the Epic, Volume 58, Issue 1 - October 10, 2022

Securly sparks debate over student privacy

Reaching the pinnacle with Pinnacle Hoops

BY SUSANNA TANG

Fu, Jeffrey Su and Vikram Thirumaran, every child has a personal pinnacle, and it is their job to help children

trio, provides a passionate environment for their elementary and middle school students to excel in athletics while also having fun and improving their character.

idea

and

BY NICOLE GE

resonate across the wrestling room as students aggressively land roundhouse kicks on pads held by their partner. Others kneel respectfully, listening attentively to English teacher and Martial Arts Instructor Andrew Seike, who is demonstrating how to most effectively escape when under attack.

on

than $30,000 to fund the athletic programs of underprivileged schools.

“All three of us have been through the elementary and middle school basketball systems,” Thirumaran said.

understand that it’s tough for parents to get their children into basketball because of huge commitments

so we wanted to provide kids in our area who just want

easily-accessible, introductory-level

The Asgardians Esports team loads into action

BY AMISHI CHANDRA

TOn

Sept. 7, the Asgardians logged onto video game servers as

team. For their debut season, selected students are competing in tournaments in the categories of chess, League of Legends and Super Smash Bros., making a new name for themselves in the gaming community while fostering friendships.

Chemistry teacher Lester Leung and technician Allen Chan created the Asgardians team to foster a community in which interested students can thrive and pursue their gaming passions competitively. All three sports are part of the High School Esports League, which allows them to play against other high school teams throughout the nation.

“The majority of our students are not on a sports team or in an honor society,” Leung said. “There is this huge untapped hobby that we can turn into a school activity where students can work as a team and collaborate, as well as learn to deal with failure.”

Teams consist of six players for chess, League of Legends.

Eric Shen wins gold medal at International Math Olympiad

Edward Sha illustrates personal journey in

PHOTO

PHOTO

DEEKSHA

the Epic

Letter from the Editors

Marine Wildlife Club monitors mole crabs

BY APURVA KRISHNAMURTHY

a section of sand, which was then sifted through to leave only the mole crabs.

2022-23 school year! the Epic is Lynbrook’s award-winning student newspaper, and we seek to cover stories that matter to you and our community.

We are Amy and Elizabeth, your Editorin-Chiefs for this school year. We’d like to acknowledge our team of 40 hardworking staffers, who write, design and edit stories

Mr. Miller. This issue would not have been possible without their talent, creativity and effort over the past month.

Our publication strives to share diverse perspectives in our storytelling to advocate for all sides of the story. We hope our content not only raises awareness about important issues, but also sparks conversations to ignite positive change.

This year, we hope that you can join the Epic’s mission in sharing stories that matter to our greater community. We encourage you to submit Letters to the Editors, your opinions on any published piece this year, that focus on the your individual voice, perspective and experiences, to us at lhsepic. com/submissions. Selected submissions will be published on our paper and/or website. We cannot wait to hear about your stories and voice. If you are interested in joining our staff next year, applications will release in early second semester.

about students and faculty, from Mr. Seike’s unorthodox martial arts beginnings to Stanford commit Joelle Jung’s soccer journey.

In addition, be sure to check our website (lhsepic.com) and Instagram (@lhs.epic) for web-exclusive content like playlists, podcasts and videos. For example, hear Fall sports teams perform their game chants and listen to a podcast about the recent popularity in

Thank you for your support and readership. We hope you enjoy Issue 1!

Until next time, Elizabeth Cheng & Amy Liu Editors-in-Chief

Marine

Wildlife Club members extracted writhing mole crabs, a vital species of the aquatic ecosystem, from Pescadero Beach on Oct. 1. They monitored local populations to examine the overall health of the ecosystem in the Sandy Beach Monitoring program from Longterm Monitoring and Experimental Training for Students, or LiMPETS, a statewide organization dedicated to educating students about coastal ecosystems.

Working alongside intertidal ecologist and LiMPETS program coordinator Jaclyn Schneider, students collected data to address issues affecting the local mole crab population. Marine project to transform their club into a more gratifying and hands-on experience that would deepen returning members’ understandings of aquatic ecosystems and entice new committed members.

that’s fun and educational,” senior and Marine Wildlife Club President Hank Hsu said.

found an optimal area to monitor in the swash zone that mole crabs inhabit. They then measured and calculated the vertical transect line, which they gathered data along and took samples of sand across a 50-meter rope parallel to the waves. Each sample was collected using a sand core to extract

Analyzing the samples, members determined the mole crabs’ life stages by the sex of the adult mole crabs by examining for pleopods and eggs. The data collected will be published on the LiMPETS database for public use and

be sent to marine sanctuaries and state parks to inform them of current environmental conditions.

“When they go out there, collect samples and get their hands dirty, they feel closer to the data,” Marine Wildlife Club adviser Vivian Frazita said.

Prior to beach monitoring, club members attended virtual training sessions on Sept. 20 and Sept. 27 to learn about mole crabs and how to collect data. During the to the purpose of the project and learned about mole crabs’ basic anatomy, how to determine life stage and their role in the food web. The second session covered the procedures to be followed while handling the crabs at the beach.

“I was impressed at how excited everyone was about marine science,” Schneider said. “It was enlightening and fun.”

changes in the size of mole crab populations

example, a smaller population may indicate a larger presence of toxic plankton that kill mole crabs upon consumption, affect mole crab predators, such as birds and

In contrast, a higher number of a certain gender or age group of mole crabs displays that ecological conditions are favorable to them and that their food supply is adequate.

Establishing a baseline of the ecosystem based on their data allows LiMPETS to identify future ecological impacts or human-induced issues like pollution and oil spills. For example, the Cosco Busan Oil Spill of November 2007 caused a drop in mole crab and recruit numbers in San Francisco’s Ocean Beach. LiMPETS samples taken in October 2008 reported that 15% of the crabs surveyed were recruits, double the number in September 2014. This revealed a link between recruit numbers and excess oil and helped LiMPETS assess the magnitude of the oil spill’s damage.

“I hope they got a deeper understanding of the marine ecosystem in our local community,” junior and Marine Wildlife Club Secretary Harry Chiu said. “Collecting this data will help the environment and having a local impact is a big plus.”

The Marine Wildlife Club hopes to work with LiMPETS in the second semester and learn more about marine wildlife through whale watching trips and aquarium visits.

Eric Shen wins gold medal at International Math Olympiad

BY CHELSEA LEE

Competing

against more than 103 other countries with

International Math Olympiad and one of the 44 competitors that won a gold medal, with the U.S. placing 3rd overall.

The three-day competition started on July 11 and was hosted by the University of Oslo in the capital of Norway. IMO awards gold medals for scores of 34 points or more out of 42 and silver and bronze medals for lower scores. Shen’s which earned him a gold medal. With the threshold for the highest award being 34 of 42 points, the room for error made of winning a gold medal with his answers.

said. “There was just a tiny lingering feeling of ‘What if something goes wrong?’ It’s like waiting for the results to come out on a test.”

While in Norway for IMO, Shen explored the country with his team and family. Some memorable activities included meeting the mayor of Oslo, visiting City Hall, riding the Flåm Railway and taking a two-

To be selected for the U.S. team, Shen had to compete in the American Mathematics Competition, the American Invitational Math Exam and the United States of America Mathematics Olympiad. The USAMO is one of the highestlevel high school math competitions and consists of proof problems similar to the IMO, while the earlier competitions test calculation-based problems. The top 60 competitors of the USAMO go to a three-week-long Math Olympiad Program in the summer, which Shen attended in person in 2019 and 2022 and virtually in 2021.

“I would say the best weeks of my life were during MOP 2019 and 2022,” Shen said. “It’s really great because you get to spend three weeks of the summer bonding with people with similar interests in math.”

Following MOP, Shen took the Team Selection Test Selection Test and participated in a series of olympiads and the following year’s USAMO. Each student’s performance in these olympiads forms their IMO index and the top six are selected for the U.S. IMO team.

