The Epitaph, Volume 59, Issue 5, 2021-2022 by The Epitaph

The Epitaph RUSSIA AND UKRAINE CONFLICT EXPLAINED The conflict can be tied to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ambition to expand Russia’s power by controlling Ukraine. Additionally, Putin has sought to subvert the will of organizations like the EU and NATO, whom he sees as opposers to Russia, according to CNN.

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President Vladimir Putin

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The U.S. has assisted Ukraine by authorizing $350 million in aid two days after the invasion, according to CNN. Additionally, the U.S. has banned Russian planes from its airspace and imposed sanctions, according to Al Jazeera.

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President Joe Biden

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Feb 24 Ukraine is invaded by Russia Photo courtesy of Wikipedia Commons

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia Commons

President Volodymyr Zelensky

After coming to fame as a comedian, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was elected in 2019 by a landslide. During Russia’s invasion, Zelensky has drawn praise for his efforts to rally the Ukrainian people with his statements and social media posts, according to Time.

Photo courtesy of The Duran

Feb 26 Troops approach Kiev, the capital of Ukraine Feb 28 The UN condemns Russia’s invasion Share your thoughts on the RussiaUkraine conflict.

Information accurate as of Mar. 4

DISTRICT LIFTS INDOOR, OUTDOOR MASK MANDATE said even though it may take time to get used to life without masks, she is excited to be able to take off her mask. “I plan on taking off my mask. The challenge is not just about COVID, it’s about kids not understanding distancing,” she said. In contrast, English teacher Shawnee Rivera said not only will she not be removing her mask, she will also be asking her students to keep their masks on in her class due to being immunocompromised. “Part of me is relieved our world is coming back to some semblance of normalcy after what feels like 32 years of [madness],” Rivera said. “But then another part is scared because I don’t want to have to go on leave again. I’m scared that if people don’t wear their mask in my classroom, I would get sick and have to leave, or the threat of getting sick is too big that I have to leave.” Rivera said she does not expect the

school to purchase masks following the new mandate, so she bought her own masks to provide for her students. As Giglio said he suspected, some students have expressed hesitations to the new policy. Junior Gaby Salazar said she is concerned and plans on continuing to wear her mask both indoors and outdoors. “[I will wear my mask] for my own safety and my family, because I have younger siblings and a parent who worries too much when it comes to the pandemic,” Salazar said. “I feel that it’s important to have our mask to help those who cannot be vaccinated due to any health problems.” Although differing perspectives on the new masking policy will arise, Giglio said he hopes students will remain respectful of others’ decisions. “[I hope students] do not give kids a hard time if they want to wear a mask or not,” Giglio said. “It’s your choice at this point, so continue doing what is best for yourself and others.”

88% 12% of students will continue to wear a masks indoors

of students said they will stop wearing a mask indoors

of students will continue to wear a mask outdoors

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in In-Depth, page 8-9

ASB alters BOTC to increase inclusivity By Lia Klebanov Significant changes have been made to this year’s battle of the classes (BOTC) itinerary to combat student body concerns about inclusivity, ASB social manager Minnie Karki said. With the theme of media franchises, events such as trivia and drawing contests, will take place from Mar. 7 to Mar. 18 to fuel grade-level rivalry, Karki said. Powderpuff, an annual BOTC tradition, consists of girls and boys switching socially traditional “roles” through sporting events with girls playing flag football and boys cheering. However, ASB club commissioner, senior Ethan Mahimainathan said the leadership class decided to discontinue boys cheerleading to combat sexism embedded in the tradition. The term “powderpuff” was coined in 1945 when a group of girls at Eastern State Teachers College in South Dakota stepped in to play the homecoming football game after threats of cancellation since many of the players were fighting in World War II, according to Choate News.

