students with overloaded schedules often prioritize STEM classes perceived as more challenging above English courses, which then accept the brunt of cramming and shortcut methods. A primary reason use of online study guides for English classes is particularly pervasive on MSJ’s campus is that most students find themselves “too busy” to actually read. Despite warnings in registration packets of the time an Honors or AP level English class will require of students, students with overloaded schedules often prioritize STEM classes perceived as more challenging above English courses, which then accept the brunt of cramming and shortcut methods.

The solution might not be to unconditionally forgo study guides, but to steer away from them until completing a reading assignment and spending some time independently reflecting on the text. Naturally, this begs the question of how students who have “no time” to actually read the text with an exam slated for the following day should realistically prepare. Yet online summaries merely represent the short-term solution to this. Weak time management skills and poor decisionmaking in course selection are deeply consequential, long-term issues that SparkNotes isn’t going to solve. Simultaneously, students cramming to compensate for reading assignments they failed to complete only constitute some of the students who utilize online study guides. Reading a book will nearly always leave you with questions and uncertainty, and online study guides can give students interpretations, theories, and clarity to expand on their understanding. In this sense, study guides are not necessarily a tool for dishonest shortcuts, but a resource. Nonetheless, students tend to forget their most valuable resources are their English teachers and classmates. The clarity and additional perspective a student might seek could easily be found in preparing thoughtful questions to ask in class discussions. Human conversation and dialogue might not be as straightforward as reading online notes, but listening and contributing to discussions exercises the mind and ultimately prepares you for the vigor and liveliness of college-level courses.

It’s easy to dismiss notions of the power of reading and creating your own ideas as sentimental and unrealistic if you’ve never gone this route. But whether you are at the end or the beginning of your career as an English student at MSJ, it’s never too late or too early to start completing reading assignments honestly, and easing away from dependence on study guides. ▪

GradeSaver soon decided to create classic literature study guides and put them on the internet for free. This quickly turned into ClassicNotes, written exclusively by Harvard students. With millions of users each month and over 400 titles, ClassicNotes ranks among the largest academic resources available online.

Quotes taken from company “About” pages.

Sometimes you don’t understand your teacher, your textbooks make no sense, and you have to read sixteen chapters by tomorrow. SparkNotes is a resource you can turn to when you’re confuzzled. We help you understand books, write papers, and study for tests.

Our teaching method revolves around the basic idea that learning is often too hard—so we carry gallons of academic WD40 to squirt on the tracks whenever we can. And as an added bonus, we’re funny. At least we like to think so.”

CliffsNotes is the original (and most widely imitated) study guide. CliffsNotes study guides are written by real teachers and professors, so no matter what you’re studying, CliffsNotes can ease your homework headaches and help you score high on exams. graphics from cliffsnotes.com, gradesaver.com, shmoop.com, sparknotes.com

Evaluating colleges for best fit, not brand

staff writer zen thumparkkul

By Amber Lee & Tanvi Raja Staff Writers For years, students have been repeatedly exposed to the names of famous universities that sit at the top of every college ranking list, leading students to assume that these schools provide the best education. This assumption turns into a subtle bias that carries through all the way to college applications season in senior year. If students rely too much on college ranking lists, they might not consider less well-known institutions that may actually offer a better undergraduate education tailored to the student’s specific needs. What students truly care about in college decisions may not be the same as what ranking lists use. In a survey conducted by the Higher Education Research Institute at University of California, Los Angeles, of the 141,189 students surveyed, 69.7 percent said the academic reputation of a school was “very important.” As a result, students might be influenced by college lists factoring in reputation; for example, popular university ranking website U.S. News & World Report accounts undergraduate academic reputation as 22.5 percent of the ranking criteria. However, besides reputation, ratings can also include the school’s selectivity, financial resources, or graduate programs’ research quality, which aren’t as relevant to undergraduates. Factors such as class sizes, campus environment, and attention from professors are not always highly considered for rankings but can end up being a huge part of an undergraduate education. For instance, al-

though class size can significantly impact a student’s learning experience in the classroom, US News & World Report considers student-faculty ratio and class sizes as 45 percent of the “faculty resources” category, which in turn only makes up 20 percent of the institution’s overall score. As a result, students who eliminate a college from consideration because of its number rank could miss out on a potentially amazing undergraduate experience. Students should look beyond rankings and instead conduct research on what a certain college can contribute to their undergraduate education. An important part of this process is finding specialized programs and other opportunities that cater to the student’s interests and planned career path. For example, students set on obtaining medical degrees could look into accelerated BS-MD or BA-MD programs that allow students to earn a bachelor’s and medical degree in seven or eight years without applying to medical school. This option saves time and money in the long run versus a highly-ranked institution’s more expensive program. In addition, students could supplement their college evaluation and make informed decisions by asking current undergraduates or alumni about their real experiences at a college. It’s human to be affected by rankings and reputation while making the big decision, but students should not view a college list as a universal size chart that fits everyone. Oftentimes paying attention to other factors like location, school size, and population views can lead to a happier and more satisfying college experience. ▪

Importance of College Reputation to Students Percent of Students Indicating "Very Important"

By Kylie Cheung Staff Writer

staff writer lucille njoo

71 70 69 68 67 66 65 64 63 62 61 60

69.7%

65.4% 63.8%

64%

1 2012

2 2013

Year

3 2014

4 2015

data from the higher education research institute

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Feature 9

By Sayan Ghosh, Richard Chenyu Zhou & Victor Zhou Staff Writers

For an aspiring programmer, one of the best ways to learn is through hackathons. The Smoke Signal’s guide to Hackathons provides tips and tricks for getting involved in their educational experiences.

Always learn the material by making projects on your own. For example, instead of simply reading a reference book about web development, try making your own website! Get involved in the open source community! Open source projects have their code released online through websites such as GitHub and are open to the community to work on and discuss. By working on these kinds of projects, you can get access to a fantastic community of fellow coders and more importantly, more experienced mentors. Try to pick a programming language that you will use in the future for your own projects. For example, if you are interested in web development, Ruby and Javascript are good languages. If you want to build Android apps, Java is a language you should start with. If you want to build games, then C++ is a great language. If you are not sure, pick a versatile language such as Python or even C. While working on your own projects, utilize the internet and its multitude of resources, such as Stack Overflow, a question and answer forum focused on computer programming. Chances are that if you are having an issue with something, someone else has already experienced it and has figured out how to solve it. If you’re not sure how to use a new software, language, or tool, don’t be afraid to talk to mentors! At a hackathon, mentors are always there to help out, and it’s very common for hackers to use completely new and unfamiliar software.

Hackathons are 24 to 72 hour events during which hundreds to thousands of students or even professionals build and code projects in small teams of one to five. Usually, there are several resources, from mentors to hardware that participants can tinker with during the event. There is also quite a bit of free food, T-shirts, and other memorabilia from sponsors. PennApps, a collegiate hackathon at University of Pennsylvania, was the first student-run college hackathon, starting a movement of independently run hackathons in colleges and high schools around the country. The last PennApps, which ran from January 22 to 24, hosted over 1,300 hackers.

NATIONAL

NEEDS APPLICATION? COST:

Free

TRAVEL REIMBURSEMENT: Yes LOCATION:

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

TYPICAL ATTENDEE:

It’s okay to make mistakes! Often, mistakes and mishaps shape the final result into something greater than the initial plans. By taking mistakes in stride, each hack gains its unique personality that makes it all the more memorable. Bring friends to hackathons! Your first hackathon might be a little daunting, and there’s no better way to get into the hackathon vibe than by building something fun with all your friends. Don’t worry about prior coding experience—hackathons are just as much about the learning as the prizes. Aim high, hit low. Even though you might not be able to finish your idea to perfection, with help from mentors and other hackers, you can still create an engaging and creative app or game. Take apart existing code. One of the best ways to learn programming is to try to understand a more advanced piece of code. You might even learn a nifty trick or two in the process!

Don’t forget to sleep! Though there is often an all-nighter mentality at hackathons, don’t feel the need to stay up all night. It is just as important to stay healthy and have fun, especially if there is school the next day.

Yes

INTERNATIONAL

NEEDS APPLICATION? COST:

Fairly experienced hackers

Free

TRAVEL REIMBURSEMENT: No LOCATION:

Menlo School

& experienced TYPICAL ATTENDEE: Novice hackers

BAY AREA

COST:

Yes

Free

TRAVEL REIMBURSEMENT: Yes LOCATION: University of Pennsylvania TYPICAL ATTENDEE:

Fairly experienced hackers

MHacks is a semiannual collegiate hackathon held at the University of Michigan typically once every spring and once in the fall. It is organized by Michigan Hackers and MPowered Entrepreneurship, and is the largest collegiate, student-run hackathon in the country.

AngelHack is an organization that helps run hackathons on an international scale, helping host hundreds of hackathons in 65 countries every year. In addition, winners of each local hackathon have a chance to be invited to AngelHack’s HACKcelerator program, which is a 12-week course to turn one’s hackathon idea into a full-fledged startup.

Yes

NEEDS APPLICATION?

NEEDS APPLICATION? COST:

$10

TRAVEL REIMBURSEMENT: No LOCATION:

International

TYPICAL ATTENDEE: Creative visionaries

MenloHacks is another beginner-oriented hackathon held at Menlo School, in the Bay Area. Although it is an invitational event, there are many mentors and workshops to guide and educate hackers with less experience. The hackathon is also completely free and will even provide transportation assistance for CA students.

CodeDay is a series of hackathons held on the same day across 25 cities in the US. Unlike many other hackathons, CodeDay isn’t about winning awards—instead, it’s geared towards beginners who are not familiar with the hackathon scene, and want to attend a more casual event.

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$10 early, $20 regular

TRAVEL REIMBURSEMENT: No LOCATION:

Nationwide

TYPICAL ATTENDEE: Novice Hackers 123rf.com, dreamstime.com, freepik.com, mshcdn.com & pixabay.com

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THE

DIEHARD TRYHARDS take on the MICHAEL

I’ve spent months training in the MSJ Club Fitness course, building up the skills and physique necessary to breeze my way through every event. Rigorous exercise drills and weekly mile runs have blessed me with stamina, speed, and most importantly, a drive to win. Expect to see me cross the finish line first, laughably ahead of everyone else. Winning? Not even a question.

By Kevin Chen, Michael Hsiu, Kevin Li & Bindhu Swaminathan Graphics Editor, News Editor, and Staff Writers

With little fanfare and no celebration, the first ever Smoke Signal Olympics were held on April 7 at the MSJ track. In an intense competition of gymnastics (cartwheels and somersaults), basketball (half-court three minute games), and running (100-meter dash and one lap), four Smokies tested the limits of human endurance and physical ability.

BINDHU

KEVIN LI I’m a bit of a jack-of-alltrades when it comes to sports. I played in a youth basketball league during elementary school and am currently playing tennis on the school team. (Go Warriors!) Now, I finally have the chance to show off my well rounded athleticism—and I intend to take it. This one’s for you, Coach! And you, and you...