“It was Eric’s goal to get into IMO at least once in his high school career, so I was happy that he could accomplish one of his dreams,” senior Steven Pan said. Though Shen found success in his competitive math journey, he still struggled with immense pressure to place

in competitions and imposter syndrome — self-doubt of one’s skills and the internalized fear of being a fraud — from competing side-by-side with other talented students.

“I was the only middle school student at MOP 2019 and I knew next to nobody at all, so I was scared,” Shen said. “I unpacked my things and was like ‘What am I doing?’”

Dealing with expectations and imposter syndrome are the opportunities with the support of his friends in the math community, which he says is the most valuable from his many years of math competitions. From receiving mentorship from older students in middle school and making lasting memories with friends in high school, this community of people with the same passion for math was where Shen felt

“MOP 2019 taught me that the math community and these friends are the greatest thing I can take away,” Shen said. “It changed my mindset from being an extremely competitive person to just doing math opportunities for fun and hanging out with the people there.”

As Shen graduates from high school, he hopes to carry his math and critical thinking skills into a Computer Science degree and career in a way that he can make a meaningful impact on others. He advises others with similar aspirations to only pursue true passions, have fun with the experience and avoid getting caught up with results and performance.

“If you don’t enjoy it, don’t do it,” Shen said. “This is supposed to be fun. You don’t need to stress yourself out preparing for competitions; if it’s not enjoyable, that defeats the whole purpose.”

Shen wins a gold medal at the International

Marine Wildlife Club members extract samples using sand cores and analyze mole crabs at Pescadero Beach with the guidance of Schneider.

When they go out there, collect samples and get their hands dirty, they feel closer to the data.

Vivian Frazita, Marine Wildlife Club Adviser

USED WITH PERMISSION FROM VIVIAN FRAZITA GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY RIKI MURASE AND CHELSEA LEE

PHOTO BY CHELSEA LEE

Mock Trial team places 7th at Empire Tournament

ANWAR

Lperson competition in the At Empire, Lynbrook presented a case based on Sept. 24, when the posture, during remote tournaments is not commanding presence by pacing throughout

three points. During this round, Lynbrook objections.

much harder to predict the opposing side’s in a win with a 20-point margin.

Lynbrook’s prosecution competed against

and we can now use that

The team spent months through the case and brainstorming themes— arguments— and theories, team tests its success through scrimmages, or practice opportunities, arguments.

“Scrimmages are the

Upcoming Viking Events

Valorant Fall Invitational Registration Days

The Lynbrook Asgardians esports team is

Ahousing, which she hopes to continue by increasing housing densities around the

contact the incumbent mayor Sam Liccardo

due to his endorsement supporters as immature,

standpoint city that’s where we get someone who shares is untrustworthy because

PSAT

No School - Teacher Non-Duty Day

Homecoming Week

skit during brunch on Oct. 14. game.

By Tanika Anbu Photo by Eileen Zhu and Inaaya Yousuf

Matt Mahan Cindy Chavez

Proponent of “Common Sense” Business-minded Transparency and decisive action

Lower taxes on businesses

Dedicated to social issues Expand foster care and housing Supports South Bay Labor Council

SARAF

PHOTO BY AMISHI CHANDRA

Asgardians Esports team loads into action

BY AMISHI CHANDRA

Story continued from front page.

Tryouts

to become a general member of the team lasted over a period of two days, with the contents of each day depending on the sport played. Advisers Leung and Chan, as well as senior Janet He executed test rounds for participants based on either chess, League of Legends or Super varying based on sport. Chess consisted of both three and ten minute rounds to ensure

involved one on one games and Super Smash Bros. had a more tournament style organization, with each individual playing against each other at least once. Organizers sought out students with both skill and the ability to operate under pressure, similar to the tryout procedure for most sports. Selected athletes were further trained during a one-week long preseason consisting of practice games against other schools.

Each team is led by a selected captain who ensures that practice runs smoothly and trains teammates to help improve on their weaknesses. The advisers schedule the teams’ games and establish that every player is considerate of each other and maintains good sportsmanship.

“We try to include as many students as possible,” team manager and senior Janet He said. “We want to be a community even though it is a competitive team, with people always learning from each other.”

Each team has a distinct method to Chess captain Leo Jiang focuses on instructional lessons to teach teammates more advanced strategies. In contrast, the League of Legends team records their past games so they can look over the replays to point out errors and work

on team composition. Super Smash Bros. Captain Tristan Lim encourages his team to enter out-of-school competitions to gain extra practice, and similar to League of Legends, records previous matches to review.

Although esports may differ

sport due to its limited physical

the competitive environment and sense of community built around gaming makes esports a valuable, true sport just like any other

“They are building a community and have the same amount of time commitment as a typical sports team,” Leung said. “They have the same feelings of frustration when it comes to loss and the same feelings of joy when they win.”

The team partakes in fall and spring seasons, each 13 weeks long, unlike most sports which usually last one season. The team has come out strong during their

streak in events such as Super Smash Bros., whereas chess has won eight of ten matches and League of Legends has been victorious in one of two. For their spring season, they hope to recruit more players and add other games to their lineup, but the overall goal is to make esports a more accessible activity for Lynbrook students and serve as a model of inclusivity for other FUHSD schools to follow.

“I want students who feel disenfranchised to feel like they have a place and a team that they can compete on,” Leung said. “I’m excited in common with each other and have fun while having

themselves, because they

Senior Eason Meng watches a recording of his previous League of Legends match.

Seniors Joshua Chu, Kevin Plunkett and Stefano Pino Segovia practice playing Super Smash Bros. together.

Sophomore Leo Jiang and junior Ritam Chakraborty play an online chess game.

Seniors Joshua Chu and Kevin Plunkett practice play ing Super Smash Bros. together.

Leung teaches senior Eason Meng and freshman Ethan Chuang how to play League of Legends.

Senior Stefano Pino Segovia practices playing Super Smash Bros.

PHOTO BY AMISHI CHANDRA

PHOTO BY AMISHI CHANDRA

PHOTO BY AMISHI CHANDRA

PHOTO BY AMISHI CHANDRA GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY INAAYA YOUSUF

PHOTOS BY AMISHI CHANDRA

PHOTOS BY AMISHI CHANDRA GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY SAM SARMA

PHOTO BY AMISHI CHANDRA

the EpicOPINION

Student views on the new schedule

Sfrom

starting school earlier than 8:30 a.m, has led to the implementation of a new bell schedule for the 2022-23 school year. With the new schedule, routines. Here are some student opinions on the new bell schedule.

Sophomore Jayadev Ghanta is on

“The shift of all periods from something I disliked, since all the work from my periods is due at the beginning of the week, which is a very bad way to start off your

Senior Aarthi Gopalakrishnan is a co-leader of the Ravens, a studentrun Kpop group.

tutorials being closed, it leaves the Ravens with only one day a week to

dancer outside of school.

Junior Natalie Yang is busy with activities.

“I participate in both girls and coed dance for homecoming, where most practices are over the weekend since we no longer have late start days. This means I have even less time to do homework over

BY JASON SHAN

One million steps across El Camino de Santiago

Oboot

cemented into the roughhewn surface. It is unnoticeable to most: its size is unremarkable and its shrouding it in a perpetual shadow. But to me, as I placed my foot alongside

of Spain.

so I try to complete my homework at

I do like the longer passing periods, that

Securly sparks debate about student privacy

Two months earlier, I sat in my problem to him.

“I have no idea what to do for

The

recent implementation of the schools has raised concerns among students regarding their online privacy.

with unfamiliar software has stemmed from implementation.

mandatory installation of Securly for students planning to bring their personal electronic devices to campus and use school internet services. Securly is a school aimed at preventing students from accessing websites or content deemed inappropriate or irrelevant to the academic environment.

methods that connect to the internet and a replacement for the previous inadequate decided to implement Securly considering its focus on the educational environment and

devices in use off campus. Before the school year began, students received an email from the district instructing them to download the were not given further information regarding Securly and its features.