Winter athletes play at CCS, reflect on season By Amber Birrell and Ritaja Subrahmanya

Girls basketball:

Girls varsity basketball made the CCS Division 1 championship game for the first time since their win in 2000. But, the team lost to Los Gatos High School 26-52. “I was excited knowing we’re playing Los Gatos since we already played them twice,” junior Lauren Gaela said. “I knew we were ready for the game. Unfortunately, it was an unlucky game, but the team never gave up and I’m really proud of how far we were able to make it.” Following a second place finish in CCS finals, the team still advanced to NorCal for their stellar performance of the year, where teams are divided into new divisions and play bracket style, junior Tatum Leuenberger said. The team played Oakland Technical High School March 1, but lost 43-59.

See CCS, Page 3 Photo by Madhavi Karthik

67% 33% Photo by Leila Salam

Career Paths

See BOTC REFORM, Page 3

By Naomi Baron, Joss Broward and Shreya Partha with additional reporting by Bobby Gorelick FUHSD will not require masks to be worn indoors or outdoors on campus, instead only recommending their usage starting March 11, according to a district email sent on March 1. The policy is a result of California removing indoor mask mandates for schools, instead designating the choice to individual counties. The district is following Santa Clara county protocol, which is removing their indoor mask mandates because of the declining rates of COVID-19 community transmission, according to a statement by county public health director Sara Cody. “We are fortunately hitting all those milestones,” principal Greg Giglio said. “They are saying if schools have a high rate of vaccinations and a lower rate of hospitalization, then students should be okay.” Teachers and students are faced with a decision: continue promoting wearing masks or observe the policy. English teacher Ashley Pitta

Read about

News 1 Opinion Lifestyles

of students said they will stop wearing a masks outdoors

Based on a survey of 403 responses

INSIDE 4 7

Arts & Culture Sports Spotlight

ADVOCATES PETITION: Varsity team captain, junior Tatum Leuenberger leads team against opponents.

12 14 16

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News

Friday, March 11, 2022

NEWS IN A MINUTE By Madhavi Karthik

Local:

Santa Clara County expands Mobile Crisis Response Team: After previously only serving the South County area, the Mobile Crisis Response Team of Santa Clara County will widen their reach to encompass the North County and West Valley areas, according to Patch. The program aims to support residents experiencing mental health related crises by redirecting them to resources. Residents can reach the team from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. during the week.

National:

Union workers in Puerto Rico protest for larger salaries: While Puerto Rico falls further into a state of bankruptcy, teachers among thousands of other union employees marched in protests in the capital San Juan in mid-February, according to The New York Times. Government workers staged demonstrations to call for higher pay while housing and consumer costs continue to increase. Protests have caused teachers to take leave and approximately half of

the fire departments across the island to shut down. The monthly base wage for public school teachers has remained $1,750 for 13 years. The unrest among union workers prompted the oversight board to slightly increase wages, The New York Times reported. In order for larger salaries to be established, the board said the government’s budget must be allocated toward wage expenses. In hopes of yielding more favorable results, workers continue to fight for their beliefs.

International:

Indian court amid decision to ban hijabs in school: In the Indian state of Karnataka, the state court issued a statement to ask all students to refrain from wearing religious garments at school, according to The New York Times. The court’s announcement was made as it is still processing the ruling of whether a school can ban hijabs. As students await the court’s final ruling, unrest continues among Hindu and Muslim students while protests break out.

COVID-19 archive captures community experiences By Lindsey Steel

Founded in March of 2020, the COVID-19 archive has been documenting pandemic-related experiences of students and staff by collecting community submissions of artwork, videos and other mediums. The archive is a historical record that represents a diverse range of voices and individuals impacted by the pandemic, archive supervisor, history teacher Andrea Yee said. “I had read an article in The New York Times about universities creating archives to document the pandemic, whether it was through poems people submitted or oral history pieces,” Yee said. “These pandemics happen once in a lifetime, and I wanted to document everything