Friday, April 29, 2016

With my PE requirement tucked in my belt, the closest I’ve come to running since sophomore year is trying (and failing) to make it to sixth period on time. That’s not to say I don’t expect to breeze past my competitors to get the gold. After the six sit-ups of preparation I’ve sweat through, these events are going to be a piece of cake. Did someone mention post-race snacks?

KEVIN CHEN Although I’ve never participated in a traditional sport competitively, I’d be remiss if I didn’t consider the four grueling semesters of Marching Band that I’ve endured over the past four years. Through countless Band Miles and hundreds of push-ups and sit-ups under Ms. Kraft’s eagle eye, I’d say I’ve basically become the Warrior incarnate. Oh, and I’ve also been running two miles every other day.

thoughts before I’m expecting to do best in running. I’ve been cutting down on my mile time quite considerably in the last few weeks, so it won’t be long before I leave everyone gaping in the dust. I’m also pretty confident that I’ll have a healthy performance in gymnastics and basketball. I wish the best of luck to my combatants—they’ll need it. Let the games begin!

Two words: Utter. Annihilation. My buddies on the tennis team will tell you that I take no prisoners out on the court, and I expect nothing different here. Conservatively speaking, I think I’ll sweep running and basketball and blow my opponents away in the process. Gymnastics will pose a different, unknown challenge, but that won’t stop me from bending over backwards to secure the gold!

With little to no experience in each sport, figuring out which one I will do best in is a shot in the dark. However, if my year of training (at the age of six) can tell me anything, gymnastics will probably be my best bet. Although my basketball and running are pretty rusty, my standout gymnastics will probably be the main focus. I’ve already cleared out a space on my shelf for the medal!

I’m fairly confident that I’ve secured the gold medal for running already. Sprinting has always been my strong suit. But other than that, I’m not feeling optimistic. From time to time I still have nightmares of our Hopkins PE tumbling unit, and my expertise with a basketball probably rates a 0.34 out of 10. Nevertheless, I’m looking forward to trying my best and stealing at least one gold from Michael.

gymnastics

I was surprised when I found myself executing some pretty neat cartwheels. The judges were amazed, and I chuckled to myself watching my competitors struggle to replicate my moves. Unfortunately, my first somersault during the second half left me dazed and sprawled out on the grass. It was also my last.

As expected, gymnastics was by far the most challenging of the sports. The judges might tell you that my cartwheels were unique and deserved top marks for the avant-garde artistic expression, but I’ll let you in on a little secret: I didn’t know what on earth I was doing. The same went for the forward somersaults, though I at least managed to finish last by a still-respectable margin.

Hearing that we were doing cartwheels was music to my ears. As a kid, I used to cartwheel around my street—I just hoped my skills would transfer to these many years later. After a quick practice wheel, I executed five near perfect cartwheels (for someone who hasn’t cartwheeled in six years I brought out my inner Shawn Johnson). And the crowd goes wild!

“Palms sweaty, knees weak, arms heavy.” Eminem’s wise words pretty much sum up how I felt as I futilely attempted to perform some semblance of a cartwheel. Thankfully I managed to land on my feet four times out of five. On the other hand, the forward rolls were a piece of cake. Bless the physics lords that provided me with the necessary rotational inertia to bring me to victory.

basketball

This game was pretty intense. I started off strong, landing a solid layup less than a minute into the game. I thought I could keep the lead, but my opponent took shot after shot until we were tied up. Going into the free throw round, I barely missed the shot I needed to win the game (it hit the rim…) So close, yet so far.

After the rather embarrassing spectacle of gymnastics, a few rounds of basketball was just what I needed to recover and get my mojo going. My games against Bindhu and Michael were both pretty low scoring, but in the end I found a way to put the game to bed. A true champion always finds a way.

With nonexistent basketball experience, I just hoped I would be able to score one point, but I surprised myself, scoring four for Kevin Chen’s three points! I like to think my inner Curry snagged the second place.

Some say that ball is life, but I can now safely say that ball is definitely not my life. After a terrible game of “Catch the Rebound” with Bindhu where we both struggled to score baskets from within the key, a free throw contest against Michael only further reminded me I should stick to Facebook Messenger basketball. photos by staff writers andrew kan & brian tseng

Friday, April 29, 2016

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Feature 11

running

This was the event I was determined to win. As soon as “Go!” was called, I was surging down the track at breakneck speed, hoping to make up for my loss in basketball. I was neck-and-neck for second, but began running out of juice in the home stretch. I managed to limp home, honorably defeated, in third place.

After the strenuous exertions of two intense games of basketball, I seriously considered sitting down on the track and letting my heart do the racing for me. I almost wish I had— though I came in a closvve second to the other Kevin in the 100-yard dash and first in the one lap run, by the end I felt like my legs had been replaced with two flimsy, brittle sticks.

Minutes after basketball, I dragged myself onto the track for the sprint, and quickly created my game plan—do as well as possible with a light jog. I resisted the temptation to tie my combatants’ shoelaces, choosing instead to cut across the field in the last run, managing to make it across seconds before Michael. Still came in fourth, oops!

Sprint king it is, I guess. As I predicted, I managed to snag first place in the 100 meter dash even with the other Kevin hot on my heels. But in the following one lap competition, his fast start completely threw my pacing off and unfortunately I came in second. Chin up though—at least I wasn’t behind Michael!

thoughts after Sure, I didn’t take home the gold this time, but I like to think that I came pretty close. I definitely believe that I went way too easy on my opponents, and it showed. Just a little bit more effort and I’d have utterly annihilated them. Pity. They might be laughing now, but we’ll see who comes out on top during our rematch. Just you wait—there’s only two spots between fourth and first. The world is watching, and I’m not holding back.

KEVIN LI

After I absolutely torched the competition in these mini-olympics, my fellow competitors might want to reconsider the meaning of the word “Smokie.” Banter aside, however, I rode my luck on more than one occasion. The gold medal flashed before my eyes a couple of times, like in mid-cartwheel or when my opponents’ shots in basketball came heart-stoppingly close to scoring. Kudos to other Kevin for being sprint master, Bindhu for showing us what a real cartwheel looks like, and Michael for his consistent mediocrity.

BINDHU

I’ve always said coming into something with the lowest expectations only means you can improve, and I think I proved that to myself more than once during this competition. I walked in assuming I would be dead last at every event, but surprised myself on more than one occasion. Overall, I’m extremely happy with how I did, especially getting second in basketball after not having touched one in a couple years. I suppose having a couple referees on my side helped. Congrats to my fellow Smokies for a job well done!

KEVIN CHEN

Tied for second place, you say? That’s fine –—I’ve always believed that the path to success is littered with failures. While a certain other competitor’s reflections show pretty clearly there were some fishy rule violations, I can’t help but admit that these Mini-Olympics were extremely fun. Even though my cart-wheels (or should I say cart-flops) were atro-cious and my basketball game shameful, I had a great time facing off against my fellow Smokies.

MICHAEL

photos by staff writers andrew kan & brian tseng, graphics from pinterest.com

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Friday, April 29, 2016

alumnus spotlight

ALVIN ZHOU

Buzzfeed & Tasty Video Producer By Andrew Choi Staff Writer

linkedin.com

MSJ alumnus Alvin Zhou (Class of 2013) has become a culinary viral sensation, creating short food videos for BuzzFeed, as well as appearing on the cooking competition show Chopped. Zhou, who is currently a junior studying operations research at Columbia University, cooks, shoots, produces, and edits shortform food videos for Tasty and BuzzFeed Food, and has earned over 3.3 billion views and 63 million shares on Facebook. Zhou said that he started cooking in earnest after a botched attempt at baking cookies during his years at MSJ, and started making food videos when a friend at Columbia lent him a camera to play with. Before moving to BuzzFeed in May 2015, Zhou worked for a number of different video media companies including Spoon University and Eko Communications, Inc. Since his move, Zhou has made videos on everything from BBQ Chicken Pizza Dippers to Magic Chocolate Balls for his

huge online audience. Zhou’s work at BuzzFeed has taken its Facebook-only cooking channel, Tasty, to a whole new level. According to Tubular Labs, Tasty set the record for the most video views in a single month ever, generating three billion total video views in January of this year. Although the channel is less than a year old, it has since amassed 50 million Facebook followers, and some of its videos have surpassed 130 million views. Many of Zhou’s videos have also been featured on websites such as Cosmopolitan and Fox News. In addition to his work at BuzzFeed, Zhou also recently competed in an episode of Chopped on the Food Network. In an episode that aired on March 15, Zhou faced off against three other college students to cook appetizers, entrées, and desserts with a basket of various ingredients that include some kind of unorthodox component. After each round of just 60 minutes, a contestant is “chopped” from the competition. In the first round, contestants were tasked with creating a mouthwatering appetizer with chicken breast, pre-cooked rice and beans, tomato sauce, and an energy drink. Zhou survived the appetizer round with his open-faced chicken slider, blending the rice and beans with egg for a makeshift bun and integrating the energy drink into a zesty sauce. In the second round, Zhou and the remaining two competitors were challenged to make entrées out of skirt steak, frozen macaro-

Off Campus:

buzzfeed.com From left to right, going down: strawberry nutella french toast roll-ups, garlic bread meatball sliders, one-pan teriyaki salmon dinner, red velvet churros, bacon-wrapped grilled cheese sandwich, rosemary steak, and garlic parmesan stuffed mushrooms.

ni and cheese, coffee, and Brussels sprouts. Zhou made a traditional garlic and rosemary skirt steak with glazed Brussels sprouts and bacon. Unfortunately for Zhou, the two other contestants’ dishes proved to be superior to his, and he was “chopped” from the competition before the third and final dessert round. Despite being “chopped” during his television appearance, Zhou’s love for cooking has not wavered. When asked what his favorite part of his job was, Zhou said, “I get to virtually feed hundreds of millions of people.”

photo by graphics editor monica tang

When you are driving a vehicle off campus, always anticipate the other driver will do something stupid. They will turn right in front of you, cutting you off, or change lanes when you’re right beside them. Pay attention to the drivers around you! I can’t tell you how many traffic accidents I have investigated where the collision could have been avoided if the driver of either vehicle had just been driving slower and anticipating other drivers. Another thing to consider when driving a vehicle is the pedestrian or bicyclist. A bicyclist is supposed to be riding his bike on the side of the street and in the same direction vehicles are driving, but they don’t always do that. Be sure to look both directions when turning right. This is one of the most common collisions near schools. When you come to a stop sign, your normal reaction is to look to your left to see if a car is coming from that direction and then just turn right. You don’t expect to have a bicyclist or pedestrian just to your right. Always come to a complete stop and look both ways.

Loud Music:

Playing your stereo or car radio too loud is against the law. The law says you are playing your music too loud if someone 50 feet away from your vehicle can hear your music. The reasoning behind this is as a driver you not only have to be able to see around you, you must be able to hear other vehicles or sirens of emergency vehicles. The law also says you cannot wear two earbuds or earphones at the same time while driving a vehicle for the same reason as before.