“A big part of the response that the general student population had on Securly was out of fear from ambiguity of what Securly think students, including me, got off on the wrong foot, believing Securly is something pretty close to spyware that can track almost

This lack of transparency raised concerns among some students about the safety of their privacy that are still unaddressed by administration. Left in the dark about the purposes and functions of Securly, some students were hesitant to download the would obtain their private information without their consent.

“I can see why admin uses Securly since websites and getting distracted, but it does

Securly has a blacklist of keywords to block content within categories that

The Voice of the Epic

may be deemed improper to the learning environment. This prevented some students from accessing content in their curriculum that fell in those categories, which can include topics like human anatomy, substance abuse or sensitive historical content. To solve issues like these, teachers are able to contact the district to whitelist categories that students need to access for educational purposes.

“Because we are a K-12 organization, we mean we track content,“ Assistant Principal

However, a consequence of downloading

history. Securly is not only active on both personal and devices from the 1:1 device program while connected to the school internet, but also continues to track activity on school issued chromebooks off campus.

not reduce student privacy; the district

which is stored if there is cause for concern. “Students should be aware that the that students have signed still applies to all devices, including personal devices, while

Students who own personal devices have more choice in downloading Securly because the district automatically installs Securly on district-owned devices to secure funding. This means students who have school-issued chromebooks do not have a choice in whether or not they wish to download Securly.

Penalosa, a senior at Homestead High School. a rift between whether you can afford your

Students should be given clear information and freedom of choice to decide whether or not to download Securly. But more importantly, admin should be more transparent in regards to what they tell students to download onto their devices.

a self-made odyssey that dared me to and with others. particularly pious; and walking nine

warmed up to the proposal. The global pandemic had put a pillory on travel, and I was itching to break free.

While I gained a newfound

atop another like plates of dirty dishes, and every time I cleared one another would be added. What if a problem came up and my parents would be too

it was the truth. Because there surely would be times in my life when I would be unable to rely on help from my family, whether or not I was in Spain.

the best thing they could do for me was to not let those concerns stop me from marking my own path.

standing at the airport kiosk mired by a lengthy questionnaire, hearing my arm around her shoulders and told all out for myself. Although there were setbacks, the hardships I faced were as memories I made.

reduces privacy, I would say yes, but not to an

tracks, how Securly affects the devices it is installed on and how to uninstall the software at the end of the year. Increased transparency will allow students to develop a clear, accurate understanding of what Securly does and feel comfortable in the school environment, without the fear of their privacy being infringed upon.

stance.

with a small rock the shape of a boot tucked away in my backpack. While the the end of my time in Spain, the boot I pocketed represented all that I perseverance and strength. I carry the stone as a reminder that I am still

the dusty path unfurl in front of me. It is a path where the only certainty is uncertainty, but that makes me all the more eager to forge ahead.

PHOTO BY MYLES KIM

Can you really be real on BeReal?

BeReal is only fun when you’re caught in the moment of doing something random.

Lauren Yee, Senior

Romanticizing school perpetuates unrealistic productivity standards

WU

1. Buy aesthetic school supplies

Get an aesthetic planner, Zebra Pen Midliner highlighters, and a cute pencil case to keep every thing in order.

2. Dream big Don’t forget to set high goals for yourself no matter what! As Rory Gilmore says, who cares if you’re

Pushing back on planned obsolescence

BY CALVIN ZHOU

Whenevera new iPhone comes

with “Holding my new baby” posts. For some, upgrading to the newest version is like gifting themselves a new toy. However, a growing portion of consumers is being forced to upgrade after only a few years due to planned obsolescence, or the practice of creating products with a limited lifespan or introducing products so frequently that customers are compelled to purchase an “improved” version. Over time, older versions of products deemed out of date begin to perform poorly. Not only does planned obsolescence increase electronic waste, but it creates a cycle of lowquality products that promote overconsumption. While the only option may seem to be regulatory action by the federal government, consumers should take a more active part to combat planned obsolescence. One of the most widely cited examples of planned obsolescence begins with lightbulbs and the formation of the Phoebus Cartel.

“The Phoebus Cartel is a story of limiting how much durability was built into the light bulb,” said Michael Waldman, Professor of Management and Economics at Cornell University. “The textbook market, for example, is more concerning the idea of frequent new product introductions.”

This storied history paved the way for issues in the present day. In 2021 alone, Apple spent millions of dollars to settle planned obsolescence lawsuits against its iPhones in the U.S.. By purposefully throttling performance and lifespan on older devices, tech companies like Apple are unnecessarily forcing upgrades onto consumers.

6.3 MILLION

pounds of hazardous waste was produced due to the increased production of Apple devices in 2018

“In ninth grade, I had an iPhone 6,” senior Aneesha Jobi said. “After 10 months of usage, the battery had an issue where it would charge completely, then drop down to 2% after a few minutes of use.”

An often overlooked aspect of planned obsolescence is the gradually diminishing right to repair. Whenever a product is taken to

causing tech products to be increasingly replaced and thrown out each year, consumers’ desires to get the hottest product on the market also play a role. Moreover, tech products are often improperly disposed of, leading to toxic electronic waste spreading and soil. Consumers discarded an estimated 63.3 million tons of electronic waste in 2021, enough to outweigh the Great Wall of China.

“It is very distressing to watch how much stuff is thrown away,” Clarke said. “The amount of time and labor that goes into extracting limited raw materials to produce these various products, just for them to be run a society.”

Proponents believe planned obsolescence should stay unregulated because it promotes research and development in technology. They argue that it provides a reason for companies to create new products to meet customer demand for better products each year. In addition, many are still adamant that the government should not interfere in free market activities. Although planned

said. “Regulation on that dimension is more feasible than some of the other regulations I could imagine people trying to pass.”

More importantly, the immediate solution is for consumers to take action. If there is an option to repair a product, take the opportunity instead of disposing of it. If the disposal is necessary, consumers must make sure electronics are disposed of properly to prevent further damage to the environment. Moreover, consumers must resist the urge to replace tech products every year. Consumerist tendencies and the fear of like the brand new iPhone comes out, are not excuses. If there is no urgent need for a new version of a product, do not buy it. Take action to protest and lobby for the right of repair against companies who partake in planned obsolescence. Now is the time to obsolete.

By the early 20th century, commercial light bulbs’ lifespan continued to climb every year from 14 hours in 1872 to nearly 2,500 hours in the 1920s. However, the companies manufacturing them soon realized that producing better light bulbs would result

Phoebus Cartel and worked together to control the world’s supply of light bulbs by limiting lifespans to 1,000 hours, thereby forcing customers to buy more. As expected, sales went up 25% in the following years.

would be to get the newer product because an upgrade would cost the same amount as a repair. The right-to-repair movement has called for companies to provide customers with the means to repair devices on their own or go to lower-cost independent repair shops.

companies lose the ability to sell you another version of the product,” English teacher David Clarke said.

Among critics, the largest concern over planned obsolescence is its environmental impact. Besides planned obsolescence

One solution is for regulatory action to be taken by the U.S. federal government to mitigate the effects of planned obsolescence.

obsolescence and outlaw it. These regulations have successfully created a platform to vocalize complaints and spur further litigation. Despite the success in France, the U.S. still has no federal laws regulating the practice. Furthermore, many argue that a U.S. ban on planned obsolescence would be near impossible to enforce.

“If you wanted to regulate planned obsolescence, I think that the right to repair might be the way to go about it,” Waldman

BY LARRY WANG//IN MY OPINION

How school fruit

Abandoned and neglected in carrots and raw broccoli bags, healthy snack options often sit untouched as students avoid the salad bar on their way out of the cafeteria during lunch. School fruit may repulse even the hungriest student, but not me. As a daily routine, I pile my paper

plate with two bags of cranberries on one side, a bag of baby carrots and broccoli on the other and plop an apple down in the middle to balance the load. School fruit helps me power through an exhausting school day and

It is no wonder that school fruit goes unclaimed. The grapes are loaded with 10 grams of sugar a bag, the carrots are dry and the raw broccoli seems better suited for a horse, so bags of fruit and school lunches sit deserted on campus in the most desolate places. Parents frequently complain about the lengthy lines and how their children go hungry even when a surplus of fruit goes unclaimed in the cafeteria everyday, but for all its problems, school lunch is free, and for that I’m thankful.