so we could connect with others through our shared experiences, especially in an isolating time.” The archive initially captured experiences in the middle of the pandemic, but has evolved into encapsulating the readjustment out of the pandemic, archive team member, senior Pallavi Das said. Yee said she began the archive with a group of six AP U.S. history students at the time, with the current team now composed of juniors and seniors. “To form the team, I reached out to my students to see if they had any friends who were interested [in joining the project],” Yee said. “This year, we have a few juniors, so if we continue this into next year, then they can carry

the torch, and I’m excited about that.” The archive is an outlet for people to vocalize their experiences, and as such there are few limitations on what can be submitted, Das said. “There are so many things that qualify as acceptable entries,” Das said. “There isn’t something that one can deem right or wrong about their own perspective.” Entries can be submitted through the HHS website and are published on the archive’s website. The team has also introduced a new segment of the COVID-19 archive: the oral history project, where students and staff can share their experiences about the

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pandemic, team member, se- looking back, you’ll realize these nior Jacquelyn Cao said. The experiences are important to you project’s sessions take place and future generations, as well.” every Thursday from lunch Photo by Lindsey Steel until 4pm in the IHub. “You can record anything you want to talk about, and we may ask questions about your experience,” Cao said. “It’s a place where you have creative liberty.” Ultimately, the objective of the COVID-19 archive is to preserve unique experiences throughout the pandemic, Cao said. “Even though documenting the pandemic might not seem relevant SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE: when you’re living in the Students and staff tell stories through moment,” Cao said, “when artwork and oral history.

Spring fling preparations begin

By Saira Ahmed and Anushruti Nagarajan To celebrate the arrival of spring, the annual underclassman dance – Spring Fling – will take place in the quad and cafeteria on March 11 at 6 p.m. Freshman and sophomore class officers are in charge of organizing this dance, sophomore secretary Sarah Yun said. Unlike winter formal, this dance is semi-formal, sophomore president Grace McGoran said. Floral dresses, suits and button-ups are recommended. In order to further convey the spring theme, decorations will include floral and pastel aspects, Yun said. In addition to the dancing in the cafeteria, McGoran said the freshman and sophomore officers are planning to conduct side activities, such as games and a photo station in the quad. “We discussed karaoke, an egg hunt and something involving food,” McGoran said “We’re mostly going to focus on the dance because there were a lot of pros and cons to each activity.” To follow COVID-19 protocols, this dance will follow a hybrid model by utilizing both indoor and outdoor facilities. Mc-

Goran said the hybrid model is advantageous because it allows activities and food to be held outside, rather than interfering with the dancing indoors. Freshman vice president Kevin Fei said there will be a limit of 350 attendees due to COVID-19. The ticket sales started on Feb. 14 and cost $25 with ASB and $30 without, Fei said. These funds will go toward junior prom planning, McGoran said. “The dance will be really laid back,” Fei said. “You can bring all your friends and there is no [pressure to] bring a date. People can just look forward to having a more casual dance.” Ultimately, the dance is an outlet to get involved with the HHS community over events that are not academically related, McGoran said. “The leadership class hopes to provide underclassmen with a fun and engaging event for everyone to enjoy,” McGoran said. “Since so many freshmen and sophomores missed out on dances because of COVID-19, we want [the celebration] to be really big, especially this year.” Photos courtesy of Grace McGoran

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PREPPING THE DANCE: The class of 2024 and 2025 officers work toward getting adequate funding and decorations to make this annual event memorable for all.