Cellular Phone: Drivers under the age of 18 cannot use a cellular telephone, even if it is hands free, at all while driving. Once you turn 18, you can use a cellular phone if it is hands free only. But if you are answering the phone and then turning the speaker on, you have already violated the code by answering the phone. And texting is even more dangerous, don’t do it!

Have fun but be safe.

MISSION HIGHLANDS SWIM CLUB

Dr. Jeffrey Wong

Memberships available for $800. This price includes 2016 annual fees.       

5 lane, 25 yard pool lifeguards always on duty swim lessons volleyball court, table tennis, tether ball covered BBQ area monthly socials Sharks swim team discount for members

Mention this ad when purchasing a membership and receive 20 guests passes— $100 value. 41900 Palm Ave—Across from MSJHS. For information send email to memberships@highlandsswimclub.org. Website: www.highlandsswimclub.org

Orthodontist

200 Brown Rd. Ste. 202 Fremont, CA 94539

510-490-0591 510-490-0591

c h alice e n g

Friday, April 29, 2016

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t a annie n g

Superhero name: @justice Craziest freshman memory: During Homecoming, she found out she’s allergic to face paint.

Superhero name: Alice the Marvalice Craziest freshman memory: Accidentally ate a dog biscuit (and sort of liked it!).

Current Co-Editor-in-Chief and former Opinion Editor of the Smoke Signal, Alice Cheng is always ready to learn new things and discover new experiences. At the end of freshman year, Alice co-founded Mock Trial, and has since worked with other passionate students over the course of three years as the club’s President. As the current TEDxMSJHS curator and former financial team head, she hopes to provide opportunities for students to absorb interesting ideas. She has also received multiple Scholastic writing awards, an international finalist award for her DECA event, and a finalist award for Expository Speaking at the Martin Luther King Jr. Invitational. As an Opinion Editor her junior year, Alice learned to take on the challenge of conveying unpopular opinions and perspectives in a journalistic way. Throughout her leadership roles, she has made it a priority to listen and empathize with the insights of her peers. She is motivated by a drive to learn new things and to always perform at her best. During her free time, she loves to read, draw, write, and kayak. Recently, she has enjoyed exploring historical art pieces and is considering dabbling in art history further in college. In the future, she hopes to continue exploring interdisciplinary studies and social entrepreneurship.

Big things come in small packages, and this certainly applies to Annie Tang. She may be small, but her involvement on campus is anything but so. She became increasingly active throughout her high school years, especially in terms of clubs. She is currently the Challenge Success Secretary, LEO Club Co-President, the Centerspread Editor of the Smoke Signal, and a Peer Mentor. She also participated in DECA in her sophomore and junior years, winning second in the Financial Operations Research Event at regionals, first in the same event at states, and qualifying for the International Career Development Conference. As she wanted to explore different disciplines, Annie also joined robotics—Team 8865, the Intersect—in her junior year. Although she struggled at first, she was eventually able to learn and develop both her technical and organizational skills with her teammates’ support—even advancing to Regionals with her team in both junior and senior year. She cites her motivation as the people around her because they push her to work harder and generally be a better person. Her hobbies include graphic design, photography, and watching anime. When Annie graduates, she will miss the different experiences MSJ has exposed her to, but nonetheless carry on the open-minded attitude that MSJ has helped her to cultivate.

athletics

club involvement

community service

hobbies

leadership

literary arts

visual/performing arts

s.t.e.m.

all-around

Each year, the Smoke Signal interviews 16 seniors who are recognized by both their peers and their teachers for their respective achievements. To select the 16 seniors, the Smoke Signal gathered responses from the Class of 2016 through an online survey form available to all students. Once the students voted, MSJ staff members voted on the 28 seniors who had received the most nominations. From there, the Smoke Signal gave each nominee one point for the student votes he or she had received, and two votes for the teacher nominations he or she had received. The 16 seniors with the most points were featured in this issue of the Smoke Signal. Anna Chen is a passionate advocate for environmental conservation and medicine. As the founder and president of the club Sustainable Science and Technology (SS&T), Anna works to make MSJ more environmentally friendly and forwardthinking. SS&T has held field trips and projects that benefit MSJ, including the LED project, which is working on replacing old school lights with energy-efficient ones. SS&T not only has a significant impact on MSJ, but has also helped Anna learn about leadership and working with others. Anna is invested in sustainability on a larger scale as well with the organization Fremont is Engaging in Real Change in the Environment (FIERCE), as part of the executive committee. For the last three summers, Anna has also interned at science labs at Stanford University and UC Berkeley. In addition, Anna is a swimmer on MSJ’s varsity team and loves to draw, read, and spend time with friends and family in her free time. Anna draws inspiration from people who are underprivileged but continue to strive. She loves medicine not because of the money involved, but because there is a greater meaning for her in making people healthier. In the future, Anna plans to become a doctor specialized in reconstructive plastic surgery and hopes to tie her passions of sustainability and medicine together.

Superhero name: Big Bananna Craziest freshman memory: Anna wore orange goggles as a freshman, so everyone called her Nemo. She even had “Nemo” printed on her swimming cap.

c h e anna

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By Ashley Chang, Michelle Dalarossa, Mallika Gupta, Lucille Njoo, Zen Thumparkkul & Cindy Yuan Staff Writers

Holding the strong belief that good education is the threshold to future success, Brian has devoted his high school career to computer science and competitive math and physics. His proudest accomplishment is qualifying for and participating in the 2015 US Physics team training camp in Washington D.C. He has also qualified for the US Math Olympiad for three years now and received an honorable mention award for his participation in the US Junior Math Olympiad in his sophomore year. He continues to share his passion through volunteering at Head Start, Head Smart!, a student tutoring group that donates its proceeds to FUSD, and at Hopkins Math Club. Through the Math Club, he provides middle school students access to content covered in contest mathematics and lectures on game theory. His potential career choice, however, remains to be computer science. Brian received a perfect score on the AP Computer Science test and hopes to major in electrical engineering and computer science in Massachusetts Institute of Technology this fall. When taking a break from academics, Brian explores his diverse hobbies, which range from composing piano solos to playing card games, to producing line patterns. He especially enjoys playing and blogging about rhythm games like Dance Dance Revolution.

x brian i e Superhero name: CosmynX Craziest freshman memory: Waiting in line for six hours at Fanime 2013. photos by staff writers ashley chang, michelle dalarossa, mallika gupta, lucille njoo, zen thumparkkul & cindy yuan

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chris k w o k

The Smoke Signal

erikka linn

Superhero name: Kwokalicious Craziest freshman memory: At a Gravel Pit meeting, someone challenged him to a breakdancing battle. He had no idea what he was doing, but both of them did very badly and tried tricks they couldn’t do.

Friday, April 29, 2016

l i erikka n n

Superhero name: Amerikkan Girl Craziest freshman memory: Painting her face green and scaring everyone on a basketball dress-up day.

Chris Kwok loves to share his passion for dance. He started dancing in 7th grade but only started learning hip-hop as a sophomore. Since then, he has performed for Homecoming and Multicultural Week several times. Currently, he helps lead two dance clubs at MSJ as Vice President of COR Dance, which focuses on hip-hop and jazz, and as the previous Activities Coordinator of Gravel Pit, which focuses on urban-style dancing, such as breakdancing. Chris is invested in dance and choreography not only because dance itself is fun and provides an outlet for energy, but also because he enjoys coming up with new art that people can enjoy. He loves seeing his peers and friends progress in dance, and is inspired by their growth to improve himself. Although Chris broke his ankle during a performance in May 2015, he used the trying experience to grow in his appreciation for the people around him, including his family and friends. Besides dance, Chris also loves to explore with friends and make new memories in unique places. He is also a second degree blackbelt in taekwondo and is working on his Eagle Scout Service Project as a Boy Scout. Chris makes an effort to say hi to people every day in order to reach out to them and brighten their days. In the future, Chris hopes to join an official dance crew in Southern CA to gain even more experience in dancing and dance competitions.

Driven by self-determination, Erikka Linn has devoted herself to sports since childhood and is now continuing to inspire others with her passion. Taking basketball as an example, in sophomore year, Erikka received an honorable mention; in junior year, she was named to the first team all-league; and finally, in senior year, she was named Most Valuable Player and MSJ’s Athlete of the Season. Her accomplishments in track rival those in basketball, as she also qualified for North Coast Section (NCS) Bayshore all three years that she participated for 4 by 1 and high jump, won MVALs in freshman year for high jump, and won NCS in junior year for high jump. In addition, she attended Meet of Champions freshman and sophomore year for high jump and junior year for both high jump and long jump. She currently holds the school’s record for long jump at an impressive 17’ 11”. Erikka has been in varsity track and basketball all four years of high school and looks forward to receiving the White Sweater Award. Influenced by her experience coping with injuries, part-Chinese background, and past internship at a sports therapy clinic, Erikka hopes to explore sports medicine at UC San Diego while incorporating some Chinese methods of healing. In her free time, Erikka plays the piano and trains younger basketball teams.

With hard work, dedication, and the desire to succeed, Eric Yang strives to become the best wrestler he can be. This year he placed sixth in his category at the CA Interscholastic Federation State Wrestling Competition, a tournament hosting the top 2 percent of wrestlers in CA. Eric is motivated by his belief that if you want something enough, you will be able to get it—a saying that he lives by in wrestling and in everyday life. Ever since he started wrestling, he has made it a priority to put in the hard work. He trains over 40 hours a week in-season and 30 hours a week off-season through club and high school practices, collectively. As a four-year varsity wrestler and a three-year varsity captain, he spends much of his time working to promote MSJ wrestling and setting a good precedent for his team. He does that by making sure to be the first one on the mat and the last one off the mat while hosting practices. By recognizing the little improvements along the way, whether in academics or in athletics, he is always motivated to continue working hard and giving his best effort in everything he does. In the future, Eric plans to wrestle for Northwestern University, a Division I college with great academics.

Harshita Gupta has spent her high school years at the boundary of people and technology. A self-taught programmer and recognized serial hackathoner, Harshita has presented a product at the Consumer Electronics Show and singlehandedly developed a product for Bank of America during a software development internship. While she believes that technical skills are empowering, Harshita finds most meaning in her work here on campus. She started Best Foot Forward, a mentorship service for new students, is currently President of Peer Resource, and is an Opinion Editor for the Smoke Signal. She is particularly passionate about creating support systems and dispelling the stigma around mental health; in her junior year she led content-creation for Peer Resource’s “Leave No One in the Dark” Benefit Show. Her inspiration and motivation come from what she learned when moving from Mumbai, India to the US, and attending COSMOS—two experiences outside the MSJ bubble that sparked her determination to respect her privilege and give back to the community. Despite her numerous achievements, Harshita considers her greatest high school milestone to be embracing her LGBTQ identity. In her free time, she enjoys folding paper cranes, reading outrageous op-eds online, and growing her all-too-long reading list.

