Epic Issue 5, 2019

BARB TAKAHASHI

MIKE WILLIAMS

KATHY TANG

PHOTO CREDITS (LEFT TO RIGHT): ARUL GNANASIVAM — EPIC, USED WITH PERMISSION OF BARB TAKAHASHI, DIANA XU — EPIC

Lynbrook recognizes exceptional faculty members

BY DIANA XU

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t the annual FUHSD celebrational board meeting on Feb. 26, Lynbrook was revered for its excellence. Social studies teacher Mike Williams and College and Career advisers Barb Takahashi and Katherine Tang received awards for the Certi�icated Employee of the Year and Classi�ied Employee of the Year, respectively.

Every year, students and staff nominate potential award recipients that are later voted on by the School Site Council, a group of elected staff, students and parents.

Lynbrook’s Certi�icated Employee of the Year, Williams, not only teaches government and U.S. history, but is also involved in other aspects on campus, such as being an adviser for the Class of 2020.

“I am very blessed with good family and friends, many of whom are on this campus, as well as a great job and great students,” Williams said. “Teaching is extremely rewarding.

Life is about balance, and I have always believed that if you are going to do something for 40 or more hours a week, you should love it.”

Williams believes in being able to identify with students as young adults, not only holding them to high standards but also introducing the curriculum through entertaining assignments and lectures.

“[Mr. Williams] makes every student feel noticed and appreciated,” junior Mia McCormack said. “He �inds a way to make all of his lessons fun and different. Even when we do something that may seem boring, like a lecture, he makes it engaging by telling jokes. He is a staff member I can trust.”

Takahashi and Tang both received the Classi�ied Employee of the Year award for their work in the College and Career Center. In the fall, they work with the FUHSD College Fair.

Takahashi and Tang also work with seniors, helping them with essays and building college lists. In the spring, they hold workshops for juniors, preparing for college applications.

With many things in common, such as each having three kids that all graduated from Lynbrook, Takahashi and Tang’s dynamic is seamless: the pair work half the days of the week, overlapping on Wednesdays.

“When I �irst came to Lynbrook, [Takahashi and Tang] made me feel really comfortable,” senior Jason Dong said. “I have talked to Takahashi about colleges, summer camps and even places I should visit when traveling to other countries.

[Tang] is always really happy when I see her. I think their dedication is inspiring.”

Having worked at Lynbrook for six years, Takahashi was �irst inspired to go into education because of her love for working with students and visiting colleges; her role as a college counselor allows her to do both.

Tang, originally a computer science major, started working as a college counselor because of Takahashi, who knew Tang was interested in the �ield. Tang, who has been at Lynbrook for three years, says her favorite part of her job is helping students de�ine what they are looking for in their college experience and opening their eyes to different possibilities.

“Sometimes students will come in and we will answer their questions, and sometimes they will write a note afterward thanking us,” said Tang. “You feel like you did not do that much, but to them, it meant something. That is really touching when they write a really sweet message about how we helped them in some way.”

The 2019 FUHSD board meeting and celebration was �illed with sentiment and congratulations as students, parents, teachers and other community members proudly watched their deserving loved ones accept their awards.

Scan here to read more about the teachers, staff, class and students that were honored at the FUHSD celebratory board meeting.

Student survey responses modify Homeroom

BY RISA MORI

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he new bell schedule, including time allotted for Homeroom on most Fridays, was unveiled at the start of this school year. More than halfway through the school year, a change has been announced: while some Fridays remain as Homeroom Activities, others are set aside for quiet study time. These changes were brought about in part by responses to the results of a schoolwide survey that 1,457 students took at the end of �irst semester.

When the Homeroom Pilot Program was created, administrators planned to survey students and staff mid-year. The survey results were then reviewed at staff meetings on Jan. 15. In addition, Principal Maria Jackson met with Student Voice, a group of 12 students with representatives from each grade level, to discuss issues on campus such as Homeroom. These discussions and the results of the survey Jackson emailed to students revealed that many students overwhelmingly preferred time to study on Fridays rather than Homeroom.

Before the school-wide survey, some teachers personally surveyed their

Homeroom classes and implemented their feedback. Art teacher Matthew Reynolds’ Homeroom already had periods dedicated to study time to support students’ needs before the change was announced.

“After surveying my students, I realized I had people with quizzes on Friday after homeroom, and they were expressing that they were pretty stressed by the fact that they no longer had that period of time to study,” Reynolds said. “Part of Homeroom is about stress relief, so if I'm creating stress, then that's kind of counterproductive.”

Data from the Mid-Cycle Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Survey presents another perspective. In response to a question asking how effective students think their Homeroom has been at building connections between students and an adult on campus, 78.52 percent of students answered “a little” or “none at all,” and 78.45 percent responded “a little” or “none at all” regarding its effectiveness at stress relief. These and other responses prompted staff to consider Homeroom Study, and since 64.45 percent of students preferred to have Homeroom on a Friday, it remained on that day.

Even though students have concerns about Homeroom’s effectiveness, some agree that the intentions behind Homeroom make it worthwhile.

“When I look at Homeroom with a more open mind, I understand the purpose behind it,” said senior and Student Board Representative Indali Bora. “Something I have noticed a lot in Lynbrook students is that there’s a con�lict: you want to be less stressed, but stress has become part of the culture. That’s where Homeroom comes in: to make sure students are focused on thinking about themselves.”

Another student survey will be sent out in the spring to measure any progress following the second semester modi�ications to Homeroom, and the information from this survey will help staff determine whether they are moving in the right direction or not.

“Maybe it didn't go perfectly, but not everything does the �irst time,” Jackson said.

“It doesn't have to go perfect to learn, and what you have to take from that process is to move forward. You don't stop and quit because something wasn't perfect the �irst time: if it doesn't work, we're going to �ind something that is. Nothing is set in stone.”

GIRLS BASKETBALL // PG. 14 The road to CCS qualification

MARCH 1, 2019

MARCH 1, 2019

Amol Singh chosen as 2019 Regeneron STS finalist

BY CLAIRE CHIU

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that is used to completely analyze all three dimensional cell features.”

Singh’s success is a result of long hours in the lab. From May to November 2018, Singh spent 60 to 70 hours each week investigating his project, which included isolating tissue samples, developing various algorithms and converting his slides to digital presentations.

Upon completing this project, Singh drafted a scienti�ic paper that communicated the methods and signi�icance of his research.

Ultimately, Singh hopes his pipeline can be implemented for widespread use, especially in hospitals. His project could potentially cut down the costs of diagnosis of serious diseases, a great bene�it for hospitals lacking suf�icient resources for diagnosis techniques, and be used in conjunction with modern technology, leading to more accurate and ef�icient diagnoses of diseases. For example, his algorithm could be implemented in arti�icial intelligence or machines that can

or this year’s Regeneron Science Talent Search (Regeneron STS) applicants, there was only a 2 percent chance of being a �inalist. Yet senior Amol Singh beat the odds, earning the opportunity to travel to Washington D.C. from March 7 to 13 to showcase his work to a panel of judges comprised of top leaders in the STEM �ield. Widely considered the junior Nobel Prize, the Regeneron STS is one of the most distinguished science research programs exclusively for high school seniors vying to take home $1.8 million total in rewards.

Seniors Shannon Heh, Stanley Wang and Charles Huang were semi�inalists and received certi�icates as well as $2,000 for both themselves and the school.

Attracted by the possibility of having his project be recognized and implemented by companies, Singh applied to the Regeneron STS program in November 2018. Due to his interests in medicine, computer science and biology, Singh decided to center his project around pathology.

The inconvenience of manual lens adjustment and limitation in specimen view of microscopes inspired Singh to develop a tool to enhance the viewing of sample slides.

Through trial and error, he developed an algorithm that interprets three dimensional information from two dimensional videography of microscopes with scienti�ic smears, which are methods or tests used to detect early stages of cancer.

“Often, when you digitize slides, you’re only able to capture a two dimensional plane of a three dimensional slide, and as a result, it precludes a lot of ef�icient analysis and possibility for early diagnosis of diseases,” Singh said. “My pipeline is more ARUL GNANASIVAM— EPIC of a computational pipeline

summer science internships, and science fair projects, to AP Biology last year,” said biology teacher Kathleen Loia. “His willingness to confront issues, �lexibility in solving problems and agile thinking make him an excellent scientist. His recognition that sometimes it takes many attempts to get a lab to work and willingness to put in the necessary time and effort, will ensure that he continues to succeed.”

Looking back on his experience in Regeneron STS, Singh has numerous takeaways and highlights to share, learning both to take risks and remain persistent.

“From previous science fairs, I have learned about the importance of being able to communicate my message in a digestible fashion for people from all academic backgrounds,” Singh said. “These experiences have all aided my growth as a young scientist, and I hope to employ what I learned from these lessons at the �inals.”

With less than a month left until the Regeneron STS �inals, Singh looks forward to the �inal round of Regeneron STS. At the �inals, Singh will once again have to face a panel of Ph.D level scientists and other wellknown attendees. After the judging, an awards ceremony will be held to award each �inalist at least $25,000.

The top 10 students will receive awards ranging from $40,000 to $250,000.

“I think [the Regeneron STS �inals] will be a great opportunity to meet all the other students that have quali�ied,” Singh said. “It’s going to be an exciting experience to learn from a lot of the mentors and judges that will be there, including Nobel Laureates.”

Having already acquired the resources and skills needed for the Regeneron STS �inals, Singh aims to score higher on his project, and his tenacity and self-con�idence will hopefully prove useful in his GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY MELISSA CHEN AND PRIYANKA ANAND upcoming showcase. help doctors with diagnosis of patients.

While Singh began the research for his project in 2018, the idea �irst formed three years ago during his freshman year. From science teachers Kathleen Loia, Nicole Della Santina and Lester Leung, he gained the conceptual science skills crucial for his project and outside lab opportunities. His main challenge was gathering the necessary data to test his algorithm, which he solved by reaching out to pathologists in the �ield.

“My dream with this pipeline and my future research is for it to be applied directly into clinical use for hospitals and doctors,” Singh said. “The ability to have an impact on other peoples’ lives with the research that I do is extremely motivating for me.”

Having formed close bonds with his science teachers, Singh has left strong impressions on them.

“Amol brought his deep background in lab work, hard-won as a veteran of many

Mardi Gras celebrates French culture

Letter from the Editors Dear readers,

As we continue second semester, browse the pages of this issue of the Epic to catch up on the latest news at Lynbrook. In the news section, read about senior Amol Singh and his research project that quali�ied him as a Regeneron Science Talent Search �inalist (pg. 2). Recently, you may have seen many anonymous FUHSD accounts popping up on your Instagram feed. Look to our latest staff editorial for our take on these accounts and the culture that they create (pg. 4).