For the longest time, I contributed to the school food waste epidemic. Whenever the friendly lunch cashier would insist on taking a fruit, I would begrudgingly oblige, only to throw it away the moment I escaped the cafeteria. My taste buds were like lavish

delicacies and cuisines from all across the Bay Area. Contact with school fruit violated my taste buds’ dignity, and it took a global pandemic and lockdown to convince me otherwise.

My family’s luxurious meals spoiled me during the pandemic. Rich cooking and frequent take-out delivered the most scrumptious chow to my stomach. Returning to school snapped me back to reality as I found myself without a never-ending supply of food, unable to power through a school day on a slice of cheese pizza alone. So I looked outside the box and into the fruit bins. I plugged my nose while swallowing

tastes grew routine as they blended in. school fruit has taught me a humbling lesson of gratitude. The abundance of free fruit mirrors the richness of resources at my disposal. Having lived in one of America’s the few privileged to attend a California top 10 public high school, and I enjoy an

exquisite education as a result. It may not feel this way when I’m bogged down by the pressure to succeed among a group of highachieving peers, but this stress is a privilege in itself. It breeds entitled complaints about doing poorly on my Spanish test while disadvantaged students elsewhere would scoff at my worries.

Like the parents and students who complain about school food but disregard the fruit, I ignore the fact that my problems ignore the hunter that eats at me in the middle of the school day, I can’t disregard my mental health. Slowly but surely, I’m beginning to make changes. A minute of quiet mindfulness here and there. A late night stroll. Rebinging my favorite shows. I’ve learned to settle for free school fruit once more, occasionally letting life breeze by.

At a school like Lynbrook, it’s easy to get caught in our torrent of resources, which is why we should appreciate all the little things that make life worth living, such as school fruit.

GRAPHIC

ASHLEY

BY VALERIE SHU

EdwardSha illustratespersonaljourney in debutalbum

including Spotify and Youtube Music on Sept.

by artists like Conan Gray, a pop singer who writes elaborate love songs despite never

electronically before mixing and mastering, or editing the music, on Garageband.

“It’s really impressive that he was able

and pining — the album consists of 11 original tracks documenting his personal journey with themes of love, relationships, body image and mental health.

Sha was introduced to singing at a young age and discovered music production in middle school through creating covers of pop songs with GarageBand. He began experimenting of pop music toward the end of middle school and continued to produce on and off throughout high school. Over the summer, Sha turned to songwriting as an outlet to help with mental health and grapple with personal issues.

“For me, music is really cathartic,” Sha said. “The whole process is liberating because I have a lot of loose thoughts that I like to tie together with music and songwriting.”

was released across a variety of music streaming platforms

favorites in terms of lyrics and production. “Do I have to live like I’m unreal?” Sha sings in the track, which lays out his struggles with body image and food.

“‘Unreal’ is just a really powerful song,” Vakkalanka said. “It’s very representative of the title of the album and I also feel like it’s really relatable for a lot of people.”

Even Sha’s lighthearted songs are more meaningful to him than they may seem. For example, Sha is heavily involved in the French community at Lynbrook,

food and culture. In it, he uses Paris as a backdrop to pine for his ideal love life, bringing to life idyllic locations like the Musée d’Orsay and Champs-Élysées.

Several tracks on the album like “i280” are not only extremely personal but also discuss more taboo topics like mental health and self-harm. Sha hopes that his music will resonate with others and help to destigmatize these topics.

“A lot of the songs are personal because they discuss things that I’ve gone through,” Sha said. “It’s a way that I helped cope with those

also a way to normalize them.”

Music for Community introduces music theory at Dilworth

BY AUDREY SUN

As Music for Community members draw a series of musical notes across the whiteboard, preschool students sing along to scales and clap to rhythms. Twice a month, MFC members make their way over to Dilworth Elementary School with their instruments to teach local preschool students the fundamentals of music theory. MFC’s goal is to spread their passion for music to the rest of the community. They regularly perform at senior teach music theory to students and organize busking events, during which

musicians perform in public areas such as public parks and subway stations.

One of MFC’s most noteworthy activities is Waha, a music theory class taught by members that caters to local preschool students at Waha Montessori Preschool.

curriculum and activity ideas corresponding to the concepts that will be taught. The instruction period itself is usually made up of a combination of prepared content and improvisation.

“My favorite type of lessons to teach are rhythm lessons,” MFC Treasurer Luke Li said.

“We like to switch between words with different amounts of syllables to teach them a variety of note rhythms.”

Generally, classes are demonstrating scales on instruments,

then asking students follow-up questions and setting up games. In order for students to better engage in classes, members teach less complicated and more entertaining concepts.

“I know I would have loved a program like this when I was in preschool,” junior and MFC Activities Coordinator Stephanie Li said. “It helps students explore music and the beauties of it instead of being thrown into an environment of just repeated practice.”

Aside from teaching the fundamental concepts of music theory, MFC prioritizes student engagement, a challenge given the young age of participants, so they plan an assortment of fun activities to keep students actively involved and interested in the class.

Members also play song requests from students on their own instruments to show students the various ways their favorite pieces can be played.

sharing my passion for my instrument brings

Helping younger students gain early exposure to music education is one of MFC’s primary goals. Music education early in life is often parent-driven, meaning students are often pushed to learn to play instruments their parents are interested in. However, participating in Waha allows students the freedom to explore their own interests and exposes them to a variety of instruments and musical pieces.

“It’s nice to see the excitement when younger kids start to

time,” junior Annabel Qin said. “The novelty and simple happiness wears off as the years progress for us, so seeing them so passionate has helped me rediscover music as something fun rather than tiring too.”

In the upcoming year, MFC plans to expand their curriculum by incorporating music history, through which they will explore different genres and the time periods associated with them.

“Through covering more aspects of music, we hope to keep the class engaged and allow each student to discover their own interests,” MFC President Samantha Huang said.

On his album cover, senior Edward Sha stands facing a dusty path, sunlit brush and misty mountains

It’s nice to see the excitement when younger kids start to learn music for

Annabel Qin, Junior

PHOTO BY CALVIN ZHOU

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY CALVIN ZHOU

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A. Adam Pagura (SPED ACT) B. Yooomi Van Horne (Math) C. Larry Wenner (Drama) D. Kevin Tran (PE) E. Zoey Liu (World Language Split Sight) F. Teresa Sparks (SPED AC) G. Calvin Wong (Executive Assistant Principal) H. Lynne Li (Therapist) I. Tara Grande (Assistant Principal) J. Akiko Chung (Therapist) K. Norman Tsai (Math)

A

G. H.

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Mr. Seike teaches survival and arts through martial arts

BY NICOLE GE

Seike has trained in various kinds of martial arts for over twenty years, including karate, Shorinji Kenpo and Aikido. He has also studied mixed martial arts at the Shamrock Submission Fighting System, which was created by fourtime UFC champion Frank Shamrock and is more cutthroat and effective than martial arts of Japanese origin. He is currently the instructor and adviser of Martial Arts Club, teaching students how to defend themselves while practicing discipline. Yet his reasons for training in martial arts contrast dramatically to those of his current students.

and bullying when I grew up,”Seike said. “I had to train because I was getting beat up.”

arts, Seike developed an essential skill he needed at the time: a way to survive and defend himself against

it challenging, he feels drawn toward the sport because it grants him the peace of mind that he can defend himself and protect others.

humility,” Seike said. “Although stronger and more physically capable, it is much more about the battle within yourself than against others.”

the artistic aspect of martial arts evoked appreciation and admiration not only for the sport’s functionality, but also for its beauty.

the Samurai tradition,” Seike said. “I can’t say that it’s super practical, but

it’s beautiful. A lot of the martial arts are just for the art’s sake. I think keeping that alive is important, just like dance or anything else.”