Superhero name: Captain Americ(a) Craziest freshman memory: It was so crazy he can’t remember it to this day!

eric y a n g

g u p t harshita a Superhero name: Hallelujah Harshita Craziest freshman memory: Using a crowbar and a hammer to rip apart a pair of old wooden stairs in the Little Theatre. photos by staff writers ashley chang, michelle dalarossa, mallika gupta, lucille njoo, zen thumparkkul & cindy yuan

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photos by staff writers andrew chen, carolyn ge, tanushri sundar, zen thumparkkul & chloe velasquez. graphics from pixabay.com

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Sonam Bhuptani (12)

“The most rewarding part of leading a MC performance was definitely performing during the assemblies. Having everything finally come together after stressing out for so long was an amazing feeling.” -Iris Bai (10)

“The most rewarding part would definitely be the music. Even if the audience couldn’t hear too well, I am super proud of Syncos for making the notes on a piece of paper come to life.” - Elliot Suh (12)

Jamin Chen (12)

“I’ve always loved performing in MC week, as it gave me a chance to get to know and grow with students from other years. It’s allowed me to push myself when I looked up to my upperclassmen and encourage my underclassmen as a senior. It really does mean a lot to me and I’m glad I got to spend time performing in MC week all four years!” - Chris Kwok (12)

“The most rewarding part of the experience was the enjoyment that you hear from the crowds of students watching you.” -Joshua Kim (10)

Jessica Feng (9)

Chris Kwok (12)

“Being able to share my passion for dance with my members. All of them are such unique, talented individuals. I’m so proud and happy to be able to contribute to their growing process and watch them thrive into beautiful, confident dancers and people. Leading a MC performance was also self-enriching; it was a great opportunity to get out of my comfort zone and challenge my own creative and artistic ability.” - Natalie Sin (12)

Nishir Shelat (12) Amrutha Potnuru (12) Ryan Halim (10) “We started practicing during winter break. I didn’t have access to real taiko drums, so we had to practice on homemade drums made out of old tires and clear tape. My group didn’t actually get to play on real taiko drums until a couple weeks before the real performance!” -Hayley Arima (11)

“I’m proud of our actual performance. Despite putting in last minute changes here and there, it turned out great. A lot of my friends and classmates came up to me with compliments about our performance, which I am really grateful of.” - Melissa Chin (12)

Nitya Vakil (11)

Minh Thai (10)

Hayley Arima (11)

“It was tiring but so rewarding. Since K-pop hasn’t been performed in the Multicultural Assembly since 2011, we tried really hard to create an impressive, eye catching, and cohesive performance. From weekly after school practices to the occasional early morning practices, we spent so much time together over the course of four months that rehearsals became both fun and productive.” - Deeksha Raina (11)

Jennifer Wei (11)

“Performing during MC Week is an opportunity to introduce new cultures to our fellow Warriors and to expand our view of the world.” - Jason Wong (11)

“This was my first time performing at MC week, and I really loved it. Performing ‘Over the Rainbow’ was particularly special for me because the theme is all about forgetting your worries and finding a happy place for yourself in the face of everything else that’s going on.” - Shefali Sastry (12)

Shefali Sastry (12)

Jason Wong (11)

“I have been performing for [Homecoming and Multicultural]for 3 years now, and chance I get to perform in front of the school is a privilege.” - Heather Wang (12)

Jason Chang (12) photos by staff writers andrew chen, carolyn ge, tanushri sundar & zen thumparkkul. graphics from believinginbeauty.ca, deviantart.com, freevectormaps.com

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photos by staff writers andrew chen, carolyn ge, tanushri sundar, zen thumparkkul & chloe velasquez. graphics from believinginbeauty.ca, deviantart.com, freevectormaps.com & pixabay.com

Friday, April 29, 2016

The Smoke Signal

Superhero name: Katwoman Craziest freshman memory: She pulled her first all-nighter during Homecoming.

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Superhero name: Giggle Woman Craziest freshman memory: She got into a three-way car accident on the way to school all because of a bird.

The Smoke Signal‘s Co-Editor-in-Chief Katrina Cherk strives to be well-rounded and welcomes new experiences. During her freshman year, she founded the MSJ History Club with two friends in order to get more students to participate in National History Day, since the event didn’t seem as popular in high school compared to junior high. She got fifth place at Nationals and her club has competed nationally every year since its inception. She has currently been co-president for three years. She was also part of DECA for three years, qualifying for the International Career Development Conference twice. Additional leadership experience includes being a class officer in her freshman and sophomore years. Writing an article on a robotics competition as a Smoke Signal staff writer helped pique Katrina’s interest in the activity, and she eventually joined Team 7591 Voltage of Imagination in her senior year. Her hobbies include running, experimenting with graphic design, and learning new languages. She looks forward to traveling once she graduates, especially since she will be visiting Asia for the first time. A year ago, she never would have imagined taking so many risks, but she appreciates how much she’s changed and grown. She’s also grateful for her strong support group of friends and family that has always been motivating her along the way. In the future, Katrina wants to use college as a chance to explore and continue to find new passions.

Natalie Sin, a 13-year dance veteran, doesn’t limit herself to a specific genre. She has experience in hip hop, jazz, contemporary, tap, and ballet. She’s part of the Mission Dance and Performing Arts competition team and has made top 10 for her solos, duets, and group dances in multiple competitions. Natalie hopes to continue dance in college as a minor or through a dance team. Her love for dance led her to expand her involvement in the activity, including becoming the COR Dance Club President and leading Homecoming airbands. Additional leadership experience as the LEO Club Publicity Head in her sophomore year encouraged her to apply to L2. She is currently the LEO Club Vice President. She continued to try new things, such as running for Senior Class President, a position that she now holds. Natalie values positivity as well as the mentality that anything is possible and thinks it’s important to help others as well as oneself. She spends her free time watching choreography videos on YouTube, and her hobbies include going on food adventures and singing her favorite tunes at the top of her lungs. Natalie said, “I love eating. It’s not even a hobby; it’s an obsession. And Swerpy Sin jamming sessions are always available if you want to hang out with me!”

Matthew Saleem is as menacing an athlete as he is an approachable and wellbeloved friend. Having won first place in the Frosh/Soph high hurdles event as a sophomore who joined track mid-season without spikes, Matthew is truly a force to be reckoned with. Through his victory in tenth grade, the Frosh/Soph Most Valuable Player discovered his affinity for hurdles and eventually became the hurdles captain this year. In addition to helping train hurdlers, Matthew also enjoys passing down STEM knowledge through his involvement in Math and Science Education (MASE) and through his role as MSJ Science for Youth’s president. As a part of Fremont Is Engaging in Real Change in the Environment (FIERCE), a districtwide eco club, and MSJ Sustainable Science and Technology’s (SS&T) co-founder and vice president, Matthew places much emphasis on tackling issues regarding environmentalism. After an internship with a doctor, he also felt inspired to become a surgeon and selflessly serve his patients with kindness, empathy, and compassion in the future. Matthew is set on pursuing medicine and will be taking a direct medical program in college. Befitting his fun-loving personality, some of Matthew’s hobbies include running, cooking, and making people laugh.

Whether he’s running for MSJ’s track team, coordinating a fundraiser for the UNICEF club, or playing chess during his free time, Parry Dong always finds the motivation to give whatever he’s doing his all. Although Parry first came to MSJ from Horner Junior High School, he was immediately met with an accepting and welcoming student body, which he credits as the reason why he became so involved with clubs and activities on campus. He’s been on MSJ’s track team for four years, a backstage tech volunteer for the school’s drama productions for two years, and has been impacting the lives of MSJ students through his work as a Global Glimpse Ambassador over the past year. As a junior, Parry traveled to Nicaragua with the Global Glimpse program where he met and connected with new people, expanded his perspective on life, and pushed himself far out of his comfort zone, making it the “coolest experience” of his high school career. Parry cites family as being the primary reason why he continues to push himself to do better in all aspects of his life, saying that it drives him to persevere until he succeeds.

Superhero name: Platypus Craziest freshman memory: During track, Parry thought his fellow freshman friend Vanessa Morales was a senior.

Superhero name: Mattman Craziest freshman memory: Going crazy with his friends after finding that he set the curve on his biology final. photos by staff writers ashley chang, michelle dalarossa, mallika gupta, lucille njoo, zen thumparkkul & cindy yuan

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Superhero name: PowerPar Girl Craziest freshman memory: Almost walking into a calculus class on her first day of high school.

Superhero name: Sassy Sorceress Craziest freshman memory: Once, when she was really hyper after school in the library, she tried to start a rain dance in the library. She ended up getting really loud and was eventually asked to leave. Parwana Khazi is an avid sports fan, whether she’s playing, coaching, or watching them. She’s coached basketball for the City of Fremont, managed the Junior Varsity and Varsity girl’s basketball teams for four years, played on the Varsity softball team for three years, and skipped countless get-togethers and study sessions to watch Warriors games on TV. Some of her biggest accomplishments include being the head of the Homecoming/Multicultural Week Committee for Leadership 2, having KTVU Anchor Frank Somerville publish a letter she had written to Donald Trump on Facebook, and developing lasting and meaningful relationships during her high school years. Parwana’s biggest source of motivation comes from brightening people’s days and making others happy; this has been the basis for many of the activities in which she’s participated, including being a Link Crew Leader at MSJ and a Sunday School teacher at her mosque. She plans on pursuing a pre-med education with a major in biology to someday become an orthopedic surgeon—incorporating her joy of helping others into her future career.

Whether it be with Interact, Waterpolo, or Sustainable Science and Technology (SS&T), Urmi Mustafi has dedicated her high school experience to activities with causes that she felt drawn to. Serving as Interact’s Co-President for two years, after being involved in the club for two years prior, has been a major part of Urmi’s high school journey. She has been able to see underclassmen join with little expectations and truly grow from the experiences as they develop leadership skills and dedicate themselves to their community. As Varsity captain for water polo this year, Urmi loves the fact that the team was incredibly close-knit and cohesive during her last season, due to the contribution of all its team members. Urmi has also involved herself in activism for environmental science. As co-founder of SS&T, she is currently working towards adding dual flush toilets and LED lights around MSJ, saving both money and the environment. Urmi has also been involved in MSJ’s Relay for Life, as both a team captain and Team Development Chair all four years of high school because she enjoys being part of a group that hosts such an important event. In the future, Urmi hopes to be able to combine her interests in computer science, statistics, and environmental science, to do something that really interests her.

Shivam Patel has been in leadership roles on MSJ’s campus since his freshman year, through class office and administrative positions for DECA organizations. Shivam currently serves as the Co-President for MSJ’s DECA Chapter, and has served as both Vice President of Chapter Development his sophomore year, as well as a board member of the Silicon Valley Regional Board to plan conferences during his junior year. Being able to revamp the DECA chapter on campus by increasing membership and providing more resources is an accomplishment that Shivam holds in extremely high esteem. While he began high school being scared of the public eye, Shivam now strives to be the best leader he can be, yielding some incredibly rewarding experiences over his journey. Shivam strongly believes that you should not hold yourself back from amazing experiences in high school, since now is the time when we can afford to make mistakes. This thought was the driving force for why he participated in a lot of the things that he did during high school, exploring what was right for him, subsequently developing those interests. Although he hasn’t decided on one specific career, Shivam hopes to be able to travel in the future; meeting new people, learning a range of skills, and being able to live simply, focusing on the things that really matter to him.