As Girl Scouts cookie selling season continues in full swing, learn about the unique experiences that Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts at Lynbrook have had as part of the organization (pg. 8).

In in-depth, we take a look back on the polar vortex that �irst hit parts of the U.S. in January and re�lect on how this phenomenon may be a sign of changing climate conditions (pg. 10).

Finally, learn about how the girls basketball team is scoring higher than as it advances to states (pg. 14). Go Lady Vikings!

If you’re still looking for more content from the Epic, be sure to visit our website, lhsepic.com, for multimedia packages and additional stories as well.

Sincerely, Justine Chen and Michelle Lum

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tudents gather onto the stage while others sit down to watch. Chatter dies down, and music begins to play.

The students sing, voices resonating with joy. With all the fun of Lynbrook’s 2019 Mardi Gras on Feb. 15, it is easy to look past the changes made this year.

Mardi Gras is the holiday prior to the fasting season Lent. It is characterized by mask-wearing, music and parades.

Lynbrook’s Mardi Gras celebration had performances, food and activities, with the goal of allowing attendees to immerse themselves in French culture.

“Typically, I don’t interact with other French classes, but Mardi Gras is a time for everyone to gather,” said senior Yuriko Akeyama, a FHS volunteer. “You see people you don’t expect to see otherwise.”

Planning began in October 2018, when French Honor Society (FHS) of�icers senior Anubha Kale and senior Michelle Lum began communicating with the Mardi Gras committee, consisting of senior Ysabel Li, junior Sanjana Ravikumar and junior Shounak Ranabhor.

The committee members’ discussed class performances with the French teachers and brainstormed activities.

“I got to experience �irsthand how much time people put into preparing for Mardi Gras,” Ravikumar said. “It’s been an eyeopening experience for me. It has also been fun to get to know the other members of the committee and my teachers better through organizing the event.”

Due to construction, Mardi Gras, which is usually hosted in the cafeteria, was relocated to the auditorium. This posed many challenges, including hosting the event with limited space due to the built-in chairs and the food prohibition rule in the auditorium.

To tackle these challenges, performances were located just below the stage, and activities on the stage. As for the food prohibition rule, food was moved outside the auditorium, under the overhang.

“This year, [Mardi Gras] was brand new,” said FHS adviser Denise Schang. “But I tell my students that life is about change, and we need to adapt, so [the changes to Mardi Gras] are okay. We did our best, and even if the decorations may not have been perfect, it is more about the people who are there and

sharing in the event.”

The event began with an introduction by FHS, then activities and class performances which consisted of songs and skits performed

by Lynbrook and Miller French students. The event ends with the traditions of a conga line dance to the French song Le Bal Masqué and a line dance to Les Champs-Élysées.

“I was excited to see the performances that the students from Miller brought,” Kale said. “Miller students are extremely enthusiastic about performing their songs, which is really cute.”

Throughout the year, FHS members had been corresponding with Miller students.

With Mardi Gras as one of the main activities involving Lynbrook and Miller French students, it was a great opportunity for pen pals to meet.

“Mardi Gras means a lot to me,” said Utsav Kataria, a Miller student at the event. “We performed skits that we practiced a lot for. I learned about French culture. I didn’t know that Mardi Gras was about eating fatty foods.”

Mardi Gras was a great opportunity for students to interact and a time full of festivities that both high school and middle school students could enjoy together.

RACHEL WU — EPIC

COMMITTEE MEMBERS| French Honor Society’s officers and committee members introduce Mardi Gras at the start of the event.

ACTIVITIES | Senior Yuriko Akeyama guides a Miller student through Picto-Mots, one of the activities of French Honor Society’s Mardi Gras.

SKITS |Utsav Kataria, an eighth grader from Miller Middle School, performs the French 1B Miller class skit, inspired by Mission Possible.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY RACHEL WU

BY RACHEL WU

News in Brief

NEWS

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First-year club Science Olympiad sweeps competition

BY AILEEN XUE

Spring Choir Concert 3/7 and Spring Instrumental Concert 3/14 Spring is in the air! Before winter comes to an end and spring of�icially arrives, attend the Spring Choir Concert on March 7 and the Spring Instrumental Concert on March 14.

Daylight Savings Time Begins 3/10 The early bird catches the worm! Don’t be late and set your clocks forward one hour on March 10 for daylight savings.

AISA Club Silsilay Show 3/16 Come out to the annual Indian dance performance Silsilay, hosted by AISA! The show will feature Indian culture dance teams from all over the Bay Area, and the pro�its will go to a charity for rural India called Ekal Vidyalaya.

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fter being overseen by Science Club in past years, Science Olympiad has become its own club this year. With its success at the Tracy High School Science Olympiad Invitational on Jan. 19, Lynbrook Science Olympiad Club is poised to compete at the regional competition.

“The previous team was underperforming because Science Olympiad needs a signi�icant amount of money, time and resources,” said sophomore Michael Zhao, founder and president of Science Olympiad Club.

After discussions with chemistry teacher and former Science Club adviser Lester Leung and the 20172018 Science Club of�icer team, all parties decided it would be best for Science Olympiad to become a separate club with its own advisers,

budget and management.

Under Zhao’s leadership, Science Olympiad Club increased the number of competition teams from one team of 15 people to three teams of 15 people. Students who do not make any of the teams can learn from presentations and become familiar with various aspects of Science Olympiad.

“Though I did not make the team last year, this year, they have three teams which provides more opportunities to students who want to get involved with Science Olympiad,” said junior and Team B member Sunhoo Ahn. Zhao asked physics teacher Thanh Nguyen and biology and chemistry teacher Jessica Lu to advise the club; they provide students with study resources and help with competition logistics.

At the Tracy Invitational, its �irst competition as an of�icial club, Lynbrook’s Science Olympiad Club performed well, with Team A and B placing �irst and second respectively out of 31 schools. Lynbrook as in

the top three in 13 of 23 events.

“I loved seeing the shock on the students’ faces when they realized they took home both �irst and second place,” Nguyen said. “It was really nice seeing all their hard work pay off.”

With the regional competition on March 16 at San Jose City College, Science Olympiad Club has been continuing with its preparation and plans to send all three of its teams.

“We’ll de�initely be studying a lot more and reviewing our tests from Tracy,” said sophomore and Team A member Flora Huang. “We’ll also take more practice tests and edit our reference sheets.”

As Science Olympiad Club relishes in its recent success and prepares for regionals, it also dreams bigger, hoping to increase student involvement and ultimately become one of the strongest teams in the state, if not the nation.

Job Shadow Day 3/18 Once again, PTSA is hosting Job Shadow Day for students. Lynbrook students will have the opportunity to spend a day at companies like Bank of America and Cisco to experience their workplaces and explore possible career options. This year’s Job Shadow Day will fall on March 18, a non-duty school day, meaning that students participating in the event will not be missing school.

USED WITH PERMISSION OF THANH NGUYEN

NEWS

Baseball Team Fundraiser 3/29 Support the Lynbrook baseball team by coming to their fundraiser with Goodwill on March 29 on the driveway in front of the art wing!

by Melissa Chen

Starting off second semester with two new clubs

BY KELSEY LU

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ith more than 84 clubs, ranging from Cooking Arts Club to Astrophysics Club, Lynbrook has a club to �it every student’s interests. New additions, as of second semester, are the Democrats Club and Virtuosity, both of which offer something new and unique to the Lynbrook community. Democrats Club gives politically interested students a safe place for discussion and artistic students can �ind creative expression in Virtuosity. Read on to learn about what both have to offer and what of�icers hope students will gain from each club.

HS Democrats Club — headed by juniors Stephen Yang, Nicole Ong, Hanna Pedramrazi, Divya Pereira and Sunaina Bose — welcomes all types of political thinkers to discuss public policy as well as teach civic literacy. Members meet every Wednesday lunch in room 006 with adviser and math teacher Roma Rajpal to share their opinions on current events affecting the Democratic Party and examine the public’s reactions to these events. The club also provides volunteer opportunities for students, some of which are related to the upcoming 2020 presidential campaign: students can sign up to assist a Democratic candidate by phone booking or canvassing.

“Using our club’s resources, we encourage students to do more research on their own,” said junior and treasurer Hanna Pedramrazi. “It’s not just about telling people about the party but rather helping people establish their own views.”

The Democrats Club was created because founders and co-presidents juniors Stephen Yang and Nicole Ong wanted to create a space for high school Democrats to learn more about the party and be more civically engaged in their community. The club’s goal is to encourage youth to have a more active

role in government through activities such as voter registration drives and guest speaker events of the Democratic Party.

“Lynbrook does have clubs such as Junior State of America, a non-partisan civics club, but the Democrats Club is more of a place for like-minded liberals and Democrats to discuss and help the Democratic Party,” Yang said.

The primary goals of the club are to emphasize how not all Democrats are far left-leaning and discuss the three caucasuses of Democrats: the Congressional Progressive Caucus, the New Democrats and the Blue Dogs.

“The club is not meant to stigmatize conservatives; all conservatives are welcome in our club,” Yang said. “We are also not trying to polarize people to the farleft as we try to give club members the opportunity to think for themselves.”

The club’s �irst meeting had a turnout of 20 to 25 students, and the club of�icers hope to increase that number with an upcoming debate on topics such as gun control and immigration. The of�icers are still in the process of planning activities such as guest speaker events, outreaches and workshops to help teach civic literacy.

Democrats Club

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GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY PRIYANKA ANAND

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irtuosity is a place for students interested in graphic design to express themselves creatively through softwares such as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. It plans to meet every Wednesday at lunch, starting from March 6, at the Mac Lab in room 605 with adviser and teacher Thomas Ben�ield-Greaves.

During meetings, club of�icers — juniors Yash Godiwala, Amanda Zhu, Raka Acharya, Janvi Ramchandra, Shree Phadke and Diya Mirji — will teach students how to navigate design software through presentations and allow students to apply what they learn by creating their own projects.

Founder and junior Yash Godiwala, the club’s president, decided to create Virtuosity due to his growing interest in graphic design and his realization that Lynbrook did not offer any graphic design clubs.

“Lynbrook offers a bunch of art clubs on campus, but Virtuosity attempts to combine the artistic aspect of all those clubs with modern technology,” Godiwala said. “We advocate for students to translate their knowledge into careers.”

Although Virtuosity will primarily encourage club members to create art for themselves, the of�icers will also motivate members to use art for practical applications,

such as creating portfolios. They encourage students to explore freelancing and pitch their own ideas to small businesses.

“Students can learn how to make things that are sometimes overlooked, such as presentations, stand out visually,” Godiwala said. “For example, creating your own theme and choosing your own unique fonts can help spark a good impression on others, as studies have shown that visually appealing content will hold someone’s attention longer.”

Virtuosity hopes to invite guest speakers from graphic design companies to share their experience and wisdom.