Martial Arts Club classes consist of four revolving groups that delve into different aspects of martial arts: traditional, punching and sparring, kicking, and street survival. Students choose which activities they participate in, as the club hopes this will allow more students to experience the

“Sometimes students are intimidated by martial arts,” Seike said. “Martial arts is more than just self defense or anything combative, but it’s about discipline and tradition.”

During the class, Seike not only instills techniques for students to use in self defense but also places emphasis on the importance of controlling the weight of punches and exercising caution when sparring against others.

“Mr. Seike taught me discipline and joined the club, I was aggressive and rather physical, even to those I cared about. I’d like to think that is no longer true because of Mr. Seike’s teachings.”

Students without martial arts experience join the club to destress or for fun, and many choose to stay because of Seike’s teaching methods.

“Mr. Seike’s way of teaching is strong,” senior Leanna Fowler said. “It also isn’t demanding, which makes the learning process more fun.”

Seike has been an instructor at Lynbrook Martial Arts Club for 25 years, and during this time, Seike has concentrated on establishing ideals in his students that can be applied to daily life and mannerisms outside of martial arts.

“I stress cooperation, kindness, compassion, humility and open-mindedness,” Seike said. “Martial arts is for selfdefense as a last resort—enjoyment and developing a healthy

Lynbrook students showcase their captivating collections

BY ANUSHKA ANAND

With more than 30 Marvel movies and television shows currently airing, there’s no argument that comics have taken center stage in pop culture,

Galleta, what started as a binge-watch of Marvel movies turned into a 36-book collection of soft and hard-covered comic books.

Every time he walks through the glass doors of the Illusive Comics and Games store, Galleta gazes in admiration at the plethora of comic books featuring superheroes like Superman and Galleta’s favorite, Batman.

“I like the experience of going into a comic book shop,” Galleta said. “It’s kind of like that sensation you get when you are a kid and go to a LEGO store with your dad and walk out with a brand new toy. Here, I get to walk out with my toy, my comic book.”

Each hard-cover comic book costs approximately $25, keepsake.

“It’s cool to have comic books.” Galleta said. “I really love the books and collecting means that I can reread the comics whenever I want.”

Thecomfort of music from favorite artists has always been an unwavering source of solace and a safe place for many people. Not only have the soothing tunes served as doses of dopamine, but some fans also gain comfort from collecting merchandise, including senior Maia Bline.

In 2018, Bline joined the BTS fandom. After a shopping spree at Target, Bline realized that K-Pop albums contain photos, posters and other merchandise in addition to unique album cover design. She now has a collection of around 70 albums, each with a value ranging from $20 to $40.

“While merch like sweaters are really cool, it doesn’t give you the same feeling as getting an album with beautiful covers and playing music.” Bline said.

Bline’s K-Pop collection boasts music from ATS, Dream Catcher, Red Velvet and many more. Her favorite album is “The Rain Day Festival: Day 2,” by Red Velvet, as it has an aesthetic pink cover, with many 80s-themed designs.

“I think collecting is just a representation of who a person is .” Bline said. “It really shows who they are and speaks on behalf of their personality.”

Slime

has fascinated generations across the globe with its sensational appeal to sensory stimulation. For toddlers to seniors, slime is more than just a toy or an internet trend — it’s a community, which inspired senior Thomas Zheng to collect slime.

As slime started growing in popularity in 2017, Zheng started building his collection by researching different posted videos of themselves making and playing with slime. What began as Zheng’s small interest in collecting two ounce slime bottles has turned into a side business.

As well as buying from online shops such as Momo Slimes, Zheng also creates his own slime. About 100 different slimes are displayed on his shelf.

“It’s really aesthetic to look at,” Zheng said. “Smelling the different scents and playing with the slime is also a great way to destress.”

PHOTO

PHOTO USED WITH PERMISSION FROM THOMAS ZHENG

PHOTOS BY QIANZI LOO GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY FEATURES

The complex legacy of Queen Elizabeth II

BY MEERA NAMBIAR AND VIDUSHI UPADHYAY

Fornearly a century, Queen Elizabeth II impacted millions as the head of state in the UK and faced many left Great Britain in a state of grief as people across the world

“Seventh years is a long time and the Queen was one of the last remaining links to the World War II generation,” Economics teacher David Pugh said. “The Queen also became perhaps the most recognizable person in the world, a very familiar and constant presence.”

The King or Queen is given the title of head of state, granting them the power to appoint a prime minister. But as the last failed attempt to exercise this power took place in 1834, their authority is now mainly nominal, leaving them with limited true power.

These restrictions on the monarch’s power have been in the English government for centuries. Most major changes and decisions have been made by Parliament, the primary law-making establishment in Great Britain, due to documents like the Magna Carta, that limit the power of the crown and give the people jurisdiction over their governance.

Consisting of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, Parliament oversees the government’s actions, discusses the nation’s most pressing issues, passes new laws, and sets taxes for the people. While the royal family gives input in the forming of these decisions, their authority is restricted, so instead, they stay involved in the country

“The people in the British government try to use the Queen to put the monarchy in a positive light,” sophomore Hao Gu said. “They feature her in videos, making her seem approachable and friendly, hoping to paint the country in a more appealing way.”

the royal family is still respected and admired by the people of for counsel and reassurance during hardship.

Queen Elizabeth II succeeded the throne after her father’s death in 1952 when she was 25, becoming the ruler of the Commonwealth countries, including Canada and Australia. Before then, she worked as an army mechanic during World War II, while her father King George VI actively participated in the military during the war, holding the position of Admiral of the Fleets, Field Marshal and Marshal of the Royal Air Force.

Although initially not expected to rule, she became the heir after her uncle’s abdication. During her reign, Queen Elizabeth II traveled

At the age of 21, Queen Elizabeth married Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh at the Westminster Abbey.

across the globe, meeting with generations of celebrities from across the world ranging from Marylin Monroe to Serena Williams. While most of her job was ceremonial due to her lack of political power, important events included her visits to other countries and with other state leaders.

visit by a British monarch to the country in over 50 years, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the end of World War II, and improving the post-war relationships between the two European powers. Her visit to the Republic of Ireland in 2011 was also historic. Given the complicated and bloody history between the two countries, the visit showed the easing of tensions between them after the turmoil in the 1990s.

“When the Queen made her opening remarks in Gaelic at a banquet in Ireland, the room erupted in warm applause, and the Irish President said ‘wow!’,” Pugh said. “That gesture changed relations between Britain and Ireland in a way that no politician could have pulled off and this year, she actually had a higher approval rating among Irish citizens than any political leader, which is pretty astonishing.”

Much of the controversy surrounding the Queen dealt with issues in the royal family. In 1992, she had her ‘annus horribilis’ — horrible year in Latin — as three of her children Castle. She also received backlash for not immediately going into mourning after Princess Diana’s death. Nevertheless, she remained popular in the United Kingdom throughout her reign.

Many also view the monarchy as a relic of the United Kingdom’s colonial past.

“There have been many missed opportunities for the monarchy to use its moral capital to help heal the wounds of colonialism such as the Crown Jewels, which still include a lot of stolen artifacts from former colonies,” Stanford International History professor Priya Satia said. “Also, a lot of the racial dynamics that sustained imperialism continued even within the Queen's household.”

In recent years, however, citizens have started to question the necessity of supporting the royal family’s extravagant lifestyle. In 2022, taxpayers provided €86.3 million due to the Sovereign Grant Act, a means of supporting the sovereign

The sovereign also receives permission to use a selection of the public revenue for their own private expenses. With

if the royal family serves them well enough for what they cost the common people. However, despite the costs, royal family tourist attractions generated $50 Billion in revenue for the UK from tourism.

“The royal family shouldn't exist on government funds,” Gu said. “The entire family seems to only exist for the press and the Queen’s just wasting taxpayers’ money. On the other hand, events they pay for, and often use it as an escape from their daily lives.”