By seizing opportunities that come his way every day, Zuhayer Quazi is able to overcome self-doubt and achieve things he never anticipated. Having served as the Vice President of Public Relations at the CA DECA office, Zuhayer is also the ASB Vice President at MSJ. After joining DECA in his sophomore year, Zuhayer was able to compete in the International Career Development Conference. This was an incredibly eye-opening experience for him, since he was able to interact with extremely different people, enabling him to leave his shell. Since then, Zuhayer has also joined L2 during his junior year as part of the tech team, and is now ASB Vice President. Starting out, Zuhayer never thought of holding a state position in DECA or of being an ASB officer for the school. However, by conquering what he thought he couldn’t do, Zuhayer is now able to assist underclassmen in DECA and oversee clubs as ASB VP—coming full circle since the start of his high school experience. Alongside his passion and dedication, Zuhayer also loves playing cricket, listening to music and watching movies. Zuhayer hopes to enter the startup world after college—whether it be through health care, sports business, or software—to explore new ideas with dedicated people.

Superhero name: Shivam Underpants Craziest freshman memory: Homecoming All-nighter.

Superhero name: DubZ Craziest freshman memory: Running around doorto-door to collect funds for Relay for Life.

photos by staff writers ashley chang, michelle dalarossa, mallika gupta, lucille njoo, zen thumparkkul & cindy yuan

Friday, April 29, 2016

The Smoke Signal

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OfďŹ cer Humble (Junior Jainav Gohel) and OfďŹ cer Bumble (Freshman Shayan Panjwani) try to devise a plan.

Doctor Nikolai Zubritsky (Freshman Samir Banerjee) and Lenya Zubritsky (Sophomore Mallika Gupta) engage in a conversation.

Universal Performers presented the first showing By Anthony Chen of its spring play, Fools, by Neil Simon, on April 23 in the Little Theater. Producer Senior Sara Panjwani, Director Drama Teacher Staff Writer Valerie Carattini, and Assistant Director Senior Allamaprabhu Pattanashetty organized the show. Additional showtimes are on April 29 and 30 in the Little Theater. Tickets may be purchased from Carattini or at the door.

(above) Gregor Yousekevitch (Senior Abhishek Singh) and his servant Paul (Senior Allamaprabhu Pattanashetty) visit fortune teller Esmeralda (Freshman Anisa Kundu).

(above) The Statue of Kulyenchikov (Junior Rushalee Nirodi) puts on fake glasses and reads.

Sophia Irena Zubritsky (Senior Khadijeh S. Yazd) and Leon Steponovitch Tolchinsky (Senior Abhay Dewan) discuss their future. photos by staff writer anthony chen

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C R I T I C S’ C O R N E R M u s i C : z z wa r d | t h e l u m i n e e r s | F i l m : j u n g le b o o k | h a r d c o r e h e n ry

Under the Radar

The Jungle Book ‘Baloo’ us away

Music review

By Anu Asokan Staff Writer Coffeehouse beats mingled with country vibes. A voice reminiscent of Adele but with hip-hop influences. Lana Del Rey in a parallel universe. This is ZZ Ward. ZZ Ward released her first album, Til the Casket Drops, in October 2012, but hasn’t been sitting still since. She dropped her EP Love and War last August and is planning to release her second studio album soon. Her album features a variety of songs. “Last Love Song,” as its title suggests, is a heartbroken break-up song, whereas “Put the Gun Down” is a fiery, upbeat, slightly threatening song addressed to a rival. Each song has different rhythm and beats, but her lyrical content could use a little more variety. With the possible exceptions of “Blue Eyes Blind” and “365 Days,” her lyrics are neither clever nor very original—they’re all about love, generally troubled love. We can only hope ZZ Ward adds more of the twisty puns and wordplay of hip-hop in her future albums. ZZ Ward’s biggest strength is her refusal to be pigeonholed into a single category of music; instead, she remains open to exploring styles but maintains her unique, lovely, soulful voice. ZZ Ward is clearly willing to let her music change and grow, and seeing how her music evolves over the next few years will be part of the fun. ▪

Book Bites

By Shivane Sabharwal Staff Writer

imdb.com

By Ruiwen Shen Staff Writer The Jungle Book is a tale familiar to many, and Jon Favreau’s live-action version clearly does it justice. The film depicts the common hero’s journey, in addition to complex characters and beautiful animation. Narrated by the stern Bagheera (Ben Kingsley), we see Mowgli (Neel Sethi) trying his best to be a wolf in “the wolf way,” whose lifestyle is threatened by Shere Khan (Idris Elba). Mowgli’s character and motivations are complicated, which makes him a more understandable and human character and the film more complex than simple adventures in the jungle. Because of his frustration about being a subpar wolf and being restricted from using his “tricks” (the tools he builds), Mowgli is easily tempted by Baloo’s offer of an easy life. This is where this film gets deeper than its previous version: Baloo (Bill Murray) isn’t simply a good-hearted bear who acts as a kind of mentor for Mowgli. At first, it seems that Baloo is greedy and is

taking advantage of Mowgli’s honey-collecting skills, and Mowgli is only staying with Baloo to avoid going to the man-village. However, the two strike up an easygoing friendship. Mowgli feels liberated, free to use his “tricks,” with Shere Khan (Idris Elba) out of sight and out of mind. The audience and Bagheera recognize that Mowgli can only be safe away from the jungle, meaning he has to rejoin his man-village. Mowgli, being ten years old, understandably resists Bagheera and tries to stay with other animals. We can empathize with his confusion and his bursts of anger towards Bagheera and Baloo. These incidents reveal the film’s central struggle beyond the surface conflict between Mowgli and Shere Khan: in which world does Mowgli belong? Is it enough that Mowgli renounces the wolf pack, or must he fully become integrated with his fellow man? Being a man requires the use of fire, which all animals are afraid of and will create a schism between Mowgli and the animals that he wouldn’t be able to cross again. In

the face of such a difficult situation, we are enraptured with what Mowgli might do next. Neel Sethi’s portrayal of Mowgli is cute and impressive, and Scarlett Johansson’s voice perfectly matches the slithering and mysterious Kaa. Lupita Nyong’o did a stirring performance as the protective mother wolf, and Bill Murray shines through as the jovial Baloo. The animation is intense and real as the content of the film. The CGI looks so natural the film seems like a documentary at times, and one can almost make out each individual hair on the wolves’ pelts. The often out-of-frame Kaa paired with surround-sound speakers also makes for an unnerving, surreal experience. Favreau manages to make this classic tale complex and deep, but the main storyline is kept simple; the film inspires while being extremely easy to follow. The Jungle Book is definitely an upgrade from Disney’s previous version and will enthrall all age groups. ▪ Rating: A-

hardcore henry bores

By Amber Lee and Victor Zhou Staff Writers

Student Recommendation

Title: Station Eleven Author: Emily St. John Mandel Difficulty: Medium Genre: Science Fiction In a post-apocalyptic world after a deadly flu outbreak brings down society, a group of actors move through the remains of civilization, performing for communities of survivors. “It’s really fascinating to imagine a future where a lot of the things we have now are considered obsolete. It also forces the reader to ask, ‘What things are important in life?’ and ‘How do I define myself ?’” -Lydia Chew, 11

Staff Recommendation

Title: The Catcher in the Rye Author: J. D. Salinger Difficulty: Hard Genre: Fiction Holden Caulfield, a disillusioned high school student, grows more and more upset with his struggling studies and relationships. Written in vernacular from Caulfield’s point of view, this book reflects his internal thoughts and conflicts. “It’s hilarious. It’s really funny, in a very dark way, but not that dark. It’s very sarcastic.” -Math Teacher Tyler Robinson

Smokie Recommendation:

Title: Cormoran Strike: The Cuckoo’s Calling Author: J.K. Rowling under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith Difficulty: Medium Genre: Crime Fiction After supermodel Lula Landry dies in a fall from a balcony, private detective Cormoran Strike investigates Landry’s supposed suicide at the request of her brother. “To be honest, I came for J.K. Rowling, and stayed for the intriguing crime fiction. This thrilling and compelling novel really gets you wrapped up in the tension, pain, and mystery of Cormoran Strike’s investigation.” -Mallika Gupta, 10

imdb.com

By Anthony Chen Staff Writer

At first glance, Hardcore Henry offers a fresh experience for the audience—the entire action movie is shot from the first-person perspective of protagonist Henry, played by numerous cameramen, stuntmen, and even director Ilya Naishuller himself. However, besides the first-person gimmick, the film offers little else. Naishuller, who also wrote the screenplay, fails to develop an intriguing story for Hardcore Henry. The film brings the audience into a futuristic Russia filled with cyborgs, or cybernetic organisms, composed of part-human, part-robot bodies like Henry’s, but the movie offers no viable explanation for why so many people are constantly trying to kill Henry until the end of the movie. The protagonist’s amnesia provides the perfect opportunity for some much-needed exposition, yet Naishuller fails to deliver. Henry’s wife Estelle (Haley Bennett) and companion Jimmy (Sharlto Copley) are one-dimensional and enter and exit the story as they please. The antag-

onist of the story Akan (Danila Kozlovsky) has the most vivid personality, eccentric yet malicious, but his overpowering and unexplained telekinetic powers negate his obsession for a cyborg army, so his motivations are, like the rest of the characters, unreasonable and forced. Even the protagonist’s actions are relegated to the typical damsel-in-distress storyline. Random appearances of rocket launchers, flamethrowers, strippers, marijuana, and body mutilation highlight how unnecessary and ridiculous the violence, sex, and drug-use are in this movie. While these aspects can add flare to a movie, Hardcore Henry feels hollow with only flare and no plot. The little bit of character development and plot twist in the final scene is too little to improve the movie overall. The bizarre soundtrack choices and bad jokes also make the atmosphere of the movie choppy and messy. The excessively loud hard rock make fight scenes seem too light-hearted and comedic to be “hardcore,” and the occasional emotional scenes are over-shadowed by the distracting music and

shoehorned jokes. The lack of more somber and peaceful scenes offers no variety in the constant loudness and bloodshed. A redeeming factor of the movie, however, is that that the cyborg characters allow for creative fighting, such as scenes where Henry pulls out his own electrical wires as a weapon. His virtually indestructible body also lets him perform crazy stunts like jumping from an explosion and landing on a moving motorcycle. However, while the movie religiously adheres to its fighting and first-person concept, neither of the two really escalate or improve throughout the movie. This consistency makes the movie seem like an hour and a half of repetition. Unfortunately, the movie’s first-person perspective itself has its own challenges—the camera’s constant shaking as Henry runs and parkours gives the audience pretty severe motion sickness. With all these factors combined, the movie is an overall unremarkable experience with little to enjoy. ▪