They plan on creating a Brand Revamp project where students can redesign a company brand in their own style — including logo and color scheme — and pitch their ideas to design specialists.

“At this point, the project is just an internal competition, but we hope we can actually use it to help smaller businesses to get their products out their through design,” said junior and director of operations Raka Acharya.

For their �irst meeting, the of�icers aim on communicating to members just how much design impacts the world. They hope that members will enjoy their time experimenting with design tools and leave with a positive outlook on their club.

Virtuosity

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OPINION

lhsepic.com

LYNBROOK HIGH SCHOOL | THE EPIC

FUHSD Instagram accounts: anonymity or accountability?

show. “Even though I might not wear this shirt that someone gave me, [it's nice to] oes it spark joy? If it does, keep it. have that moment [when I can] express my If it doesn’t, throw it away. This is appreciation, but then let go." the key idea behind the KonMari Inevitably, Kondo has drawn insensitive method, created by Japanese lifestyle and snarky commentary from American consultant Marie Kondo to help her clients audiences, including talk show hosts Jimmy declutter their homes. Kondo was already Kimmel and Ellen Degeneres, who invited a celebrity in the Eastern hemisphere for her to their shows to declutter their of�ices. her guide to decluttering, a book titled Kimmel said that the night before Kondo “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying was invited over on his show to declutter his Up.” However, she has been brought into of�ice, he had a nightmare of her destroying the international spotlight by her Net�lix his home, implying that her presence would show, “Tidying up with Marie Kondo,” hurt instead of help him. When asked to give released on Jan. 1, in which Kondo helps thanks to their of�ice, both Degeneres’s writer American families clean and organize and Kimmel looked at the screen skeptically, their houses. But pretending to give with this new gratitude and looking attention also come up at the camera misinterpretations "I think that Americans view wondering when the of Eastern culture. the idea of sparking joy as ritual would end.

The goal of the Kimmel handed Kondo KonMari method is crazy or too mystic, but it's a and her translator the to maintain a living book “Full Disclosure” part of Asian culture." space where the only

by Stormy Daniels, possessions one has Degeneres's Audrey Ding and are items that spark writer showed them Junior joy, the translation a promiscuous Kim of the Japanese word Kardashian �igurine to “tokimeki." It is based mock Kondo and her on Kondo’s Shinto beliefs, which may translator despite their sincere efforts to seem strange to many Westerners. In help clean their of�ice. After the segment, the Shinto religion, which is followed by Degeneres’s writer said that he had moved approximately 70 percent of Japanese everything that Kondo recommended he citizens according to the Japan 2017 take out of his room back into the places International Religious Freedom Report, where they originally had been. Degeneres every entity and phenomenon has a herself, in an earlier segment done after spirit, called a “kami.” As such, when “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” was Kondo steps into a client's house to clean released in 2016, laughed whenever Kondo and organize, she often invites the client spoke in Japanese, nodding as she pretended to quietly offer gratitude to the space for to understand her language. Though some serving the client as well to show respect talk show hosts, like Stephen Colbert, have to the kami. She also taps her books made an effort to respect Kondo, there is a before sorting through them to wake the blurred line between comedy and disrespect. books up and gives gratitude to objects “I think that Americans view the idea of that a client chooses to throw away sparking joy as crazy or too mystic, but it's a for serving the client. These practices part of Asian culture,” said junior Audrey Ding, not only have a cultural background, who has read Kondo’s book. “They probably but often provide closure for clients. don't understand her method of cleaning and “People have gifted me clothing that throwing things away because it's so integral I'm never going to wear, and having that to Asian culture, but not American culture.” moment when you thank the clothing for Many have similarly misinterpreted its service, I think in a way, is cathartic,” Kondo’s advice, taking to social media said literature teacher Diana Albaker, to criticize her and make memes out of who read Kondo’s book and watches her her for claims she has not made. She has

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Staff Editorial The Voice of the Epic joke. And for the most part, I think the posts are positive toward others.”

These accounts, however, have the potential to spread toxic rumors or misinformation when abused. While those who submit posts get the bene�it of anonymity, the people they mention by name do not. Though this anonymity promotes the free exchange of ideas about student life, it also removes the barrier of responsibility and accountability for one’s words that might ordinarily discourage students from disparaging others face-to-face.

In addition, posts can have signi�icant repercussions for students when they are mentioned by name in a negative context or when their personal information is given without permission. Many FUHSD students use Instagram regularly, causing posts to circulate quickly and heightening the in�luence these accounts have on the student body.

“When I saw my name on one of the posts, I saw it as an invasion of my privacy because it is my life, and my personal life shouldn’t be posted by someone else without my permission,” said freshman Adrienne Wang.

While some believe that the accounts can promote selfexpression, others have found that they can create toxic environments that do not facilitate meaningful discussion.

“I �ind that venting on these accounts about problems can, most of the time, garner surface-level responses that I �ind unhelpful,” said senior Abhi Khanal. “It’s not that all the responses are bad, but I would much rather talk to a friend than get advice from someone anonymously.”

Even seemingly positive posts can have negative effects.

The account fuhsdloveletters aims to create a welcoming environment in which students can express their admiration for others, but some of the submissions still have the potential to harm students. Many posts comment on attractiveness, and while they might seem complimentary, they can also make the subject uncomfortable, just as comments about an individual’s “hotness” made in-person can come across less as �lattery and more as harassment.

The controversy surrounding these accounts raises a question about the role of moderators in restricting posts.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY MEDHA UPADHYAY

ENZO CABALTICA//IN MY OPINION

Credit dancers for their creativity

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iral dance moves such as the �loss, orange justice and shoot caught on because they were so unique. However, these moves were used by video game company Epic Games in its popular game Fortnite. As a result, the original creators of those dance moves sued the company, claiming they should be compensated for the game’s use of their creations in December 2018. In light of this issue and as a dancer who strives for originality, I realized how important it is that original dance moves be

legally protected against those who use the moves for monetary gain without consent from their creators.

According to the U.S. Copyright Of�ice, “a series of dance movements or patterns organized into an integrated, coherent, and expressive composition” quali�ies for a copyright, but individual dance moves, such as the ones featured in Fortnite, are not. The U.S. Copyright Of�ice also excludes all “celebratory end zone dance moves or athletic victory gestures” from legal protection, which are a majority of the dances in the game. In order to successfully secure copyright for a dance, one would have to create an entire choreography and �ilm it, and then apply for a copyright. While I understand it is impractical for single dance move to be copyrighted, original content still deserves legal protection. In addition, before utilizing moves for commercial purposes, companies should ask permission from the original choreographer and come to an agreement on how the choreographer should be credited or compensated.

The Fortnite lawsuits reminded me of “biting,” which, in the dance community, is when a dancer steals another dancer’s move

and uses it as his or her own. Originality is valued in most forms of dance, but in breakdance especially, as most of the dance is purely freestyle and dancers’ styles vary.

For example, one of my friends likes to incorporate many �lips and tricks into his routines, while I prefer to focus on musicality and simpler footwork. Given the dif�iculty of creating an original dance move, I can relate to artists’ frustration of having their ideas ripped off without any credit. I remember how long it took me to begin developing decent original moves, and if they were to be used without my permission, I would feel robbed. In the past, I even refrained from sharing my choreography because I was afraid that people would bite it.

Not all imitations of moves are unfair, however; in fact, copying dancers may be one of the best ways to learn how to dance.

When I �irst started breakdancing, I would learn by trying to mimic the moves of those who were better than me. As I added more moves to my repertoire, I relied less and less on others’ moves and began to string together moves to create original routines, and started to �ind the style of breakdance that I enjoy today. It was acceptable for me

to copy moves at the time because I was not looking for commercial gain, but rather just trying to learn how to develop my skill.

Furthermore, the moves I copied were basic moves that everyone learns as a foundation, and then builds off of as they create their own style. I was not truly copying, but rather taking inspiration from the basics in order to create unique moves of my own.

Copying for the sake of learning is a good practice that contributes to the types of moves that are popular in dance culture, however it is unacceptable to use dance moves for commercial purposes without their creator’s permission. Stealing dance moves completely undermines the creator’s hard work and defeats the purpose of creating original content if it will eventually be plagiarized and used sel�ishly to make money. Legally, Fortnite is in the clear since individual dance moves are unable to be copyrighted. However, Fortnite should have paid the artists royalties for their original moves or at least given them credit. All companies that seek to pro�it off of the popularity of dance must accept that dance, just like other forms of art, must be enjoyed with proper credit given to the creators.

been accused of asking people to keep a maximum of 30 books, though she merely said that she herself preferred to do so. People have also associated Kondo with minimalism, a movement in which people are encouraged to keep as little as possible in their homes, and accused her of asking people to throw everything out. However, Kondo herself has asserted that the focus of the KonMari method is not on what to throw away, but what to keep, and that necessities that may not directly spark joy should be kept too. For example, when tidying up with comedian Hasan Minhaj, Kondo reassured him that it was okay to keep his baby monitor in his of�ice, because “this does spark joy for you knowing that you can work peacefully and that your child is safe, right?”

“I don't think it's really about minimalism, because for me, a lot of it is that your home kind of re�lects how you feel and your mood,” Albaker said.

“From everybody I've seen on the show, and just the stories she's shared, once people have eliminated the things that are unnecessary, they feel freer. So I think it's less minimalism and more that maybe here [in America] we just have more stuff.”

Much of the backlash to Kondo is the result of the innate discomfort that comes with being exposed to a new culture. When people with limited understanding of other traditions feel that they are foreign and cannot be integrated with their own culture, they sometimes dismiss others' values as a trend, or something to mock.

“We are a society that sometimes is nervous about other spiritual beliefs and practices,” said Japanese teacher Jeremy Kitchen, who has lived in Japan. “And I think that also ties into people's reaction of, ‘Oh, is this like one of those [fads],’ so I think trying to be willing to learn about something without having to agree with it or disagree with it, but just being aware of it and understand it, would help people understand the whole [of the idea].”

While people may excuse themselves for being rude to Kondo as Americans who simply do not understand, being from a different culture is no reason to disrespect other cultures. There is no excuse to not do research beforehand on the nuances of another culture before commenting on it.

MICHELLE LUM//IN MY OPINION

Political causes, traffic pauses

I

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY ELENA WILLIAMS

D When moderators receive submissions that mention students explicitly, they have a responsibility to consider the impact those posts can have on the students. On the other hand, the objective of the accounts is to create a space free from censorship, and restricting content detracts from that purpose.

“I post most of what gets submitted,” Coach said. “I exclude hate comments toward this account and negative comments about other individuals. I try to keep this account as positive as possible while also keeping it interesting, so I post most of what I get as long as it does not degrade someone’s image.”

One way through which moderators attempt to strike a balance between the two is by allowing users to request that a speci�ic post be taken down if it affects them.