PAGE DESIGN BY LINDSEY STEEL AND HARSHITHA VIJAYAKUMAR

News

Friday, March 11, 2022

Cafeteria strives to accommodate dietary needs By Karuna Chandran, Madhavi Karthik and Ritaja Subrahmanya

One of the biggest changes that has come along this year in the cafeteria is the introduction of free meals for all students. While this program has provided lunches for hundreds of students, it has been much harder to accommodate students with special food requests, FUHSD district manager for food services Divya Puri said. Additionally, principal Greg Giglio said planning an accurate ratio of vegetarian to nonvegetarian meals is difficult, especially since the number of students getting daily school meals is still increasing. At the beginning of the school year, FUHSD had allergen-specific menus including egg-free, dairy-free and gluten-free op-

tions, Puri said. With the increase in lunches, allergy friendly meals have not been a priority, which Puri said she regrets. A large part of the back“ log has been due to pandemic delays and unavailable supplies, Puri said. C u r r e n t l y, the district is able to accommodate students’ personal preferences regarding dietary restrictions only if there is medical documentation on file, Puri said. Since FUHSD is part of the National School Lunch Program – a federally assisted initiative –

schools must provide medical documentation in order to deviate from set meal guidelines. Furthermore, Puri said expanding the menu to account for all personal preferences without medical documentation would pose obstacles in service times. Junior Roopa Srinivas said she has been unable to get a vegetarian meal from the cafeteria multiple times. As a vegetarian, she said she finds the cafeteria options lacking. “I’m glad our school has a veg-

I’m glad our school has a vegetarian option, but it seems like the bare minimum. ”

- Roopa Srinivas (11)

etarian option, but it seems like the bare minimum,” Srinivas said. “In the future, I hope to see a larger quantity of vegetarian options, including fresher [and] healthier foods.” As cafeterias across the district adjust to increased student body needs, Puri said she hopes to expand menus to accommodate more dietary restrictions in the future. “Our goal is to meet the needs of our students,” Puri said. “We want to make sure we meet different kids’ needs who are vegetarian or have some kind of allergies. We are not there fully yet, but we do hope to get to a point where our menu offers a lot more of these accommodations.”

Community uplifts English teacher Steve Lavelle Lavelle said students, staff saved his life during medical emergency By Erin Loh Throughout his medical recovery process, English teacher Steve Lavelle said he has received numerous expressions of appreciation and concern from the HHS community. Lavelle said the quick actions of students and staff saved his life when he suffered cardiac arrest during tutorial Feb. 2. Now recovering, Lavelle hopes to return to teaching sometime this month. “I think they’re all miracle workers,” Lavelle said. “I’ve had so much outpouring of well-wishes and love from the community. I’m very touched by it and feel extremely grateful.” Giglio said the medical emergency prompted reflection amongst staff members around plans of action in emergency situations. For example, a staff discussion resulted in the realization that teamwork had been critical to the success of the task. Students in Lavelle’s tutorial initiated the immediate response when they realized something was seriously wrong and sought help across the hall from resource teacher Eileen Jones, who called 911. Giglio said he, health clerk Dan Yusim and student conduct liaison Louise Garces communicated with the 911 responder, performed CPR and administered an AED while waiting for the EMTs to arrive. Giglio said administrators are trained in medical emergency response procedures every few years, however teachers are not. Jones said after Lavelle’s medical emergency, becoming confident in administering CPR became more important to her. “I would not have felt capable of administering CPR by myself, even though I have had some training in the past,” Jones said. “I do think it’s really useful to have, and for me, it’s a confidence piece — ‘Do I feel like I can rise to this situation and administer a life saving technique like that?’” Giglio said the school’s mental health team has been checking in with Lavelle’s students, especially those more vulnerable to emotional triggers. Staff have also been sup-