First propelled to fame after their 2012 song “Ho Hey” became a radio hit, The Lumineers have finally released their sophomore album Cleopatra. Cleopatra explores much darker themes of lost love, regret, and some negative aspects of being thrust into a life of fame. The album is a bit disjointed in that sense; there isn’t a single topic, but rather a common theme of self-awareness and introspection present throughout Cleopatra. The first half of the album is much more energetic than the second, possibly to draw in listeners looking for something similar to “Ho Hey.” The first standout track is definitely “Ophelia.” The accompanying piano is vibrant and the vocals are energetic, even though the lyrics are about a girl that singer Wesley Schultz misses deeply and just can’t get off of his mind. He also mentioned that it is “a vague reference to people falling in love with fame.” “Cleopatra,” the namesake of the album, tells the story of a taxi driver that Schultz met in the Republic of Georgia. He sings about love that the driver missed out on and how she has regretted it ever since. This song is noticeably darker than the first two, ending with, “…when I die alone, when I die, I’ll be on time.” The production on the second half of the album is much slower and relaxed, and more in line with the melancholy topics that Cleopatra explores. You can almost feel the sadness in the vocals on “Sick in the Head,” a song about how people wrote off Schultz’s dreams, and “My Eyes,” a song about how Schultz has been dealing with the band’s rapid rise to fame. Lyrically, Cleopatra is miles ahead of the band’s freshman album, ditching radio hits and catchy songs for more free verses with substance. In fact, most of the songs don’t even have choruses, which sounds like Schultz was spontaneously singing his thoughts rather than traditionally writing and editing his lyrics. In terms of production, the entire album is very similar. A few simple chords from the guitar constitute the majority of the songs. The piano is added later on in the track, and “Ophelia” and “Cleopatra” do have noticeable piano sections. The album ends with “Patience,” a short piano instrumental that bids listeners farewell. The Lumineers’ rise to fame was quick, from playing at local events to touring the entire world and selling out shows with just one album out. But it should be clear that The Lumineers aren’t just going to ride the wave of what made them popular and have moved on to more introspective songwriting, showing listeners what they are capable of. One thing’s for certain: The Lumineers have blown the sophomore slump right out of the water. ▪ Rating: A

Rating: D amazon.com

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Arts & Entertainment 23

Tinashe Featuring Blackbear Concert Review montage began to play, which effectively hyped up the audience and the arrival of the songstress, who kicked off her set with “Ride of Your Life.” Tinashe showed off her prowess as not only a talented singer, but also as a high-energy dancer and live performer. Accompanied by her posse of four astounding back-up dancers, Tinashe created a lively environment and showcased a performance that packs a punch. In between songs, the stage crew and performers managed to execute seamless transitions that highlighted intricate costume changes and set manipulations. Amidst the various singles that she performed, the artist treated her fans with a special, unreleased song, “No Contest,” which is bound to be another hit with its excessively sultry and relaxed vibe. Above all, Tinashe’s genuine and down-to-earth personality shined throughout her performance. The successful singer came off as extremely humble while she heartily thanked the audience for all of their support, but continued to uphold her fun and lively disposition. Being one of the few female R&B singers and songwriters, the Joyride album could potentially decide whether or not Tinashe is able to make it further in the industry. Her music is reminiscent of past R&B superstars, such as Aaliyah and Ciara, and similar to the work of up-and-coming artist, Kehlani. However, Tinashe brings something new to the table with unparalleled live vocals and cool, sultry beats. The artist’s impeccable performance further proved that her name is not one to be forgotten. ▪

By Sarina Chitre & Neha Shah A&E Editor and Centerspread Editor

On Tuesday, April 5, 2016, a crowd consisting of a diverse mix of teens and young adults anxiously waited to enter The Warfield in San Francisco to witness the 23-year-old American, Zimbabwean, and Danish singer and songwriter, Tinashe, in action. Tinashe has been taking the hiphop genre by storm, as one of the better-known female R&B artists today. At the 26th show of her Joyride World Tour, expectations were high. The Bay Area welcomed the singer by sporting her T-shirts and 5-panel hats throughout the crowd. The Warfield was fairly crowded in the General Admission area, but surprisingly barren in the balcony and other areas with seating. As the lights slowly dimmed, energy filled the air. The drums started off, hyping up the crowd, for the opening act from Los Angeles, Blackbear. He began with “Dirty Laundry,” a lesser-known track that is sure to gain more recognition due to its impressive vocals and upbeat tempo. Later on, in his set of songs, he switched to an acoustic tune. Unfortunately, this change lowered the crowd’s energy, and seemed out of place in comparison to the overall dynamic vibe. As Blackbear performed his most recognizable song, “Idfc,” the crowd, who knew the lyrics by heart, sang along with him. When the song ended and he exited the stage, the audience clamored for him to return, to no avail. After a series of stage adjustments, the lights dimmed again and the excited crowd began to cheer as the word “JOYRIDE” flashed onto a screen on the stage. A dramatic trailer-esque

Rating: Aphotos by centerspread editor neha shah

HUNGER GAMES EXHIBITION By Michelle Dalarossa and Mallika Gupta Staff Writers

From the Innovation Hangar at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco comes the extensive, interactive Hunger Games Exhibition, where fans explore backstage and behind the scenes material as well as original costumes and props displayed in settings replicating scenes from The Hunger Games movies. With the option of listening to a hand-held audio guide, visitors immerse themselves in the Hunger Games world and feel as though they’ve been transported to Panem itself. Thanks to the extensive information describing the plot and background of The Hunger Games, anyone interested in the franchise can visit the Exhibition, whether one has watched the films or not.

set recreations

costuming

The Exhibition features several immersive environments, integrating authentic set pieces and allowing fans to step inside the world of Panem as created by the films. From places like The Hob in District 12 to President Snow’s Parade Balcony in the Capitol, visitors can follow Katniss’s journey from the sanctity of her home, through the streets of the Capitol, all the way into her time in District 13. Displays set up throughout the exhibit provide background information on the movies’ plots as well as backstage knowledge on subjects like stunt choreography, location management, visual effects, and more.

From tattered District 12 attire to gaudy Capitol dresses, the Exhibition displays authentic costumes used in the movies and provides information regarding the fabric, purpose, and style inspiration for each piece. Some of the most striking and memorable costumes are Effie Trinket’s eccentric matching sets, President Snow’s austere suits, and Katniss’s elaborate wedding dress.

insights & connections Accompanying each prop are insights into the inspiration for the set designs and their relation to the scenes filmed in those sets. For example, displays around the exhibit illustrate and describe the parallels between the scenes of the Capitol and the Roman Empire, with spectators and audience members from ancient Rome watching public executions just as citizens of Panem watch tributes being essentially publicly executed on live television. Other tidbits of information explained filming locations; since District 12 was inspired by Depression-era farmers and poverty-stricken people, scenes depicting the district were filmed in the Appalachian mountains.

interactives Amidst each set, visitors interact with aspects of the movies, quizzing themselves on trivia and comparing their response to the rest of the replies. From the interactive digital map of future America that featured detailed overviews of each of the districts, to the simple answer boards scattered around the tour, the little interactive elements keep visitors engaged in every section of the tour. Interviews with actors, producers, and more provide connections from The Hunger Games trilogy to the real world as well, and an emphasis on the parallels between real life situations and situations depicted in the movies add another level of relatability. photos by staff writers michelle dalarossa and mallika gupta

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By Victor Zhou Staff Writer

The Smoke Signal

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Sports 25

Baseball faces off against Moreau

MSJ Varsity Baseball faced Moreau Catholic High School at home in the first of a two game series Wednesday, April 20. Despite a strong effort from the Warriors, MSJ ultimately lost the close game 0-2. The Warriors started off the game strong, with starting pitcher Sophomore Clark Wey striking out several batters from the opponent lineup. The team’s cohesive infield and outfield worked together to catch fly balls and secure groundouts, holding the Moreau Mariners to a shutout inning. Despite an initial double by Wey, the Warriors were unable to capitalize on their situation with additional base hits, and did not score any runs. This trend continued in the following innings, with stellar defenses from both teams. MSJ extended its streak of shutout innings with fast-thinking plays from third baseman Senior Stanley Chiang and second baseman Junior Derek Chan. However, without solid hits, the Warriors were still unable to break the deadlock. The tides changed for both teams in the sixth inning. Moreau led the inning with powerful shots from multiple batters, advancing runners along the bases. Then, an overthrow at home plate allowed the Mariners to score two runs, gaining the lead for the first time in the game. The Warriors remained unfazed, and after a timeout with Coach Brian Soria, closed off the inning without any additional runs being scored. MSJ powered back in the bottom of the inning, with Sophomore Ted Shao-xue, Wey, and Chiang loading the bases. Unfortunately, inconsistent hitting came back to bite the Warriors as the next two batters struck out and stranded the runners on base. In the final inning, Junior Kevan Mathis replaced Wey as the closing pitcher, and shut out the Mariners once more. The Warriors attempted a final push to score, but were shut down by a strong performance from Moreau pitcher Junior Alex Pham. At the end of this

hard-fought game, MSJ remained down 0-2, with Moreau narrowly taking the win. Despite their loss, the Warriors still had a strong showing. Wey was a standout performer, throwing almost 80 pitches over six innings and earning four strikeouts, paving the way for the Warriors to hold a shutout game for five straight innings. Chiang was also instrumental in the Warriors defense, throwing out five runners without making a single error. “One thing we improved on was our errors. Today we had a couple of innings where we had an error, but we stopped it,” said Soria. With an impressive display of defense, the Warriors Baseball team looks to round out their game and continue to fight for future victories in their season. ▪

Captain Senior Gavan Singh prepares for a hit.

Sophomore Teg Ludher tries to get his opponent out.

Junior Kevan Mathis throws his pitch from the mound.

Wey holds the ball on the mound.

BC Ad Sophomore Clark Wey begins his pitch from the mound.

photos by staff writer victor zhou

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The Smokie 30-Minute Workout By Ishika Chawla & Anthony Chen Staff Writers

1. Side Planks

Side planks work out abs by supporting your body with only your elbow and feet. In this exercise, you contract your muscles without having to move that much—perfect for those who don’t like moving around. Lie on your side with your left elbow directly under your shoulder, stack your legs one on top of the other, and place your right hand on your hip or your left shoulder. Maintain a diagonal straight line with your body by bracing your core and keeping your spine straight. Hold that position for as long as you can or for 45 seconds, then switch sides and repeat the exercise.

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Do you want to keep your body in shape but don’t have enough time to go to the gym? Fear not, for the Smoke Signal has come up with a 30-minute workout to get your body ready for an active summer!

2. Skater Lunges Skater lunges are perfect for working your quads, hamstrings, and glutes in order to achieve your perfect beachready bum. Spread your feet into a military stance, shoulder-width apart. Take a step back as far as you can go with your left leg, and cross it diagonally behind your right. Extend your right arm to the right and parallel to the ground, and swing your left arm across your hips and reach to your right side, like you’re Ashley Wagner. Jump approximately two feet to the left and return to your original position. Repeat these steps and mirror the movement with your other leg as one rep, and do three sets of 20 reps during your workout.