However, by the time the student contacts the moderator and the moderator takes action, the post may already have been seen by a signi�icant portion of the account’s followers due to the frequency of which students check social media. Therefore, the only way to truly prevent hurtful comments is for moderators to use their judgment when deciding what to post.

As with all communities, the emerging culture of school “confession” and “letter” accounts requires a socially conscious student body to self-regulate every step of the posting process. Students who submit content need to carefully consider the effects of their words before they submit and consider how they would feel if they received similar comments about themselves. Moderators should make a conscious effort to establish clear lines between what submissions they should post or what they should discard. Followers, in turn, need to hold moderators accountable and express their concerns when they feel that cyberbullying or digital harassment is taking place.

These accounts are a space free of interference from school staff and administration, and in order for them to remain so, students need to take responsibility by recognizing when people are being targeted and not posting or submitting negative comments.

Moderators and users alike should recognize these accounts as forums for healthy discussion and support, but also acknowledge their potential to become a platform for cyberbullying. The responsibility lies with the student community to decide which paths the accounts will take. *Names have been kept anonymous for privacy reasons **the Epic staff voted 36–0 in favor of this stance

05

Respect Marie Kondo's Japanese culture

BY KAYLIN LI

crolling through her Instagram feed, a student recognizes the names of her classmates on several posts. She sees a love letter to a girl in her chemistry class, a rumor about the boy who sits next to her in English and an invitation to prom. She did not know those two were dating — are they? She swipes through the posts — confessions, compliments and rumors — and learns all the latest gossip at her high school.

In mid-January, such posts began to appear on FUHSD students’ phones with the rise of “confession” and “letter” Instagram accounts. These accounts post anonymous submissions from users accepted through the feedback site sarahah.com and Instagram's direct messages service. The moderators of these accounts also remain anonymous. While each account features different content, from confessions to love letters or even searches for prom dates, all aim to provide a medium through which students can share their thoughts.

“I started the [lhs.letters] account because I wanted a place for people to express their opinions without getting attacked,” said Jenna Kim*, the moderator of the lhs.letters Instagram account. “I give everyone an equal voice to share how and what they feel. This account serves nothing but the truth, whatever it may be, from whoever it may be, and to see that and be able to share that is important.”

For students who feel that they are unable to express themselves, such accounts can be a valuable outlet for their concerns about the school community. For others, they can be a fun and light-hearted way to send anonymous compliments or jokes to their friends.

“Not all accounts have negative posts,” said Ella Coach*, the moderator of the fuhsdadvice Instagram account. “I can say that some of these accounts were made for the betterment of the FUHSD community while others were made simply for entertainment — which, I can say, is working pretty well.”

Fuhsdloveletters, one of the most followed accounts with currently more than 1800 followers, accepts anonymous submissions that compliment other FUHSD students, particularly love interests. Occasionally, friends send good-natured jokes. A friend of junior Andy Li, for example, pretended to be Li’s secret admirer in an anonymous love letter.

“I thought it was pretty funny,” Li said. “Since the comments about me were positive, I thought it was a fun

OPINION

MARCH 1, 2019

ART ILLUSTRATION BY CHRISTY YU

t was 2:15 p.m. It would only take my dad and me 15 minutes to drive from the Mission District to the college admissions of�ice near Market Street in San Francisco where my 3 p.m. interview would take place.

There was plenty of time. Or so I thought.

2:30 p.m. The line of cars had barely moved. I frowned as I saw a police of�icer directing cars away from the street we needed to turn onto. No matter how often I refreshed Google Maps, it kept pointing me back to the street that was closed. Frustrated, I watched my estimated arrival time creep past 3 p.m. Knowing it would be faster, I hopped out of the car and started walking.

2:57 p.m. I was out of breath from 30 minutes of panicked walking. A few feet away, protestors holding signs with messages like “I am the pro-life generation” were walking down Market Street, an explanation for the street closures and heavy traf�ic.

Due to the Walk for Life, an anti-abortion march which draws more than 50,000 people to San Francisco each year, numerous streets in the city were partially closed on the afternoon of Jan. 26. Street closures included Howard Street and Market Street, major streets that I needed to get to my interview.

Street closures are a necessity for the safety of protestors. However, to reduce the chaos during large events such as protests, parades or festivals, cities like San Francisco must develop better systems of communication with residents, visitors and web mapping systems like Google Maps.

Luckily, I made it on time to my interview, but what about those who couldn’t just jump out of their cars?

That day, when my car reached the intersection where the street was closed, there was only one police of�icer preventing drivers from turning onto the street and a sign stating that the street was closed; nothing provided suggestions for alternate routes. A simple solution to many drivers’ headaches would have been signs indicating possible detours.

Additionally, until I was met face to face with the protestors, I had no idea about the reason behind all the chaos. With the advanced technology at our �ingertips today, cities should develop alerts that can be sent to smartphones of users within city boundaries when a disruptive event is happening. Alerts would detail issues residents and visitors might face, such as traf�ic and street closures, and inform them on how to work around these situations.

Similarly, cities must improve communication with web mapping systems.

Even after I had driven past the original directions, Google Maps kept redirecting me to the street that was closed. I’m con�ident that cities and web mapping services in Silicon Valley, a hub of innovation, can develop better ways to communicate on events causing street closures or otherwise affecting traf�ic.

Although marches are a key aspect of American political life, it is also important for cities to realize that their residents’ lives can be signi�icantly impacted by such demonstrations. I’ve always wholeheartedly supported the freedom of assembly, but it only took me 30 nerve-wracking minutes to recognize the necessity of ways to streamline traf�ic and improve communication in the event of protests and other large events. By developing better systems of communication with residents and visitors, in addition to working with large web mapping services, cities can ensure that residents’ lives �low smoothly while protestors exercise their right to assemble.

06

OPINION

MARCH 1, 2019

Current U.S. laws fail to protect users' online privacy

07 FEATURES Staffers put meal delivery services to a taste test

BY KATIE CHEN

BY JUSTINE CHEN, NICOLE ONG, HATIM SAIFEE, AND ASHLEY SONG

B

ig Brother, the omnipotent being constantly watching those living in the dystopian world of George Orwell’s novel “1984,” may be fictional, but the novel’s premise has recently hit home amid reports of social media giant Facebook’s privacy breaches. Although Facebook has failed millions of users in the U.S. laws have also fallen short of their role in protecting citizens’ privacy. It is time that both Facebook and lawmakers are held accountable for their.

“Facebook has been irresponsible at best and reckless at worst with how it has treated its users’ information,” said Jennifer King, the Director of Consumer Privacy at Stanford Law School’s Center for Internet and Society.

“It is clear from many of the strategic choices the company made that it was focused on growth by all means necessary, without much regard to how this would affect its users, especially when third parties misused Facebook users’ data.”

In a series of investigations, the Guardian and The New York Times revealed in March 2018 that Facebook had

been providing Cambridge Analytica, a political consulting firm, with the data of millions of Facebook users without users’ consent, unearthing a massive data scandal. In 2013, nearly 300,000 users took a psychological quiz through “thisisyourdigitallife,” an app created by Cambridge Analytica academic Aleksandr Kogan, which harvested the profile data of Facebook users and their friends without their explicit permission, with Facebook’s knowledge.

In 2014, a rule change was made to limit developers’ access to user data and force developers to ask for users’ permission before giving access to said data; however, the rule change was not retroactive and therefore still left improperly acquired data in the hands of Kogan. In this incident, Facebook had a duty to acquire users’ consent before giving their data to third-parties and to maintain transparency in what they and these thirdparties were doing with said data, both of which they failed to do.

“I have a problem with the fact that [the data] was being used without people knowing, because if that floodgate is left open, then any other personal information could fall under the same umbrella,” said computer science teacher Brad Fulk.

Cambridge Analytica was again found to have meddled in people’s intellectual data acquired through Facebook, without letting Facebook users know, when promoting the campaigns of 2016 presidential candidates Ted Cruz and Donald Trump.

It was revealed in March 2018 that Facebook knew about the massive data theft and did nothing, but it did not face legal consequences in most states, with the exception of some such as California, because most states lack laws that require immediate disclosure of security breaches. Even though actions were taken through investigations, laws still need to be created to better prevent incidents like these.

“It is a significant challenge for companies to try to comply with a patchwork of dozens of state laws, which may have inconsistent, or conflicting requirements,” said Riana Pfefferkorn, the Associate Director of Surveillance and Cybersecurity at the Stanford Center for Internet and Society. “A single federal standard with a baseline of privacy protection would provide consistency both for us as individuals and for companies trying to run their businesses in compliance with the law. It's time to enact federal-level privacy legislation that will regulate how companies such as Facebook are permitted to use information about people.”

There is no telling exactly how many people in the U.S. have been affected by Facebook’s privacy violations and to what extent, but what can be said about these incidents is that technology and privacy laws in the U.S. need to be reconsidered; they must be changed to act retroactively, and regulations on data use must be tighter.

Other countries, such as those in Europe, for instance, have stricter privacy laws and regulations that the U.S. government and

lawmakers ought to emulate. For example, the European data protection law General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which took effect in May 2018, regulates the way companies store information and requires them to disclose a breach within 72 hours.

U.S. policy makers have not adopted a law akin to the GDPR. “The GDPR in Europe has raised a lot of visibility about the consequences of being reckless with customer data,” King said.

“However, we still need to see more regulation to make an effect there.”

Additionally, European privacy laws encompass one major point that U.S. laws lack: retroactivity. In February 2018, a Belgian court ordered Facebook to stop collecting users’ data after it was found to have insufficiently notified the Belgian government of its intent to do so. Not only was Facebook ordered to stop, but the company was also ordered to delete all previous data that it had collected. Had U.S. laws acted retroactively, this would have had a major impact with regards to the incidents involving Kogan and Cambridge Analytica.

“It will always be a challenge for lawmakers to regulate today for unforeseen new uses of online data that will happen tomorrow, but that does not make it not worth trying,” Pfefferkorn said.

Technology is advancing more rapidly than ever before, and it is lawmakers’ responsibility to hold companies like Facebook accountable by creating laws accordingly to protect citizens’ civil right to privacy, as countries of the EU have done. Facebook may not have been directly responsible for every one of these incidents, but it should have maintained transparency with users and asked for their consent. Additionally, as our world becomes increasingly digital, it is integral for lawmakers to protect one’s right to privacy in a platform that is becoming a necessity.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY CLAIRE CHIU

Classroom dissections cut across ethical boundaries

BY AUDREY WONG

I

t may seem like there is no such thing as “too far” when it comes to providing learning tools for students. Dissections, however, may tread that line. Dissections allow students to engage in hands-on learning, helping them visualize organs and body parts more effectively, as well as see whether a career in science is right for them. Nevertheless, students and teachers should consider the ethical consequences of dissections, especially regarding animal welfare.