Debates over the value of the monarchy have led to questions about its future role. Many Commonwealth realms have kept Queen Elizabeth II as a ceremonial ruler, but her passing has left some countries wondering if they should continue having the monarch as their head of state or change to republics. Barbados was the most recent country to remove the monarchy, with other countries, such as Jamaica, planning on starting discussions on doing the same

“The Queen was the former head of the Commonwealth,” Satia said. “There are 56 countries in the Commonwealth and 15 of them are monarchies. There are going to be changes in republics and monarchies this year after the Queen’s death.”

Meanwhile, the newly crowned King Charles III remains deeply unpopular with an approval rating of 60%, much less than the Queen’s approval of around 80%, and other members of the royal family, due to issues such as his divorce from Princess Diana and a charity scandal in 2021. His negative portrayal on the TV show “The Crown” furthered many people’s poor opinions. Some citizens believe that he is too old to rule and should abdicate for his son, Prince William. He also appears to be more involved in politics than his mother, which could further divide the country. However, Charles III has been a champion of environmental issues and has an increased focus on climate change prevention, possibly bringing the UK to a greener future.

“The Monarchy has a role which is not about politics but of unity, not only for the UK but also as head of the commonwealth,” Pugh said. “The monarchy will change as the Queen had a popularity and ‘soft for any successor to match."

Queen Elizabeth was prononced longest serving monarch in the history of Great Britain, surpassing Queen Victoria.

Queen Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor was born to Queen Elizabeth I and King George VI.

guests attended the Queens coronation. Afterward, she set out on a tour of the Commonwealth countries.

The Monarchy has a role which is not about politics but of unity, not only for the UK but also as head of the Commonwealth.

David Pugh, Economics Teacher

BY MYLES KIM AND SARAH ZHANG

Journalists

are often referred to as the “Fourth Estate,” a term attributed to the infamous 1789 Estates General meeting in Paris — the catalyst for the French Revolution

and status in a democratic society. However, in the modern age, the term has lost some of its edge, partially due to the increased

has perpetuated mass closures of local news publications across the country. Hence, it relevant information. An average of two or more newspapers go out of business each week, putting large areas of the U.S. at risk of becoming news deserts. The loss of credible local news not only augments the spread of disinformation and political and economic divides, but also paves the way for corrupt politicians and corporate monopolies to thrive in its absence.

News deserts are geographical areas in which communities lack access to dependable local reporting. The term also refers to

the media, including typically rural and impoverished communities. Deprived of reports on regional topics, residents are left in the dark regarding present proceedings and are divested of the ability to function as fully-informed citizens.

Traditionally, local papers have been entrusted with this vital duty of acting as a voice for their communities. Scholars and journalists have documented various detrimental effects that the loss of a local publication has on a community: from decreased voter participation to increased corruption in both governments and businesses. The decline of local news indicates that not only is coverage on fundamental issues such as public safety and human-interest articles deemed too minor for larger news.

The journalism’s industry’s current business model was created in 1833, with the invention of the penny press. To this day, American journalism continues the antiquated practice of distributing the news for very cheap subscription prices and relying on advertising to

“The industry as a whole not broadly changing its business model in these two centuries is contributing to the news crisis,” University of Kansas Associate Professor of Journalism Teri Finneman said.

“Many small weekly newspapers cost one dollar a week, and that’s giving us 14 cents a day to support a business. Can you survive on 14 cents a day?”

In the places of vacant newsrooms,

in the news vacuum. Research from Northwestern University’s Medill School reports that by 2025, the U.S. will have lost a third of its newspapers that existed roughly two decades ago.

“What’s important to recognize about the decline in local media and the rise of news deserts is that a lot of national news, larger state and municipal news organizations get the majority of their content from local reporting,” database manager for the State of Local News Report Zach Metzger said.

According to the 2022 report, as much as 85% of all news eventually picked up by larger level media organizations comes from local papers, creating a symbiotic ecosystem.

However, with the decline of local papers across the nation, Metzger foresees a decline in the quality and depth of stories published at a national level, as well as wavering in the ability for larger media organizations to maintain their current scope.

“What often happens within this ecosystem is that there’s a trickle up of stories to a national level or state level,” Metzger said. “A trickle up of stories to the New York Times, so then it can commit some of its considerable resources far more than a small local paper to doing an in depth investigation if warranted.“

Additionally, local news is more trusted than larger news sources. According to Pew Research Center, 71% of Americans believe that their local news has reported accurate information, whereas 56% do not feel connected to the national news. The widening chasm between journalists and who they cover engenders rampant accusations of fake news, even for trustworthy sites.

“When you don’t have interactions with everyday, regular journalists who are regular members of your community, it is much easier to buy into the lie that we are the enemy of the people, which then results in the kind of the situation we’re in right now,” Finneman said.

Digital sources, originally viewed as the panacea to the news crisis, are unable to compensate for the over 360 newspapers that have closed their doors since the start of the pandemic. Online news often the poorer areas that have already lost their newspapers. Residents also often lack the technology necessary to access digital journalism, exacerbating the information gap.

The increased presence of social media in our day-to-day lives has induced new means for news companies and citizens alike to post about and read the news. According to a Pew Research Center poll in Sept. of 2021, around 48% of U.S. adults state that they get their news from social media .

Today reading the news can be as simple as looking at a social media platform of choice, reading the headline, and signing off. This habit tends to reinforce the spread of misinformation by use of infographics and eyecatching posts, thus reducing interest in more thorough printed journalism over time, diminishing the need for local papers.

Media barons like Gannett Co., Digital First Media and Lee Enterprises Inc. own a large percentage of all newspapers, meaning their decisions deeply impact the state of local down newsrooms as soon as they are unable

and lay off reporters, crippling their ability to effectively provide news.

“We’re currently owned by Alden Global, a hedge fund,” said Nhat Meyer, a staff photojournalist at the San Jose Mercury News. “So the only thing they care about is how much money we’re making and if we were losing money in any way, they would shut us down.”

California remains as a state with the one of the highest number of journalists: around 3,500 in 2022. But this is not representative of overall trends. There has been a national loss of 34,000 newspaper journalists since 2008. Increased hiring of 10,000 digital-

only journalists, since that same year, has not yet been able to amend this situation.

in California, most papers are clustered in metropolitan or wealthier areas, such as southern California, leaving many poorer areas, like central and northern California, with no news source.

Local publications have historically kept citizens informed of relevant and trustworthy news otherwise overshadowed,

contributed to the heightened accuracy of national

IN-DEPTH

newspapers — yet the prioritization of revenue leaves citizens across the country now parched in news deserts.

“The industry has long been telling other people’s stories, instead of our own,” Finneman said. “That doesn’t serve the industry anymore. We absolutely have to tell our own story. Journalism is not dying. It is simply changing.”

LILLY WU

*Information from the Hussman School of Journalism and Media

Los

Riverside County newspaper

ELD program spells success for its students

more safe.”

Withsentence stems on the whiteboard, a list of vocabulary complex historical document before their eyes, English Learner students enrolled

and English as a second or third language. In integrated EL classes, which include smaller typical class of 10 to 15 students allows for teachers to help students thoroughly.

ensures that students equitable help through their journeys as English learners and prepares them for futures in higher education and the

When a student who

English Language Learner Program

EL students and a teacher responsible for assisting students with learning at their own pace.

Each year, students in the EL program

“The integrated classes have the same content as mainstream classes,” EL

Bulone said. “They’re rigorous, challenging courses but with language support so that students can attain the content standards.”

options for students on campus; however, if a student scores an

English requirement, they will instead go to Homestead or

the class. This has caused complications

whose home high school is not Homestead or Fremont,

students whose home high school is not Homestead or Fremont are provided with free bus passes to account for long commute times.

Master Plan to remain consistent and provide the best support for their students using time-tested methods. The Master Plan outlines testing, placement and support structures for EL students.

content meaningful and interesting to our

standards so students get the same essential

The curriculum not only includes conversational English but also academic

that help them in all of their other classes as well. It’s a really comprehensive program about not only using English but also having be in order to be successful in an American school.”

between 850 and 860 students district-wide. To ensure these students receive quality to date by incorporating online tools and having teachers from across the district meet with Kwong.

currently helping between 40 and 50 students improve their English program lead, recently assumed year.