5. Single-Leg Pushups

4. Burpees Burpees are a terrific way to jump into your workout routine and get your body moving and heart pumping in a short period of time. First, have a strong stance with your feet hipwidth apart. Go into a squat bending your knees with your arms back for maximum force and push off the ground as hard as you can into a jump. Land softly on bent knees and go immediately into pushup position with your hands on the floor and feet all the way back. Lower your chest until your nose almost touches the ground and then jump both feet back into the original standing position. Repeat the process for one minute. Do this exercise five times throughout your 30-minute workout.

Sports 27

Tired of doing normal push ups? Well, this variation of pushups might bring something fresh to your workout. While single-leg pushups strengthen your pectorals, triceps, and deltoids like normal push ups, they also train your core and upper body more. While doing your pushups, raise a leg and keep it straight, parallel to and above the floor. Lower your body until your arms form 90-degree angles, then push yourself back up. Keep your leg raised while you do an entire set of 15 push ups, then raise the other foot to do another set. Take a 30-second break between every two sets and complete four sets total.

3. Jump Squats

Jump squats work out your quads and hamstrings, and they also burn fat and build lean muscles for your legs to power you through your long walks across campus from classroom to classroom. To do this exercise, keep your feet shoulder-width apart, and keep your hands down at your sides. Squat down approximately 60 degrees, or two-thirds of the way down, and then jump with your arms raised straight up towards the sky. Land in your original position, squat, and continue. Do repetitions of 20 jumps squats at a time for five minutes. If you enjoy doing jump squats, be sure to try it out with your s“quad”!

6. Bicycle Crunches The bicycle crunch targets your abs, obliques, leg muscles, and core making it an ideal addition to a full body workout. Lie down on the floor with your legs bent at a 90-degree angle and your hands behind your head. Clench your abs as you lift your shoulders and upper back off the ground slowly, bringing your right elbow to your left knee. Hold this position for two counts and then switch sides and bring your left elbow to your right knee. Continue this exercise for 90 counts and then take a break. Do this exercise three times during the duration of the workout to get your swimsuitready, sculpted abs for the summer.

graphics by staff writers ashley chang, amber lee & zen thumparkkul

Athlete Spotlight: Zahra Gill Junior Zahra Gill is aiming to be a professional cyclist. Over the last few years, her career in cycling has progressed very quickly; this year, Gill joined the TWENTY16 Ridebiker Team, a professional women’s cycling team that aims to take athletes to the Olympics. The Smoke Signal sat down with Gill to learn more about her cycling career.

Smoke Signal: When did you start cycling and how has your cycling career progressed? Zahra Gill: I started cycling in 2013. I didn’t start seriously training until the winter of 2013. It’s been progressing really fast; I went from a local team and now I’m on one of the only junior professional development teams in the nation, and hopefully I’m aiming to go to World Championships next year. SS: How did you get on the TWENTY16 Ridebiker team? ZG: My coach is really well-known in the pro cycling community; the current men’s professional boy champion, he used to be coached by my coach, so my coach vouched for me, saying that he wanted to make me into the next world champion that he grooms [sic]. So he’s grooming me to become a world champion and go to the Olympics like his other students. We have a close relationship as he’s brought many women into pro cycling, so he put in his recommendation, and that’s how I got on the team. I also sent my resume, talking about how I want to help grow women’s cycling, which is one of their top priorities.

By Lucille Njoo Staff Writer

Junior Zahra Gill cycles with the TWENTY16 Ridebiker Team.

SS: What are your goals while on the TWENTY16 Ridebiker team? ZG: On this team, since this year is the Olympic year, our pro cycling team is really busy getting ready for Rio [the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games], so the juniors have kind of just been by ourselves right now, but I just want to learn as much as possible from Kristin Armstrong. She won the gold in 2012 and I’d love to get advice from all the pros and learn from them. Everyone is super friendly, so it would be really cool to talk to them more and get to go to their team camp with them. SS: What is your primary source of motivation?

ZG: My primary source of motivation would probably be my family. I see them work hard every day, and I want to be just like my parents. I want to succeed not to only make them proud but my success is when I’m doing something I’m really passionate about, and what drives me is just my love for the sport. SS: What is your favorite thing about cycling? ZG: My favorite thing about cycling is when you’re in so much pain your entire body goes numb, and then you kind of feel like a machine, and that’s when you really know that you’re on and you’re going to win.

SS: What are you working on right now? ZG: I’m working on a lot. First of all, I really want to encourage other girls and women to get involved in cycling, because we’re such a tiny community. On top of that, being Indian inside the cycling community where it’s predominantly Caucasian, is also a minority, so I’m a minority within a minority. I’m working to spread cycling in a way where it can be accessible to so many different people, because it truly changed my life, and I want it to change someone’s life like it changed mine. I want to become a pro, so I’m kind of figuring out the whole college and professional career together, training for World Championships next year hopefully, National Championships, maybe going to Europe during the spring. National Championships are usually [in] September, at the end of the season, so I’m training for that this year, and if I do well, then maybe the US national team will take me to the Spring Classics, which are humongous races in Europe. It’s like the Super Bowl for Europe. SS: What do you have planned for your future in cycling? ZG: I’d like to become a pro – become a successful pro – and hopefully help the sport grow. This year was the first year that they had a women’s World Tour, so that’s huge for women. Just being [on] the cusp of that, and the whole revolution is starting. It’d be really cool just to be part of the entire revolution of women’s cycling. ▪

photos by staff writer lucille njoo, courtesy zahra gill

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Track and Field Spotlight

Sports 29

By Mustafa Ahmed, Ashley Chang, Ella Chen & Andrew Kan Staff Writers

This month, the Smoke Signal spotlighted MSJ’s diverse track and field team. At 192 athletes, it is the largest sports team at MSJ. The athletes have continued to persevere despite having only two coaches, exhibiting their passion and dedication for the sport throughout the season.

Events

AT H L ET E S

JUMPS

Yaseen Hakim, 11

Jumps includes events such as long jump, high jump, triple jump, and pole vault. Both the triple jump and long jump events occur in the same sand pit at Tak Stadium. This year, the jumps captains are Seniors Christine Arnstad and Erikka Linn. Because the coach was injured early in the season, the captains and seasoned varsity athletes run jumps practice. Linn said, “The veteran athletes are doing very well in their events and there are quite a few new people with a lot of potential.”

Hurdles Captain Junior Yaseen Hakim has been doing track for three years and competes in 110-meter (110m) hurdles, 300-meter (300m) hurdles, 200-meter (200m) dash, and 100-meter (100m) dash. He decided to join hurdles because he has always been flexible and this skill helped him quickly adapt to the event. He received the 2015 Boys’ Frosh/Soph Most Valuable Award and hopes to advance past the North Coast Section (NCS) Bayshore Area Championships this year to the Meet of Champions.

Jessica Feng, 9

Avery Smith, 10

sprints

Tristan Durst, 12

Sprint events include the 100m dash, 200m dash, 400m, 100m hurdles for girls, 110m hurdles for boys, 300m hurdles, 4x100 relay, and 4x400 relay. The sprints group constitutes the bulk of the MSJ track team, with the most popular event being the 100m dash. Although they are composed of only a few athletes, the hurdlers greatly contribute to MSJ’s total score. Head Coach Brian Singleton leads the sprinters, and practice consists of a two-lap warm up run, stretches, drills, and a sprint workout on the school track.

Distance

Distance is separated into long distance and middle distance. Middle distance includes the 800m run, and long distance includes the 1600-meter (1600m) and 3200-meter (3200m) runs. Also led by Coach Singleton this year after Distance Coach Linda Addison retired, the distance group usually garners many points for the team. During practice, they warm up, stretch, and do drills with the sprinters but split off to do their respective distance workouts either on the track or local roads.

Nisha Sen, 10

Erikka Linn, 12 Senior Erikka Linn started jumping in her freshman year. Every year since her freshman year, Linn has qualified to compete at the NCS Meet of Champions for high jump and long jump by winning the MVAL League Championships and NCS Bayshore Area Championships. When asked about her favorite part of being a jumper, Linn said, “My favorite thing is actually, jumping. There’s just something about that feeling of flying.”

John Wang, 12 Senior John Wang joined throws in his freshman year, when former throws athlete Elliot Lin encouraged him to try it out. This year, Wang competes in Varsity Boys’ shotput and Varsity Boys’ discus. His records are 38 feet 2 inches and 135 feet 3 inches, respectively, which makes him one of the leading throws athletes in the league.

voices

Erikka Linn, 12

Throws

Sophomore Avery Smith has been running track for two years and participates in the 400-meter (400m), 800-meter (800m), and 4x400 relay races. She was the 2015 Mission Valley Athletic League (MVAL) Girls’ Frosh/Soph 800m champion and competed in the 4x400 relay at NCS Area Championships as well. Smith, who is now on Varsity, said, “The best part of being an athlete is having friends…to celebrate with after running a PR [personal record].”

Justin Leung, 10

There are two main throws events: shotput and discus. Frosh/Soph boys throw a 10 pound shotput; Frosh/Soph and Varsity girls throw a 4 kg shotput; and Varsity boys throw a 12 pound shotput. As for discus, girls throw a 1 kg discus whereas boys throw a 1.6 kg discus. This year, there are about a dozen throws athletes on the team. Coach Brian Kemp and Senior Captain John Wang run practice, alternating between throwing practices and weight training. Wang said, “There has been general improvement throughout this season, so we are pretty satisfied with the team’s performance at meets.”

Matthew Saleem, 12 Events: 110m hurdles, 300m hurdles Q: How has Track and Field impacted your life? A: Track and Field has made me a more competitive person and made me strive for self-improvement. Track and Field has really helped me live a healthier and happier life.

Tom Scrutton, 11 Events: 3200m Q: How has Track and Field impacted your life? A: Track and Field has given me a group of people to support me. There is a whole team atmosphere where everyone tries to support each other. Everyone from different parts of the team come together, and it is like a family.

Evie Sun, 10 Event: long jump Q: What have you accomplished this season? A: I [improved my] personal record [by] 12 inches. Before, I was scratching a lot. After I got my personal record, I got more motivated and was like I can do this.

Maggie Yu, 9 Events: 1600m and 400m Q: What are your goals for Track and Field this season? A: I want a sub-six minute mile. I don’t think I will get it, but I will aim for it.

Meet The coach Smoke Signal : How long have you been coaching, and how long have you been participating in Track and Field?