At Lynbrook, physiology teacher Jason Lee tries to give his students as many academic opportunities as he can by incorporating dissections into his lessons.

“Here at school, I am thinking about my students’ education and the course in terms of opportunity and knowledge, and there is currently nothing that can replace [dissections] that is economically feasible,” Lee said. “It’s not to say that ethics of animals and knowledge and experience for students are mutually exclusive.”

Like Lee, many of the students feel that dissections are educational; however, students must also be aware of the how the animals are obtained.

“I think dissections are cruel at times, but they are very helpful and bene�icial to learning since they are an application of what we are learning in class,” said senior Sandy Matsuda.

According to Last Chance for Animals, an animal advocacy non-pro�it organization, six million animals such as cats, dogs, fetal pigs and frogs are killed for dissections or other educational purposes every year in the U.S. Many of these animals come from various sources, such as slaughterhouses, animals shelters, farms and breeders and are then sold to biological supply companies, from which educators may purchase specimens. Specimens are also products of industries like the food industry or come from laboratories

where they have been used as experimental subjects.

On farms, animals are often subjected to inhumane conditions. According to the Socially Responsible Agricultural Project, farm animals are forced to live on concrete in their own excrement. They are unable to access fresh air or natural light. In addition to being con�ined to tight living spaces, animals may face painful practices such as tail docking, dehorning and debeaking without anesthesia or pain relief.

The demands of animal production further lead breeders to force animals to continuously produce offspring, causing strain on their bodies and a higher death rate of these animals.

According to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), some suppliers violated the Animal Welfare Act, a law regulating the treatment of animals in research and requires that the minimum standard of care and treatment be provided for animals bred for commercial and research use. These violations include removing animals from gas chambers and injecting them with formaldehyde without checking them for vital signs. Formaldehyde, a chemical used by several companies for the preservation of specimens to be dissected, is an irritating caustic chemical that causes painful death for animals. Formaldehyde should only be injected after death; injecting the chemical into animals before they have died causes animals to suffer.

In addition to harming animals, dissections pose health risks to students. Formaldehyde has been identi�ied as a

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY KAVYA IYER

possible carcinogen, meaning that it can cause throat and lung cancer. According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, formaldehyde has been reported to cause drowsiness, headaches and irritation of the eyes, throat and nose.

In order to attain the same bene�its that dissections provide while protecting both students' health and the environment, teachers can look to virtual dissections and online simulations and labs. The Whole Frog Project, which offers virtual frog dissections, is one such alternative. The Whole Frog Project allows students to have an overview of what a dissected frog looks like along with the locations of each organ. Other virtual dissections, such as The Cow Eye Dissection, list out each step of a dissection, as well as a video for each step. There is the possibility that dissections can be replaced by virtual reality if such technology becomes more accessible, since it is currently still too costly to have virtual reality available at school. With technology continuously developing, it is quite possible that virtual reality will become a viable option in the future.

“It would be awesome to have virtual reality, but the one limiting factor is that it is still fairly early. I think it is de�initely the route we want to go on eventually,” Lee said.

Although students are able to gain hands-on experiences that are currently unattainable with virtual reality and online simulations, there are many negative consequences to dissections.

Until virtual reality becomes more viable, providing more online simulations to replace certain dissections may lower the risks that students face and decrease the use of laboratory specimens.

While dissections are an important learning tool, they are not worth sacri�icing the lives of millions of animals and the health of our students when safer alternatives such as online simulations are available.

LYNBROOK HIGH SCHOOL | THE EPIC

lhsepic.com

Chicken Shepherd’s Pie

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Spanish pisto con huevos

HATIM SAIFEE — EPIC

HATIM SAIFEE — EPIC

Hatim Saifee: When I prepare a me al, I make something I already know how to Basket, I was hesitan cook. So, when we we t, and, being the perfe re told to choose a rec ctionist that I am, a litt I was concerned abou ipe from Sun le scared the meal wo t freshness, but they uldn’t turn out how it were all individually prepared ingredients loo ked online. pa cka ged and had retained also enabled us to coo their freshness well. Th k quickly. We then pu �irst problem arose. Th t the vegetables into e pree recipe called for the a skillet to fry, and thi squash to follow the eg the eggplant started ge s is where the gplant, but the forme tting overcooked and r took much longer to mushy.

After seasoning and pre soften while paring the base, we ad ded four eggs into the with one hand, we we re able to get the eggs dish. Thanks to Nicole in without creating a ’s expertise in cracking our pisto con huevos mess. A couple minutes eggs was ready! later, the eggs were all Next on the list: garlic cooked, and bread. After slicing the bread in half and garnis for about 15 minutes . Unfortunately, the bre hing it with olive oil an ad didn’t bake like we d garlic pieces, we let garlic bread with our it bake expected, so we weren meal. Nonetheless, the ’t able to fully enjoy som meal was incredibly tas I can say that Sun Baske e de licious ty, an d I cou t does not compromi ldn’t resist but grabb ASHLEY SONG — EPIC se its freshness, ease ing another serving! cook these meals, wh of access and taste. Th ich makes it a great op ere is tio mi n nim for making food easy to coo new chefs. Although al effort required to I appreciate that Sun k, I personally would Basket ful�ills its missi not recommend meal Nicole Ong: delivery services for on of daily meals.

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GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY FEATURES SECTION

08

FEATURES

MARCH 1, 2019

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY FEATURES SECTION

Boy and Girl Scouts: more than cookies and camping

W

BY ANUSHA KOTHARI hen most people hear “Girl Scouts,” they immediately relate the phrase to Thin Mints and Samoas, and when “Boy Scouts” is mentioned, they think of survival skills and �lag raising ceremonies. However, being a Boy or Girl Scout involves more than just cookie-selling and building �ires. Read on to learn about the scouting experiences of senior Katie Patton and sophomore Alden Gu.

S

enior Katie Patton joined Girl Scouts 13 years ago, when she became an original member of a troop created by her best friend’s mom. Patton was excited to join because the troop consisted of all of her close friends, and she looked forward to their meetings on Fridays after school. Now, since her troop members are all in high school, they do not have time to meet as often. Nevertheless, Patton’s troop, which consists of about 20 girls, meets every two weeks, and she thoroughly enjoys their time together.

“Girl Scouts is like a sport or a club: you develop a bond with the people that are in your troop,” Patton said. “My troop is like my family. They are my motivation to continue [participating in Girl Scouts].”

For Patton, Girl Scouts has been an especially valuable experience because of the lifelong practical skills that it has taught her. For example, since Patton was eight years old, she has been selling cookies, and through this experience, she has not only learned about �inances and marketing, but she has also gotten used to working with adults.

“I think if I didn’t join Girl Scouts and if I didn’t have that exposure of dealing with adults, marketing and setting up times that we could go sell at Safeway, then I’d be a completely different person,” Patton said. “I can con�idently say that I am more KATIE PATTON PATRICIA WEI — EPIC comfortable communicating with others because of Girl Scouts.”

Being a Girl Scout has also given Patton the opportunity to develop more tangible skills while earning various badges. At the beginning of her Girl Scouts journey, Patton was given a handbook �illed with about 50 different badges that she could earn upon developing skills that range from sportsmanship and woodworking to cooking and sewing.

“Badges are an encouragement to try to develop and learn new skills,” Patton said. “For example, if there’s a sewing a badge and you’ve never tried sewing, there are steps given to you to try to learn how to sew, and that’s a new skill that you’ve learned.”

One of the badges Patton has is for woodworking, which she earned through completing her Silver Award project. Patton, along with two girls from her troop, built a bench for a homeless shelter. In order to build the bench, Patton learned how to use a drill and a hammer, but more importantly, the project helped the parents at the homeless shelter because they no longer had to sit on a broken bench while watching their kids on the playground. Patton also made and donated 30 blankets to the shelter. “[Doing my Silver Award] project was really cool because it was the �irst one that I had done that had sustainability,” Patton said.

Overall, Girl Scouts has been a super fun and enlightening experience for Patton. It has helped her grow as an individual by enabling her to comfortably approach adults and teaching her basic skills such as using a hammer and drill.

S

ophomore Alden Gu joined Boy Scouts about 10 years ago. Seeing friends at weekly scout meetings and going on monthly campouts have encouraged Gu to continue his participation throughout high school. In elementary school, Gu was a Cub Scout. Cub Scout activities are primarily adult-led, including community service projects and camping trips. When his troop, Troop 400, of�icially became Boy Scouts in middle school, the boys became more independent and began to plan their own activities.

Each summer, Gu’s troop camps at a Scout Reservation. Throughout their week-long stay, the boys earn merit badges by completing Boy Scout activities, which can range from �ishing and boating, to biking and rock climbing.

“One of my most memorable experiences as a Boy Scout was going zip lining because it was one of the more unique activities,” Gu said. “We planned that as one part of a campout in seventh grade.”

The Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico is arguably the most popular camping location, and Boy Scouts from all over the country travel there to complete a two-week backpacking trip. Going there is so sought-after that troops have to go through a lottery process to get a spot.

ALDEN GU “[Camping at Philmont Scout Ranch] is like the pinnacle of being a Boy Scout,” Gu said. “I’ve never been there personally, but DHRITI IYER — EPIC I would love to go.”

Beside providing Gu with outdoor experiences, Boy Scouts has also given him opportunities to develop as a leader. Last year, as a freshman, Gu was elected as his troop’s Senior Patrol Leader. During his six-month term, Gu’s primary agenda item was to change how his troop raised money for their campouts. Although Boy Scouts typically participate in popcorn fundraisers every fall, the 50 boys in his troop only raised about $1000, which is a relatively low amount compared to that raised by other troops, due to lack of motivation among the boys. Because the popcorn fundraiser was not as fruitful as hoped, most of the troop’s activities were funded by the troop members’ parents. This frustrated Gu because he felt that his troop members should be raising the money themselves and were too dependent on their parents. In order to increase his troop members’ participation in fundraisers, Gu encouraged his troop to try something different: a cookie-dough fundraiser. The boys were excited to sell cookie-dough instead of popcorn and were considerably more active in selling than before.

“Although we were not that successful in raising money and raised only $350 compared to the $1000 we earn by selling popcorn, my main goal was to make my troop more self-reliant,“ Gu said.“I think [the cookie-dough] fundraiser did that.”

Gu’s term as Senior Patrol Leader is over, but he will still plan campouts and service projects in an effort to continue developing his leadership skills. Currently, he and sophomore Joseph Zhang are organizing a seven-day trip to Yosemite during the summer, during which the troop will bike 55 miles. Eventually, Gu plans to lead a service project in an effort to obtain the highest rank achievable by Boy Scouts: an Eagle Scout.

How to make your spring cleaning a breeze this year

BY MEDHA UPADHYAY

I

t is that time of year again! Birds are chirping, �lowers are blooming and your parents are on your case to clean your room once again. With spring right around the corner, spring cleaning fever will likely be taking over your home soon. Springing into cleaning mode can be dif�icult, but follow these easy steps to make spring cleaning a breeze and start off the season with a fresh start.