“I’m inheriting a really welldeveloped program that has been put together at the district level to Bulone said. a topic of their choice while demonstrating their English abilities in a speech given

in front of parents and peers. Although current EL students have never participated, Kwong hopes bonds form between students across campuses and that students feel accomplished once they deliver their speech.

what they did well and what they would do it’s good experiential learning and provides most positive aspects for me is the support and encouragement students provide each other.”

has improved in serving and preparing EL program isn’t perfect yet, it is an effective, meticulously curated and cherished program that supports its students well.

AAVE’s rich culture, development and history

BY TANIKA ANBU SARAF

Tintrendy language, but they all have their roots in African American Vernacular

subconsciously permeated into people’s represents AAVE, often portraying it as informal slang without sharing its rich origin or history.

communities were usually isolated in smaller continual racial prejudice and segregation. With dialect was preserved and has lasted to today, as the dialect continues to grow and adapt.

“AAVE is a way of life where we are

the pain and struggle our ancestors went through in order to give us what we have today,”

to learn English. After overhearing and interpreting the language slave owners

Many misconceptions surround AAVE and its purpose. For instance, many people view it as a form of slang, while others view it as an incorrect form of English. The reality is that AAVE is a language of its own with a historically rich and complex development.

There are many stylistic features in AAVE that differ English. A common characteristic is Verbal or sentences leave out the examples include the phrases “she does not say where she going” or “they smart.” The use of double negatives is also common; the phrase “he ain’t never” is the equivalent

have unique meanings that pertain to AAVE but not the word “dig” means to understand or appreciate, and the word ‘’paper” means use the word “do” to indicate an ongoing or habitual action.

In modern day, AAVE has

from AAVE as Gen Z slang.

Many AAVE words that have become mainstream such as “bruh,” “cap” and “dope” are teens as well. As a result, teens across this vernacular while remaining unaware of its celebrities using controversy among the American community. For instance, Billie Elish, a mainstream white pop singer, was recently accused of using

“When AAVE is co-opted and used by other groups, in particular, corporations,

Lewis, department chair of African

AAVE

SAE

regarded as informal and implies the person is uneducated, creating a linguistic prejudice — a bias formed on how someone

as code-switching. This switch is meant to

English. These behavioral changes are more frequent in less diverse or white-dominated

“White people have set the tone and the guidelines for how society is supposed to run, and sometimes we subconsciously abide by those rules,” Thorpe said.

Increased inclusivity across races in TV,

movies and plays, including colorblind casting, a practice in which race is not a determining factor in choosing actors and actresses for roles, has also grown more prevalent. Lin Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton, the Broadway musical based on Alexander Hamilton’s life, practices colorblind casting and has led to a lot of support from people of color who feel their voices are being from those who argue that the use of AAVE when portraying white characters is “inauthentic” or does not convey the full historical story.

recognized AAVE as a dialect, meant to destigmatize AAVE and bring more attention

with some arguing that AAVE’s recognition in schools may lower the quality of education.

There continues to be widespread ignorance of the differences between modern slang and AAVE as social media becomes increasingly prevalent. Regardless, people are becoming more mindful of the vernacular and its origination on plantations centuries ago.

“AAVE is part of our community not only as a language of pain but also a language of overcoming trials and tribulations. We were forced into this impossible situation for centuries and still to this day, we prevail,” Thorpe said.

At FUHSD, we really care about making the content meaningful and interesting to our students.

Welton Kwang, FUHSD District Coordinator of Curriculum

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY EMILY PEDROZA

Perils underneath the Friday night lights

BY RIKI MURASE

to the brain can have serious and long-lasting consequences.

Common Football Injuries

Averaging

two to three players sitting out per game, injury has stricken Lynbrook’s football team this year. Despite the team’s extensive efforts to stay at optimal performance by keeping players as healthy as possible, injuries have affected the team’s competitive performance, not only through the absence of key players but also through mental consequences for the rest of the players.

to do in the event of a player’s absence because injuries

“Any time you’re dealing with brain trauma, you can never be too careful,” head coach Javier Guevara said.

The mental consequences of injuries have nearly equal if not greater impacts on the team than the physical consequences. In urgent cases, less-experienced players are often required to take over injured players’ positions.

“When one of our veteran players goes down, play as well as we should be playing,” Perez said.

fractured his tibia and Perez sprained his ankle — limiting

players have suffered similar injuries to various degrees.

While the team takes many precautions to avoid injury, recovery following practices and games, injuries are virtually unavoidable. The high-speed sport demands contact with enormous force, inevitably resulting in dangerous collisions. The sudden physical trauma from these collisions can lead to various injuries, ranging from minor ligament and muscle strains to broken bones and concussions. Arguably the most severe hazard of football, concussions or any type of damage

Another common mental consequence of injuries is the fear of getting injured. Athletes often play slower and compete at a pace that might put them in greater danger than if they weren’t afraid of injury. For example, a player might brace themself for an impact when they’re not supposed to, offsetting their timing and increasing risk of injury due to poor stability.

“You just have to be in the mindset,” Guevara said. “I tell these kids, ‘If you start playing like you’re going to get injured, you’re going to get injured. So take that out of your mind, and play the game as hard as you can.’”

Despite their struggles with injuries, the team is still continuing to push forward for a happy conclusion to their season. The team has had fewer injuries than expected relative to previous years, and Guevara remains optimistic about the rest of the season. While their numbers may be cut down, the viking spirit has certainly endured.

Reaching the pinnacle with Pinnacle Hoops

BY SUSANNA TANG

Whilea majority of coaches at Pinnacle Hoops are Lynbrook’s varsity basketball players, since February 2021, the organization has also expanded its recruitment to other local schools. Their process of recruitment involves evaluating each coach on their experience in basketball and ability to coach and interact with young children, in order to ensure that they

“We were all in the position of these students before, looking up to our coaches and other players who were older than us,” Fu said. “Now, we want to be role models for the next generation of athletes to look up to.”

Pinnacle Hoops offers an array of training sessions: one-on-one training, small-group training and various camps throughout the year. These sessions are usually held in local community spaces, such as Calabazas Park

kindergarten through eighth grade of any skill level. They also partner with schools in disadvantaged areas by offering after-school group training sessions and clinics to their athletics programs. Pinnacle Hoops is currently in a partnership with ACE Charter Schools — a school district in east San Jose with

students who come from low-income families of color. Twice of the district’s schools, to host group training sessions with approximately 20 students each. These sessions take place immediately after the school day ends, allowing the students to conveniently walk out of their classrooms, drop their backpacks and play some basketball.

“We see these local schools with kids who love basketball, but some of them don’t have access to common equipment and opportunities like we do,” Su said. “We were once their age with the same passions as them, but we were lucky enough to have the support we needed. We want to be able to provide the same support to these children because it’s heartbreaking to see them not being able to enjoy what they love.”

than group-training sessions, which are coordinated to allow kids to just have fun by incorporating games and teamwork activities.

“The kids at Pinnacle Hoops are so enthusiastic,” junior

really motivated and want to better themselves at basketball. Just being surrounded by that kind of energy also motivates me to grow.”

We’re not trying to make the next NBA star — we’re going to help children shine in whatever aspect of life they want to pursue.

Vikram Thirumaran Co-founder and coach

Being free after a long day of school, the students are always full of energy. Coaches strive to maintain the chaotic and fun energy by feel comfortable, while also emphasizing the importance of discipline.

“We want them to have fun,” Thirumaran said. “We want them to be kids.”

One-on-one training sessions are tailored to the

To many coaches, the best part of coaching is not only the observable fun, but also seeing the physical and mental growth of the students. Pinnacle Hoops does not merely teach their students how to play basketball — they also teach students how to be social, open and willing to work as a team. Coaches have seen many shy students at their

be outspoken and active; they hope

gained at Pinnacle Hoops throughout their lives.

As Fu, Su and Thirumaran prepare to graduate, they are looking to pass on Pinnacle Hoops to younger coaches who exhibit qualities of future leaders so that they can continue to make a positive impact on their community.