Brian Singleton: I’ve been here at MSJ for about ten years. I would say that I have been involved in track for a total of 25 years if I include my time doing track in high school, college, and coaching. I first began doing track when I was in high school. SS: Why did you decide to become a track and field coach? BS: I was inspired by my own high school coach. That was the direction I wanted to go give back to student-athletes the way he gave to us. He inspired us and played an important role in forming our thinking and morals. He was such an inspiration that that was the way I also wanted to live my life out. SS: What has the team accomplished so far this season? BS: We had a lot of really good individual performances this season, but it’s a bit too soon to get a big picture of how the season went. A lot of these athletes will do a lot more as the season continues to progress. Our athletes will continue to compete at league meets and there is a possibility that some people could qualify for NCS or for the Meet of Champions. SS: What are your goals for your team this season and in the future? BS: This season has been unique. We lost two coaches so there’s only me and my assistant. We want to make sure we get additional coaches for next year and the future. I want to be able to compete next year with a full set of coaches as we have such a good group of student athletes who would benefit from having more coaches help improve their technique and physique. We want to be able to push harder and get out of the current “survival” mode. SS: What is the best part about being the head of track and field? BS: I enjoy most watching athletes go from being brand new to the sport to becoming mini-experts. Watching their physical and mental growth and watching them pass that on to younger members of the team is definitely the best part of being head coach. It is also incredibly satisfying to see them pass on that information along with the general principles and lessons that I tell them to younger members of the team. That is the most gratifying part of the job and that’s kind of the pinnacle of why you do it. SS: What is your favorite memory of the track and field team? BS: My favorite memory was around three or four years ago when we took our 4x100 meters relay team to the Meet of Champions. It was the first time we had a good relay, let alone sprints program in a long time. It was exciting to see how the kids went from believing that they could never be good runners to becoming excellent runners.

photos by staff writers mustafa ahmed, ashley chang, ella chen & andrew kan

30 Special

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The Smoke Signal

Friday, April 29, 2016

Peer Resource presents “Made for More” By Victor Zhou Staff Writer

love, she said. To live a happy life, one has to know themselves, their strengths and interests, and to share their unique talents with the world.

Peer Resource held its annual Benefit Show on Friday, April 22. The show, which was held in C-120, featured singing, performances, and speeches from MSJ alumni, and was intended to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health. In total, around 450 students and parents attended the show. MSJ Syncopasians started the night with a few words explaining what the show’s theme, “Made for More,” meant to them, before performing an a capella rendition of The Script’s “Hall of Fame”, adding in their own bars as well. Likewise, many of the performers that followed also described their personal connection to the theme, and their experiences with mental health. The first speaker, Class of 2000 Alumna Mahsa Lindeman, talked about her struggles fighting the silent war against mental health, and the lack of mutual support and available resources at home and at school. She discussed how too often students with stress and anxiety do not feel comfortable opening up about their issues, and do not find help until it is too late. Lindeman then described how her own conflicts led her to become a therapist, and offered advice and resources, such as school counselors or a local clinic, to those that might be going through tough times. Another speaker, Class of 1984 Alumna Juliana Scalise, explained the difference between achievement and true happiness in life in her talk about battling mental health. Success is not earned through money, education, or power, but by doing the things you really

“It’s okay to not be okay. It’s okay to reach out for help. It’s okay to talk about [mental health]. The more people talk about it, the less stigma there is about it.” - Counselor Joanna Jensen Peer Resource sold tickets for admission, and the money raised was donated to MSJ to be put towards funding a school psychologist from Fremont Youth and Family Services, an organization that provides counseling, therapy, and education for a variety of different problems ranging from stress and anxiety to drug use. All of the 400 tickets available for preorder were sold out. Peer Resource also had T-shirts, wristbands, and other apparel for sale at the show. In the future, Peer Resource will continue to hold events and programs to increase awareness of mental health problems, and to reduce the stigma surrounding this sensitive topic. In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, Peer Resource will be organizing a two-week long campaign starting May 16, which will include mental health education, destigmatization, and resiliency workshops around campus. “Mental health isn’t something far away, it’s something our students are working through,” said Counselor Joanna Jensen. “It’s okay to not be okay. It’s okay to reach out for help. It’s okay to talk about [mental health]. The more people talk about it, the less stigma there is about it.” ▪

MSJ Class of 1984 Alumna Juliana Scalise speaks to the audience.

Senior Link Lee and Junior Ashley Mehta perform a duet.

Senior Grace Dong dances on stage.

photos by staff writer victor zhou, layout by sports editors amrith krishnan & rishab ramapriyan, coverage led by sports editors amrith krishnan & rishab ramapriyan, graphics editors kevin chen & monica tang

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Friday, April 29, 2016

The Smoke Signal

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Special 31

Alumni Voices: Mental Health By Carolyn Ge & Cindy Yuan Staff Writers

In this segment of the Mental Health series, the Smoke Signal asked alumni to share their perspectives on and experiences with mental health. A form was released through the “MSJHS Alumni” Facebook group, and participants were informed that their name and graduation year would be included. Read on for their insight and advice to current students about mental health.

1. How has college changed your perspective and attitude on mental health since high school? “In high school I never thought of mental health as an issue I had to worry about personally. I knew that it was important as a principle, and for other people, but I never believed it was a problem for me. I could handle everything MSJ threw at me. In college, everything suddenly became so real—I’m living away from home, responsible for my own lifestyle, and mental health turned into a very real issue for me. I have never been as insecure or as unstable as during my first year of college, and for a while I hated myself for not being as strong as I was during high school. Now I’ve come to terms with my struggles with mental health, and I’ve also learned to never take it lightly. Even if you personally are fine at the moment, don’t think of it as a non-issue that you never need to worry about.” - Katherine Lin, Class of 2015

“The University of Pennsylvania has just had a student suicide this past week, making it the tenth student suicide in just three years. The most important thing to understand why these suicides are occurring [is] the existence of “Penn Face,” which is when people put on a smile no matter what is happening and say things like, “Yeah school is going well and my grades in all 6 classes are good and of course I’m going out to party this weekend in addition to my five club events” when in reality they are struggling and suffering. People cannot pretend everything is okay when it is not and should not put on a false pretense of happiness, for it will only worsen the feelings of those who are also suffering. This is a phenomenon common to many college campuses. If you are suffering, seek help. Don’t pretend it’s okay in front of your peers because you are making yourself feel worse and contributing to a toxic school culture that MSJ is definitely susceptible to.” - Jimmy Qian, Class of 2015

“Being in college, and being around a large and diverse student population, it has placed me in a new position. I am around people who are affected by their mental health. And it lets me understand that even though homework is important, it’s even more important to take care of yourself. The brain is an organ, just like the heart or liver. And just like any other organ, the brain can get sick too.” - Claire Xu, Class of 2013

2. What advice would you want to give to your former high school self or current MSJ students regarding mental health? “Seek out help, it’s a sign of strength, not weakness, to acknowledge our fears and anxieties. It’s not healthy to keep these insecurities bottled up too much or suppressed. Also, even if you yourself don’t feel these symptoms, please at least try to listen. Be aware of the people around you that could be experiencing these things. What kind of environment are you encouraging with your actions and behaviors? You are in the midst of a culture of competition and performance-based attitudes, but it’s up to you whether you choose to perpetuating this culture or trying to change the scene. When grades come back from a test, what is your response? Be mindful of how you react, and be mindful of your peers. Be proud of the product of your work; there’s really no use in comparing with others to determine your worth. Humble yourself and really check your pride at the door: everyone has a story to share. Be willing to be vulnerable about yours and at the same time take a posture of learning when listening to other’s stories.” - William Cheung, Class of 2013

“If you don’t feel comfortable asking your parents to help you seek mental health resources, that’s okay. However, you still deserve to feel better. Go ahead and look for online mental health resources to get you started on learning some ways to cope with whatever you’re going through, and please find a friend who you feel comfortable talking to because that seriously makes a huge difference. Your friend will still care about you after you tell them whatever is going on. If you don’t feel comfortable talking to a friend but you really need to get something out, call an anonymous helpline. I’ve called one before and I can guarantee that they do a great job at listening. Bottom line: I know there are a lot of barriers to accessing mental health care as a teenager but there are also many options and it’s worth giving them all a try.” - Zahra Samiezade-Yazd, Class of 2013

3. How did you cope with stress or what methods did you use to de-stress while you were at MSJ? “For me, being present is a big stress reliever because although we may be working for tomorrow it is important to understand that no matter how long we work, tomorrow will never come. All we have is today. So even if school seemed stressful sometimes, I took it one day at a time and really did my best to put meaning to my days back then. We can accept where we are now or we can reject it, but that doesn’t alter the reality of it. Acceptance is a big key to managing stress.” - Samie Azad, Class of 2014

“I ran cross country and track while at Mission, and I think that was my main avenue of stress relief. There is something intensely gratifying in pushing yourself physically and athletically, and I remember returning home from practice refreshed and ready to tackle schoolwork. The camaraderie I experienced on the [cross country]/track teams also helped me to build lasting friendships. Though I don’t run [cross country] and track in college, I am still convinced in the effectiveness of physical training on mental well-being. I’m currently training for the Boston Marathon, and much of my running is done before class in the morning. It gets me going and keeps me sharp for the rest of the day. I think it’s also crucially important to have a close group of friends with whom you can share experiences and struggles as you walk through life together.” - Edward Njoo, Class of 2014

“I ran cross country, played soccer and did long distance track. I think athletics is a huge part of coping with stress. Even now in college I try to run as much as possible because it helps to deal with all the stress and anxiety. So find an activity or hobby you are passionate about and use that as a way to destress.” - Akila Nallappan, Class of 2015

“I made sure I had plenty of sleep at night, and playing sports kept me on a schedule and taught me how to manage my time. I knew that no matter what, I had practice at 6:30 at night and for the next two hours, all I had to worry about was helping to better myself as an athlete.” - Tatiana McCuaig, Class of 2012

layout by sports editors amrith krishnan & rishab ramapriyan, coverage led by sports editors amrith krishnan & rishab ramapriyan, graphics editors kevin chen & monica tang

32 Special

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The Smoke Signal

Friday, April 29, 2016

Statistics on MSJ Mental Health By Lucille Njoo, Zen Thumparkkul, Didi Wu & Cindy Yuan Staff Writers

To understand mental health at MSJ, the Smoke Signal conducted an anonymous online survey publicized through Facebook and read meets from April 5 to 12 to see how MSJ students cope with everyday stress and challenges. The Smoke Signal received 173 responses, which are compiled below in a collective representation.

Do you believe that mental health carries a stigma at MSJ?

Have you personally helped a friend struggling with his or her mental health?

Have you ever skipped part of a school day due to stress?

No 16.6%

No 23.3%

Yes 36.4%

Yes 76.7%

No 63.6%

Yes 83.4%

How well do you think you deal with day-to-day stress?

How satisfied have you been with your personal life in your past month on a scale of 1 to 10? (10 being most satisfied and 1 being least satisfied) Not at all satisfied

4 12 26 23 19 18 31

Poorly 30.6%

23 11

Average 36.5%

20 19

On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being most trust and 1 being least trust), how much trust do you have in the following people to provide you with emotional support?

25 22 17 15 8

11 3 4

Number of responses

25 16

22 19 20 2020 7

15 16

1 Friends

19 17

Counselors

Parents

48 35

15 6 5

10 Peer Resource

8 7 7

Number of responses

Teachers

Very well 6.9%

Well 20.8%

Number of Responses

Number of responses

Very satisfied

Very poorly 5.2%

19 9

25 18 8 9 7

layout by graphics editors kevin chen & monica tang, coverage led by sports editors amrith krishnan & rishab ramapriyan, graphics editors kevin chen & monica tang