1. Declutter The �irst step is to get rid of items that are not needed; if something has not been used in the past year, consider getting rid of it. These items can be thrown away or donated. Toys or books can also be given to younger siblings or friends.

Alternatively, online platforms such as eBay and Letgo make it easy to sell items in good condition! A post on social media or even a garage sale are other ways to sell items that are not being used regularly. If an item holds sentimental value though, upcycling is an option. Old T-shirts can be turned into quilts and old comic books can be framed for decoration. The DIY world can be daunting, but YouTube channels such as LaurDIY can serve as inspiration.

2. Reorganize Once the junk has been rooted out, it is time to �ind the best way to store everything. For a clean, organized look, store items in boxes or containers. Use labels that are easily visible from the outside so that there is no confusion about where things are stored. Grouping items that are frequently used together will make it easier to �ind things in a hurry and limit the mess created. For example, store socks near shoes to save time while getting ready. Over-the-door hooks and compact containers that can easily slip under beds can help keep things off the �loor and cut down on chaos. Additionally, whenever possible, mount items on the wall. Artwork and photos can crowd your desk or nightstand space; on the wall, these can double as decorations.

3. Disinfect When everything is in the right place, take some time to fully disinfect your space. Start off with basic steps like vacuuming, sweeping and dusting, but make sure to get in every nook and cranny! Harboring dust and dirt in living spaces can lead to illness over time, and bugs and insects can take over your home if you do not give it a deep clean every once in a while. This is the perfect time to scrub the spots that usually get skipped: windows, ceiling corners, doorknobs and even light �ixtures could all use a good wipe down.

Rugs need to be shampooed, and curtains and pillow covers need to be washed. But take care to check the washing instructions for your particular products before throwing them in the laundry!

4. Pace yourself While it is easy to get caught up in cleaning your home, be sure to break the work into manageable chunks. Attempting to do everything at once is more likely to lead to a mess or a haphazard job at best. Cleaning can be laborious work, so it is best to set aside enough time to get everything done at a reasonable pace. Consider splitting work over the course of several days in order to keep the momentum rolling.

For example, one day could be set aside for sorting old papers, another could be for labelling boxes, another could be for organizing shoes and so on. Doing a bit of the work every day will make the project seem more manageable, and set up something to look forward to every day.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY FEATURES SECTION

MARCH 1, 2019

FEATURES

09

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IN-DEPTH

LYNBROOK HIGH SCHOOL | THE EPIC

“It’s freezing. So much for global warming.”

The common misconceptions about the signs of climate change

BY MELISSA CHEN AND ARUL GNANASIVAM

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Detroit, the low was -13 degrees Fa h re n h e i t ; and in Minnesota, temperatures reached a chilling -56 degrees Fahrenheit.

Lake Michigan completely froze over, and blackouts hit the majority of the East Coast. According to Time magazine, 21 people died from the freezing temperatures.

In addition to creating life-threatening conditions, extreme cold weather can have effects on the nation’s economy.

According to Forbes, the nation’s Gross Domestic Product dropped by almost 2.9 percent in the �irst quarter of 2014, the same time the last recent polar vortex occurred. Freezing temperatures caused a major decrease in airline revenue due to cancelled �lights. Many employees were unable to attend their jobs as well due to the extreme weather conditions. All these factors reduced the productivity of businesses, causing a nationwide drop in the economy.

The polar vortex, as cold as it is, is an indirect byproduct of global warming. A polar vortex is not a storm, but rather a low-pressure system of circulating cold air that is usually contained in the Arctic, where its course begins. When the system of air is disturbed, warm air will

move to the Arctic, and the cold air of the polar vortex will travel south, lowering t e m p e ra t u re s sharply in countries such as the U.S. Warm air, a product of global warming, pushes the colder air down toward the U.S., causing a polar vortex.

Other cold and wet weather events are also a byproduct of global warming. Not only can global warming amplify rainfall and cold weather, but also it can greatly increase the strength of hurricanes around the U.S. According to Environmental Research Letters, climate change boosted 2017’s Hurricane Harvey’s rainfall by almost 15 percent in comparison to a standard hurricane from the 1950s. As global temperatures climb, scientists expect bigger and more powerful hurricanes to hit the coasts.

In the Bay Area, scientists expect to see drier weather in the future as a result of climate change.

“We are seeing the impacts of climate change in California right now — more wild�ires, more extreme weather, warmer summers, longer droughts,” said Eugene Cordero, a meteorology and GR

hen people think of global warming, rapidly melting glaciers may come to mind. What does not come to mind is the polar vortex that hit the Midwest and East Coast of the U.S. with subzero temperatures this January. Though some may see this event as evidence against climate change, the low temperatures are paradoxically a result of global warming.

A common explanation for global warming is that greenhouse gases such as carbon emissions from cars combine with Earth’s atmosphere, allowing light to pass through but trapping heat, causing a long-term rise in global temperatures. Melting ice caps cause an increase in rain and sea level and potential �looding in certain cities such as Miami Beach and San Francisco. According to the New York Times, coastal structures could be underwater by as soon as year 2100, given the rate at which the temperature is rising.

Climate change, though often used interchangeably with the term “global warming,” actually has a slightly different meaning. Climate change has been occurring for thousands of years; the Earth’s climate has always been evolving, from its uninhabitable start as a new planet to the more familiar landscape of today’s world.

Global warming, on the other hand, is generally used only to describe the average rise in global temperatures, particularly that which is caused by humans.

“Global warming is the rise in temperature overall,” said junior Chap Lum Lau, president of the Conservation Action Association.

“But climate change is the dramatic changes in the weather, including changes in the environment.”

Unusual and unpredictable weather such as heat waves, droughts and heavy downpours are all instances of climate change.

The most recent example of climate change, however, was not hot or rainy weather — it was the polar vortex.

This year in Chicago, -21 degrees Fahrenheit was the lowest recorded temperature during this period; in

climate science professor at San Jose State University. “We expect this will all intensify.”

Both national and individual efforts can make a difference in the wake of this growing problem.

Contributions individuals can make include recycling more, taking public transport, being more mindful about creating waste and participating in political advocacy.

“Make [climate change] an issue that is central to the political scene,” said senior Hansen Lillemark, vice president of the Hiking and Environmental Impact Club. “If the American public starts showing that they care about it a lot, political candidates will have to start making a difference.”

Politics and climate change are closely linked. The Kyoto Protocol was a treaty signed in 1997 by 192 countries in an international effort aimed to lower greenhouse gas emissions. France is one foreign country that has actively sought to combat climate change, having established acts and plans to increase energy ef�iciency and reduce harmful emissions.

“Legislation can touch the spots that individual action can’t,” said chemistry teacher Jessica Lu. “It can get industries to change. A lot of the time, the biggest producers of greenhouse gases are factories and industry.”

Members of the Democratic Party are currently laying down the goals and plans for a group of new programs called the New Green Deal, which aims to target climate change.

Discussion has been centering around climate change for years. The polar vortex is yet another natural disaster signalling the growth of climate change, though it does not signify a lack of substantial effort toward stopping climate change. It takes time to make visible progress.

“A little change goes a long way,” said junior Sarah Li, vice president of the Conservation Action Association.

“It’s not something we can �ix instantly.”

The polar vortex of 2019 should, however, be a reminder that climate change is nevertheless a problem.

The Earth is constantly changing, and the way people address this issue must likewise continue evolving.

IN-DEPTH

MARCH 1, 2019

11

The rationality behind superstitious beliefs

BY DHRITI IYER AND ALISHA NAIDU

D

o not let a black cat cross your path, do not walk under ladders, do not use the number 13 — many have grown up hearing these superstitions. While these beliefs may not sound believable or even rational, superstitions can impact the outcomes of certain events.

Superstitions originate from the belief, without scienti�ic basis, in a connection between two unrelated events. Based on a Gallup News poll, 25 percent of Americans believe in superstitions, which can create an illusion of control and alleviate anxiety in uncertain situations. According to the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, superstitions provide individuals with a sense of security and safety by providing seemingly believable explanations for why negative situations take place, which is why the general population’s belief in superstitions tends to increase in emergency situations.

“In ancient times, people had little understanding of the world, so they established gods, demons and magical ideas to explain why things happened,” said Dr. Stuart Vyse, a behavioral scientist with an expertise in superstitions. “Superstitions originated in an effort to control the future, and although we have greater understanding today, we still cannot guarantee outcomes.”

Superstitions are generally based on cultural traditions and upbringing rather than a conscious decision to believe. Knocking on wood, which is commonly practiced today when trying to stave off bad luck, evolved from the Pagan tradition of knocking on trees, which people believed to be the homes of fairies, to request good luck or distract evil spirits. Another superstition is the Indian

custom of not cutting hair or nails after 6 p.m., which originated from a time when electricity did not exist and cleaning up in the dark was a hassle. This practice was passed down generations and is still prevalent today though it is no longer relevant to society.

Such beliefs have persisted because they are so deeply ingrained into culture and have been introduced to people at a young age.

“I started hearing about these superstitions when I was young, when my parents told me not to do certain things such as cut my hair at night and not to turn back as we left someone’s house,” said sophomore Malavika Nair. “I don’t really believe in them; usually, I don’t give them much thought.”

According to Vyse, when superstitions are repeatedly instilled during childhood, breaking them can create feelings of discomfort or anxiety, to the point where simply following the superstition is the easier option despite the fact that there may be an actual scienti�ic explanation behind an event.

“This usually results because a person has been taught a superstition, such as Friday the 13th, and just knowing the superstition creates its own anxiety,” Vyse said. “We have been taught a fear. Once we are older, logic may tell us that it makes no sense, but we still have a lingering emotional response. People often say, ‘I know it is silly, but I just don’t want to take a chance.’”

The in�luence of

superstitions can be seen in sports teams, which often perform traditions before games to ensure victory. For example, the Lynbrook �ield hockey team performs several pre-game rituals for good luck, including wearing bear scares and tapping Stober Rock. Bear scares are bracelets the players wear on their left wrists, in order to ward away evil spirits and bring good luck. Another tradition the players follow prior to playing a home game is to hit Stober Rock. This serves as a tribute to Sandy Stober, the founder of �ield hockey at Lynbrook, and is viewed as a form of good luck.

“A lot of these traditions are key to making sure that we feel prepared

before a game,” said junior Amanda Zhu, a �ield hockey player. “They also unite us because they’re something that all of are dedicated to upholding.”

Superstitions may vary, but they are deeply rooted in culture. While they may lack scienti�ic backing, what they have is the ability to inspire hope in their believers, and often, that can make all the difference.