“We just hope to help children reach their

personal pinnacle,” Thirumaran said.

“This doesn’t mean we’re going to make the next NBA star — it means we’re going to help children shine in whatever aspect of their life they want to pursue.”

Story

Ankle Sprains

Tendon Tears

Concussion

Subluxation

Hand Fractures

Hip Pointers

Groin Strains

ACL Tear Eversion

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY AUDREY SUN AND LARRY WANG

Joelle Jung scores her way to Stanford University

BY NEHA AYYER

From

a young age, senior Joelle Jung has been surrounded by soccer. Her father grew up in Brazil, where soccer is the most popular sport, and her two older sisters also play soccer. After dedicating more than 10 years of her life to the sport, Jung will play for Stanford University’s women’s soccer team starting in January 2023.

Before the age of seven, when Jung lived in San Francisco, she tried many different sports — including tennis, swim and gymnastics — but eventually laid her focus on soccer.

“I was especially good with my feet and it was easy for me to pick up the rules of soccer,” Jung said. “I liked dribbling, scoring,

At eight years old, she moved to San Jose and joined the Mountain View Los Altos Soccer Club. While practicing with her age group’s team, a coach from the team of the older age group saw Jung’s potential and invited her to play for their team. Jung has since been playing with and against players who are one year older than her.

“Joelle is able to do things that no other player is able to,” Jung’s teammate Mia Steadman said. “She’s really fast and sees passes before they happen, which makes her impossible to defend when playing.”

Throughout eighth and ninth grade, Jung traveled to national soccer camps for the girls’ youth national team. In 2019, Jung was selected for the International Champions Cup, an annual soccer exhibition tournament that brings top youth athletes to worldwide fans. Having scored the greatest number of goals throughout the tournament, Jung won the Golden Boot, one of her most notable achievements as a soccer player.

Jung’s team played in the Elite Clubs National League, the most prestigious soccer league in the U.S. known for supporting player development and hosting national games and college showcases. Jung’s team has been national champions twice, in 2018 and 2021, and were

“In soccer, your individual and team achievements go hand-in-hand,” Jung said. “I wouldn’t have the opportunities that I’ve had without my team or coach.”

While Jung puts a lot of effort into her soccer career, she makes sure to include her academic life into her schedule as well. To Jung, a consistent schedule to plan out the slots of time minutes, helps her navigate her academic and athletic lifestyles.

“It’s like a give-and-take relationship,” Jung said. “If I need to study for a test, then that takes time out of practicing or sleeping and vice-versa. I’ve learned to use any moment of my day to complete something that I know I won’t have time for later.”

Jung verbally committed to Stanford in eighth grade, before the National Collegiate Athletic Association changed its rules preventing coaches from contacting athletes before their junior year. Jung continued her communication with Stanford’s head coach at the end of her sophomore year. In 2022,

its athletes to start school one semester early. Due to the Jung decided to graduate from Lynbrook in December 2022 to start attending Stanford in January 2023. This allows her to meet her team earlier and mark off a few academic credits before the soccer season starts in the fall. She plans to major in a also prioritizing soccer.

“I’m really excited to be able to interact with my new team because some of my old MVLA teammates are already on the team,” Jung said.

Jung hopes to become a professional soccer player in the future. Even if she doesn’t

reach the professional level, soccer will be a part of her life, as she continues playing with her friends and family.

“Soccer has helped me connect with people from across the country, but it’s also an outlet for me to relieve stress,” Jung said. “Soccer has been a part of my life for so long that I don’t know what life would be like without it.”

Viking athletics provides new Virtual Enterprise opportunities

BY EMILY PEDROZA

Virtual Enterprise, Lynbrook’s student-led-business

with Lynbrook’s athletics department. Some current and potential projects include making and selling media guides, video broadcasting sports, designing team apparel and when corporate sponsorships become accessible, making posters and banners to display around campus.

“I wanted to introduce opportunities in Lynbrook’s athletics department for students who don’t play sports, and we have really smart students at this school who are capable of doing tasks that we would otherwise hire other people to this collaboration, they’re getting the experience of running a business, and we’re getting the products.”

After interacting more with Virtual Enterprise students for college signing day resources, she saw potential in a partnership with the class.

For Virtual Enterprise’s annual project, students are assigned to split into small groups in which they propose an from these businesses will go back to Virtual Enterprise, their goals are to make back the money initially invested in their business and to apply their business and marketing

knowledge to real-world situations. To offset the cost of supplies, some projects will rely on product sales while other projects are planning to reach out to corporate sponsors for ad sales. The

companies most projects hope to feature are primarily sportsrelated, but they hope to also reach out to local restaurants.

“I think selling media guides is a good way for Lynbrook athletes to gain more recognition,” junior Dylan White, a football and baseball player, said. “It’s also good for individual athletes to have tangible records of their experiences.”

So far, the students who are working on media guides have completed taking most of their photos, and are currently developing the brochure’s design with plans to release it for sale by mid-October.

Meanwhile, the students developing a sportsbroadcasting platform have started preparing for livestreams by connecting the indoor-court cameras to their Youtube channel, Viking Vision. They are now brainstorming concepts, such as donation rewards and sponsorships, to monetize their channel.

“Communication is a big deal in this project,” said sophomore Arnav Shah, a member of the media guide project.

sure we’re all following the same schedule and sharing ideas.”

Virtual Enterprise to enhance existing projects and feature local businesses on the media guide in the future.

projects are still in their infant stages, and we’re still learning as we go, but we’ll see where it takes us.”

Unlocking student personalities

In a typical studio dance class, I follow my teacher’s instructions and perform each exercise, barre combination and combo. I perform some skills with ease; others are a struggle as my eyes stray toward others, envying their perfection. Performances and competitions blinded me from struggles, letting excitement shine through and become the highlight of every dance season.

to not cheat. Months later, I started to see improvements. In the comfort of my home studio, without self-deprecation and distractions of envy, I achieved skills that had once been dreams: double turns became triple turns, 120 degree leg extensions became 160 degree extensions and scorpions became needles.

in-depth editor

editors

BY SOPHIE AU

But why do I even dance?

“What do you like to do for fun?” My answer was always dance. It was my simplest,

However, I often questioned my answer during endless lessons, exhausting barre combinations and the constant struggle to be perfect — is dance a sport I genuinely love or has spending 14 years dancing been the only thing hindering me from quitting?

With performances and competitions canceled due to COVID-19, my only dance opportunities left were online dance classes. As I logged into my Zoom dance studio every Friday, I wondered why I continued to exhaust myself when there were no exciting opportunities. My reluctance to attend class was barely overcome with loyalty to my studio — it was a waste to give up on a talent that I worked so hard for.

teacher pushed the class to our limits while I accustomed myself to the rigor of a class I hadn’t attended for months. Training virtually with more than 20 students, it was easy to cut corners, but the guilt that cheating would bring me convinced me to push through pain.

training routine. Though I couldn’t see

In each subsequent class, the set of exercises were the same, yet I held myself to a higher expectation. The list of skills I needed to maintain increased weekly, but my increasingly lofty goals motivated me to push myself.

Realizing my full potential, I began endlessly chasing to beat the best version of myself. Knowing that goals could be within my reach and having the fear of losing previous achievements motivated me to push myself week after week. There was no one around to remind me that I wasn’t good enough. Seeing what I could do and not focusing on what I couldn’t do, I grew eager to push my abilities.

Now, when someone asks me, “what do you do for fun?” I know why I answer with “dance.” The satisfying feeling of achieving my goals and appreciating what I can do when hard work pays off brings me joy and inspires me to keep reaching further.

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A. Sophomore Felicia Huang stores food in her locker to share with her friends. B. Senior Sravya Vakkalanka stores academic materials and food in her locker.

C. Junior Annabell Macias stores stationary and skincare products in her locker. D. Senior Joseph Zou stores water polo equipment in his locker. E. Junior Sonali F. Junior Sophie Jaquish stores her lunch box and volleyball bag in her locker.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY ASHLEY HUANG PHOTOS BY SPORTS SECTION