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10

A look at why people buy into conspiracy theories

BY NOELA BAE AND KAVYA IYER

I

n the days following 9/11, many Americans were quick to blame Al Qaeda and af�iliated terrorist groups for carrying out suicide attacks that devastated the nation. Others censured the Bush administration. On the other hand, “truthers,” better known as conspiracy theorists, believe the destruction of the World Trade Center was an inside job orchestrated entirely by the federal government to justify the subsequent wars it later waged in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Such speculation is just one example of the many widely believed conspiracy theories today.

That global warming is a hoax or that NASA faked the moon landing are other popular conspiracy theories. Although these theories all tackle different subjects, a common thread throughout each is that they take on a cynical stance of the world. In fact, according to Scienti�ic American, certain traits such as suspicion and mistrust, especially of authority, have been linked to those who entertain conspiracy theories.

“Some people that are obsessed with conspiracy theories are not comfortable with the world as it is presented to them, so they try to �ind an alternative that �its the way they want to see the world,” said Jesus Jimenez, the Educational Opportunity Program

Coordinator at San Jose State University.

Despite how infrequently these issues are discussed, belief in conspiracy theories is fairly widespread, with as much as 63 percent of registered American voters believing in at least one political conspiracy theory, according to The New York Times. By and large, people gravitate toward conspiracy theories that af�irm their political views. Democrats are more likely to believe that Trump colluded with Russia during his campaign, while Republicans are more likely to believe that climate change is a hoax and that Obama was not born in the U.S., a conspiracy also known as the Obama “birther” theory.

In recent years, not only have new conspiracy theories emerged, but also they have been receiving more coverage and attention online.

“I got into conspiracy theories mostly because I found them interesting to read, and they offered a cool, new perspective on the way I view things,” said sophomore Amanda Song. “The creativity that goes into coming up with them is fascinating to me.”

Instagram accounts that are speci�ically designed to share conspiracy theories have been on the rise, some with as many as 2 million followers. Some YouTubers, such as Shane Dawson, have chosen to dedicate parts

of their channels to expounding conspiracy theories.

“I enjoy watching [Dawson’s] videos because the content relates to things that have a large in�luence in our lives, such as the conspiracy theory of Apple recording everything from our phones,” senior Ishika Kamchetty said.

While following or believing in conspiracy theories provides the bene�it of questioning one’s surroundings and viewing things from new perspectives, mere exposure to the theories can lead people to become disengaged from pressing political and social issues. For instance, the Scienti�ic American reports that those who were told that global warming is a hoax were more reluctant to implement behavioral changes such as reducing their carbon footprint.

From the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines �light MH370 to the formula Coca-Cola uses in its drinks, a vast range of conspiracy theories can provide explanations to unanswered questions. Conspiracy theories allow individuals to see the world in a new light and explore new perspectives. At the same time, they may perpetuate cynicism and restore a false sense of certainty and control in a tumultuous, unpredictable world.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY CHRISTY YU AND JONATHAN YE

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IN-DEPTH

MARCH 1, 2019

13 SPORTS Bailey Gong fights for a spot on national kung fu team LYNBROOK HIGH SCHOOL | THE EPIC

BY CHRISTY YU

S

ophomore Bailey Gong was just eight years old when his friend, senior Brian Chou, suggested that he try out martial arts. Little did Gong know then that kung fu and wushu, a more advanced type of Chinese kung fu, would later become his specialty and passion. “[Martial arts] is actually one of the things I am good at,” Gong said. “I was never really good at sports like basketball and soccer, so I stuck with kung fu.”

Gong �irst started martial arts by taking classes with friends like Chou, but his passion truly started to develop when he realized his potential in kung fu. Gong’s love for the sport is what continues to drive his motivation to pursue martial arts.

Gong often wins �irst place awards in multiple popular local tournaments. Martial arts tournaments, in which contestants compete within similar age groups and experience level, involve competitors performing three forms in front of different judges. The judges will then give scores up to 10; 8.0 to 9.0 is an average score, whereas 9.0 and above is considered exceptional. The contestant’s �inal score is the average of all three scores.

Gong also competes nationally; in April 2018, he placed seventh in a national competition in Texas. While he is pleased with placing seventh, he hopes to improve, as an individual must place at least sixth place to become a substitute for the USA national team. This year, Gong’s goal is to qualify for the USA national team.

Of course, this ambition would not be achievable without effort supplemented by hours of hard work and determination.

With one and a half to three-hour practices, four days a week, Gong faces many physical challenges in his martial arts training.

Throughout these rigorous training sessions, he has bruised his legs, blistered his hands and even pulled his muscles: injuries that can take weeks to fully recover from. These injuries can sometimes hinder his motivation

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to practice do well in kung fu.

Gong also faces many mental challenges in martial arts. Sometimes, he gets discouraged from how painful conditioning can be for him and from little mistakes that can cause him to drop in ranks during competitions. At the high level of competition he participates in, Gong �inds it dif�icult to win against the opponents who practice every day. These competitors are more experienced and their skills often improve quickly, which makes catching up and bypassing them very dif�icult. Still, Gong’s perseverance propels him to continue practicing.

“Many times, I thought ‘I can't do this, I want to quit,’” Gong said. “But still, I �ight through it.”

Although these physical injuries and mental challenges can often be discouraging to Gong, his shifus — the Chinese term for teachers — and his friends always motivate him through moments of hardship. In particular, Gong's friends inspire each other to work harder by competing, challenging and encouraging each other to be the best they can be.

“Bailey always lightens up the mood and makes training more fun and cheerful,” said Andrew Xi, a junior at Irvington High School and one of Gong’s teammates. “He is also a hard worker who often in�luences us to train even harder.”

Gong's favorite part of participating in martial arts is interacting with his friends during practices. His team has a close bond and cherishes many moments together, helping and motivating each other along the way.

“There are times in class where one of us makes a mistake, and we're all laughing about it, but we're all still trying to help each other get better,” Gong said.

Gong's years of grit and perseverance have made him both physically and mentally stronger. As Gong’s skills improve throughout his journey in martial arts, the bonds he has made grow with them. Most importantly, Gong has come to understand the importance of dedication.

AUDREY WONG AND DIANA XU — EPIC

Bailey's favorite martial arts moves AERIAL

The Aerial Cartwheel or Side Aerial is an acrobatic move in which a cartwheel is executed without using your arms.

BACK SWEEP

The Back Sweep is a stationary move where you kick your right leg back with your right foot always in contact with the ground, spinning about 360 degrees to “sweep” and trip anyone around.

JUMP FRONT KICK The Jump Front Kick requires a

small running start of no more than four steps. Lift your left leg up and jump into a kick with your right leg. The tricky part is that you also land with your right leg, so you have to kick fast.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATIONS BY SPORTS SECTION

SRINIDHI SESHADRI// IN MY OPINION

To quit, or not to quit

W

hy was I hesitant to rejoin the badminton team for my fourth and �inal season? I had made the effort to get my physical done ahead of time. I had spent an afternoon taking the baseline concussion test. I had been cleared by the trainer to play a spring sport. Deciding whether or not to go back to the team should have been a no-brainer, but the various disadvantages to playing a sport during the second semester of my senior year plagued my mind.

At the end of last year’s season, I had no doubt that I would be returning to the team the following year. The season during my junior year was probably the most successful, both personally and with the team. I had a season brimming with no personal losses, and JV had won the league championship. I had planned to spend the summer training and preparing for a season on varsity that would be comparably successful.

However, soon after college application season began, I realized I did not have the time to train like I had wanted. In addition to my own lack of training that would hold me down as a player on varsity badminton, several Central Coast Section (CCS) winning players had graduated, creating concern that the team would not fare as well as it had during the previous season.

The large time commitment required to play the sport was another large factor that made the decision harder to make. Varsity practices would start later in the evening rather than immediately after school as JV practices did, a change in my schedule that I was not used to. Not only would I be wasting time traveling from school to home and back, but my physical exhaustion later in the evening would also prevent me from using practice time ef�iciently.

Additionally, as a second semester senior

without the burden of college applications, I wanted to maximize the amount of time I spent with my friends outside of school; however, playing a sport would require me to give up a large portion of this time for practices and matches.

My lack of experience playing at a higher level, since I played on JV all three years prior to senior year, paired with the extensive time commitment of playing an afterschool sport, prompted my uncertainty about returning to the team. I soon realized, once I spoke to other senior teammates who were in the same boat, that the hesitancy that I felt wasn’t unique to just me. We all wanted our high school badminton careers to end on a high note. Quitting at this point would guarantee that, since our �inal season on the team, during junior year, would have been extremely successful and memorable.

After multiple days of indecision, I decided that I would go to one of the open gyms that our coach held before the of�icial tryouts. Playing with some of my teammates during the open gym reminded me of why I loved being a part of the team.

Time �lies when you’re having fun, and this couldn’t be more true when I play badminton with the team that I’ve grown so close to.

Game days, which can last up to four hours, don’t feel as long as they are, especially since

most of my time is spent playing games and cheering for my teammates.

Over the past few years, I’ve made friendships with people that I otherwise would never have met. I have formed an extended family with my teammates, both younger and older. Not only does rejoining the team allow me to spend more time with some of my closest friends, but it also gives me a space to relieve stress, relax and get back into shape.

From grinding away at practices to exploring other high schools’ campuses during matches, the memories I have shared with my teammates are innumerable. The bond that we’ve built over hours and hours of practices and games together is truly one of a kind. While it may seem silly to some that my decision to come back to the team was largely based on sentimental reasons, it is my teammates who truly make the team so special to me.

Although the season has only recently begun, I am already so glad that I decided to return to the team. The relationships I have built with my teammates and the memories created at practices and games greatly outweigh the possibldrawbacks of playing an after-school sport. With the next few months being my last on the badminton team, I look forward to making this my best season yet.

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SPORTS

MARCH 1, 2019

Sports in Brief Girls basketball shooting higher than ever Total

Total

WINS

As of:

43

03/01

LOSSES

29

Freshman PE: The classes had a modernstyle dance unit in January.

Letterman Jackets: There was a �itting event to buy the jackets. on Feb. 7, and jackets will be delivered in early March.

WINTER SPORTS Team: Boys Varsity Basketball Girls Varsity Basketball Boys Varsity Soccer Girls Varsity Soccer

Record: 3-21 22-5 11-6-2 7-11-1

Highlights of the Season

Girls Varsity Basketball: The team �inished second in Central Coast Section (CCS) Division II, and made it to the 2019 CIF State Girls Basketball Division III Northern California Regionals playoffs.

Boys Varsity Wrestling: Lynbrook hosted the SCVAL Wrestling Finals on Feb. 9.

Senior Mark Blackburn and sophomores Pranav Chittharanjan, David Heydinger and Alex Ramirez quali�ied for the 2019 CCS Championship Tournament.

BY SUNNY LI

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he varsity girls basketball team scored more than double the points than their opponents, Homestead High School, in its last game within the El Camino Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League (SCVAL), securing the title of league champions and remaining undefeated in the SCVAL. They headed to Central Coast Section Division II playoffs ranked fourth and advanced to the �inal championship game, where they lost to Aragon High School 53-48.

However, the team was able to defeat Wilcox High School, ranked �irst in the division, with a score of 49-48 in a close semi�inal game. As a result, they advanced to CIF State Division III Regional playoffs as fourteenth place in the state.

The players attribute their success to teamwork and commitment, as they complement each other’s strengths and weaknesses. The team spent about 12 hours a week together, and as a result, the girls have become close with each other on and

off the court.

“We had a really good group that bought in,” said coach Lynley Takaki. “The girls were more committed this year and everyone understood their role from the beginning.”

As co-league champions last year, the team made it their goal this year to further improve and claim a sole title to the league championship.

“The pressure as co-league champions for the previous varsity team members and the coach has put pressure on the new incoming varsity members like my friends and me,” said junior Allison Li. “They expect more from us, so we have to work our hardest to achieve this goal.”

The team faced various obstacles on their path to success, but they were able to overcome them through hard work. One dif�iculty was the players’ smaller statures.

In previous years, Lynbrook had taller players. This year, the team had to work on rebounding, retrieving a ball after a missed �ield goal or free throw, and they also employed various other strategies during

games in order to compensate.

“When we're going against other teams that are taller and bigger when the ball gets to the post, it's tough to block them or stop them, so we have to double up someone and leave another player undefended,” said senior and captain Kavitha Thirumaran. “We have to be smarter about it because of the height differences.”

During practices, the team also focuses on its opponents’ strategies in order to better prepare for games. The players analyze what the other teams’ plays are and �ind out who their strongest players are so they can know what to expect.

Throughout the season, the team has made many memories through spending time with each other and playing together.

“I'm really going to miss it. It's going to be tough to let go. I feel like I've really bonded with all these girls and doing what we've done so far is amazing,” said Thirumaran.

“We got to the CCS Championships this year and even though we lost, I’m proud that we made it there.”

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY SPORTS SECTION

SPRING SPORTS

Upcoming Events Badminton: 3/2 vs. Monta Vista Boys Varsity Baseball: 3/2 vs. North Salinas Boys Varsity Tennis: 3/4 vs. Fremont Track and Field: 3/5 vs. Los Gatos Boys Varsity Volleyball: 3/5 @ Westmont Girls Varsity Softball: 3/6 @ MenloAtherton Swimming: 3/8 vs. Fremont

by Anusha Kothari

JEREMY KITCHEN

AUDREY WONG — EPIC

SHOOTING THEIR WAY TO SUCCESS | Girls basketball breaks a sweat at their practice, training hard in order to play well and increase their chances of winning at each game. Their drills include shooting, passing, rebounding and scrimmaging.

O

ver the course of 15 years of teaching at Lynbrook, Kitchen — a.k.a. Kitchen Sensei — has been known for a variety of roles, including teaching Japanese, history and PE, as well as coaching track and basketball. After returning from a one-year sabbatical in Kumamoto, Japan, Kitchen has rejoined the staff as a Japanese teacher. He is now preparing to run in a 50-kilometer, or 32-mile ultramarathon on March 2.

During the week, Kitchen runs about PATRICIA WEI — EPIC three times for an hour, but on weekends, he does longer runs, which are about three to four hours long.

To Kitchen, running is meditative. His strict training schedule not only helps him improve his �itness, but also bene�its him mentally.

“Running gives me a time to be by myself, destress and process things,” Kitchen said. “I �ind that when I’m pushing myself and am physically �it, I usually feel better about the rest of my life — I’m less tired, and I have more energy.”

Training for the ultra marathon has helped Kitchen stay �it and motivated. After the marathon, Kitchen plans to run regularly, like he did before, continuing to stay healthy.

ISAAC PALLONE

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LESTER LEUNG

hen outside of the chemistry classroom, Leung is often found rock climbing at gyms or in nature.

He was introduced to the sport by a friend after graduating from college, and picked up rock climbing as a hobby that would keep him active and �it, as well as work with his busy schedule.

In addition to keeping him �it, rock climbing also provides Leung with countless special experiences to constantly look USED WITH PERMISSION OF LESTER LEUNG forward to, such as traveling to unique locations like Bishop, California.

“My wife and I are gearing up to do the Snake Dike Climb in Yosemite, either this summer or next summer,” Leung said.

Leung encourages everyone to try rock climbing, as he believes it exposes people to unique experiences and also has a rich social aspect, which is part of the rock climbing culture. “[Rock climbing] is de�initely a sport that you can do anywhere, where there are rock faces, and it allows you to travel as well,” Leung said. “Anyone can be good at rock climbing as long as they maintain their �itness.”

Viking staff works out after work

A

DIANA ALBAKER

lbaker t a k e s p a r t Teachers Jeremy Kitchen, Lester Leung, common sight in Lagree, a Isaac Pallone and Diana Albaker can be in Pallone’s combination found working out in their own unique classroom is bikes of different ways — running, rock climbing, biking at the front of the workouts, including and Lagree, respectively. room. Pallone regularly resistance training bikes as it allows him to and cardio, that involve explore and try out the many slow movement on machines bikes — including mountain and to enhance muscle and body strength.

KATIE CHEN — EPIC USED WITH PERMISSION OF DIANA ALBAKER road bikes — that he builds from scratch.

Albaker, who started this workout almost two Pallone’s normal schedule consists of years ago, now goes to a Lagree class three to biking up to four days a week. During the week, he rides from Lynbrook to Montebello, a four times a week. She enjoys both the welcoming atmosphere of the class and the warm, 25-mile loop. On weekends, he goes further, even all the way to Southern California. encouraging nature of the instructors.

“The Bay Area is the birthplace of mountain biking,” Pallone said. “Here, we have the “The instructors have helped me rede�ine what healthy is,” Albaker said. “I learned that best trails in the world. There are so many windy and back-country roads that most don't it is not about being a size zero and that I am strong and resilient. I walk away feeling know exist, and it is a really cool way to see a different part of the Bay." empowered.”

Pallone draws inspiration from older bikers, who have years of experience.

The classes, which are 45 minutes long, are short and impactful. They help Albaker “It's very inspirational when you are biking on a trail, and you get absolutely blown out dedicate time to herself and serve as an opportunity to destress as well as meet new people. by a group of people that look way older than you,” Pallone said. “To know that someday, “You are so focused when working out, and you are just trying to push through the maybe that'll be me with all my old timer friends with gray hair, it is a lot of fun to bike... movement because it hurts and it is hard,” Albaker said. “But, before class and after class, You never age out, and it's just something you get better at the longer you do it." you start seeing the same people, and you just start talking. It builds a small community.”

BY PRIYANKA ANAND

MARCH 1, 2019

SPORTS

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lhsepic.com

PHOTOESSAY

LYNBROOK HIGH SCHOOL | THE EPIC

Students’ Hidden Talents

BY ARUL GNANASIVAM

Caroline Tjoe

Ysabel Li

Used with permission of Ysabel Li

Used with permission of Caroline Tjoe

What is your talent?

In order to destress myself, I love to bake.

My dad �irst started baking for Christmas and Thanksgiving gatherings. I sort of followed his footsteps, and now I make desserts for our family gatherings. It is a wonderful activity that helps bring our families together and makes everyone happy.

Do you only make ice cream or other baked goods as well?

I make a variety of things. For example, my friend loves cookie butter, so I made cookie butter ice cream and a cookie butter cake too. The �irst thing I loved making was cupcakes, it was very small, and my friend really liked baking as well, so that was something we made a lot of for our classes.

What gave you motivation to try making ice cream?

I’ve always thought that making ice cream was cool. Our house has a lot of weird stuff in it, like a new equipment.

He had an ice cream machine that we

haven’t used in over 10 years, so I saw that in the cupboard, and thought ‘Oh I should try making that [ice cream].’” Also I really like ice cream.

How did your dad inspire you to make ice cream?

My dad’s always been a �igure that I look up to. He loves making things, building things with his hands, and he loves making things for the family, and he loves to cook as well. He would always make us lunches and desserts as well. Seeing him do that motivated me.

What’s the process of making ice cream?

There are many different types. The cookie butter ice cream for example, you’ll have make a base called crème anglaise. It’s a custard base, so it has milk, cream, egg yolks in it, and a whole bunch of sugar, and �lavoring. It depends on how you want to �lavor it, because you have to be really careful of how much water goes into it.

What is your talent?

Figure skating for me is a competitive sport that I’ve been doing since I was four years old. Now I don’t compete anymore, but we used to train everyday and compete at local, regional, and national competitions.

It includes exhibitions and learning new choreography, just like a pretty artistic and physical sport.

What clubs and organizations did you �igure skate for?

I skated for the Peninsula Skating Club at my rink which is in downtown San Jose. We’re a small club around the Bay Area that hosts a lot of �igure skaters.

What inspired you to start �igure skating in the beginning?

I started watching my brother skate at Vallco, and I wanted to try to. My mom signed me up for a group lesson, and that’s how I started off. There are 7 or 8 levels in both moves and free skate. You start at the

Zahra Batlivala

preliminary level, and once you pass you get to the senior level. Its like milestones.

What was your daily or weekly routine?

I skated mostly in middle school where in the morning I’d wake up at 5:30ish, and I’d skate for about an hour and then go to school. And then around 3 or 4 I’d go back to the rink for about 2 hours of practice.

How do you progress in �igure skating?

There are 7 or 8 levels in both moves and free skate. You start at the preliminary level, and once you pass you get to the senior level. It is like milestones.

Did you have any notable achievements during your career?

There was one competition I did at the pre juvenile level where I got �irst place.

That was at the time my body was still growing and it was really hard to adjust to the moves. Another achievement was �inishing all my tests. It’s a good feeling of closure to the sport.

Used with permission of Zahra Batlivala

What is your talent?

I’m not really like a business or anything, but some friends have asked and I make cakes for birthdays and special events.

I’ve taken a few orders.

When did you start baking cakes?

I’ve been baking for pretty much my whole life, but I made my �irst big cake

when I was in 8th grade.

Was there anything that inspired you to start making cakes?

I’ve always loved watching baking shows, and honestly I just love baking.

How long does it take to make one of your bigger cakes?

It takes me a few days usually. Probably around two days, but full days. I need one day to bake it, and then I need time to cool it and decorate it, and add all the little details and stuff. It takes a while.

What is one of your favorite cakes that you’ve baked?

I made a Moana cake for a girl’s birthday,

and it was really fun. There were a lot of little details and stuff.

How much do they usually cost?

I try to make them really customized, so whatever the person wants I’ll do that.

The one that I did for the girl’s birthday, I think she paid 150 dollars or so.