ported in processing trauma from the event. “It hit me what was going on, and I’d get emotional,” Giglio said. “I think each one of us sort of broke down at one point or another, just upset about it.” Sophomore Isabella Segovia said she was one of the students who sought help from Jones and office administrators during the emergency. “My adrenaline was up. Oh my god, it was crazy,” Segovia said. “When I got home, that’s when I shed my tears. It was scary, and I still have PTSD from it.” Segovia said Lavelle has taught her and her peers about respecting, loving and accepting those around them. “The energy that he has in general, like him being super nice and very welcoming and not being too harsh on everyone, is the best [energy] in a teacher that you could ever have,” Segovia said. “I love the vibe in [his classroom].” Lavelle said his family held a lunch at HHS to thank the staff for their swift, lifesaving action. Currently, he said he is recovering well and is being treated with an automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator to help regulate his heartbeat. As he regains his health at home, Lavelle said he has missed his students. “I’m in it for the kids,” Lavelle said. “I enjoy getting out of the house and being able to come to work, not that it ever feels like a job. I’m so blessed to be a teacher.” Giglio said Lavelle’s kindness, sense of humor and commitment to his students have made a strong impact on the HHS community. “You realize how much people mean to you, and it’s unfortunate that it takes something like this to wake people up [and remind them] ‘Oh, I

need to go hug my wife today,’ or ‘I need to be nicer to those people,’” Giglio said. Additionally, Jones said working together to successfully handle Lavelle’s medical emergency was a bonding experience for students and staff. “I was so amazed at how the students responded. Everybody pulled together super well,” Jones said. “Knowing that he is going to be back on his feet is phenomenal — I can’t even describe the joy.” Coming out of the incident, Lavelle said he is thankful for the loving community that has supported him. “The HHS community is one of action and great help. I consider myself lucky to be alive.” With a laugh, and in typical Lavelle fashion, he said, “It was a heart-stopping experience.”

Editors & Reporters Editor–in–Chief Editor–in–Chief Managing Editor Senior News Junior News Senior Opinion Senior Opinion Senior Lifestyles Junior Lifestyles Senior Arts & Culture Junior Arts & Culture Senior Sports Senior Sports Senior Design Junior Design Senior Multimedia

Naomi Baron Shreya Partha Leila Salam Madhavi Karthik Erin Loh Macy Li Ritaja Subrahmanya Karuna Chandran Lia Klebanov Amber Birrell Christine Kim Josh Cantwell-Nahrung Hope Saena Seoyoung Hwang Ashley Orozco Plata Mae Richardson

Junior Multimedia Senior Social Media Junior Social Media Junior Social Media Business Manager Junior Business Manager Web Master Copy Editor Reporter Reporter Reporter Reporter Reporter Reporter Reporter

Zeinab Rakhshanderhroo Bobby Gorelick Saira Ahmed Niyatee Jain Yukari E. Hernandez Ariana Juliette Tejeda Moreno Jack Xu Bobby Gorelick Joss Broward Aiko Charon Gaby Cristancho Nicole Kim Keshav Kumar Anushruti Nagarajan Dan Penalosa

Reporter Reporter Reporter Reporter Reporter Reporter Reporter Reporter Reporter Reporter

Adviser Natalie Owsley

Nicole Pimenta Innecco Raymond Ranbhise Brevin Reed Olivia Shen Lindsey Steel Nina Vasquez Cruz Rajiv Venkatesh Harshitha Vijayakumar Esmeralda Villalobs Soriano Chloe Wong

LETTERS OF APPRECIATION:

Segovia said Lavelle’s students made a box where anyone can drop off letters for their teacher.

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BOTC reform

Continued from page 1 Though boys cheerleading was removed, in part because it was often challenging to find boys to participate, Karki said the dance team will remain co-ed, featuring dance competitions during brunch throughout the week. Additionally, because boys have the opportunity to be involved in flag football through coaching, Karki said it made more sense to change the name from powderpuff to flag football. Mahimainathan said leadership strived to preserve aspects of flag football historically enjoyed by students, while also ensuring the activity would be inclusive of everyone. “We assessed whether powderpuff is a precedent we want to continue with, what the activity means to the student body and represents in the minds of students,” Mahimainathan said. “We wanted to see whether our values are different from that of leadership classes of prior years, and if they’re misaligned, we might want to change things.” In light of this, Mahimainathan said ASB has been continuously assessing traditional practices and thinking of ways to modernize them, like removing genders from homecoming court, which was done for the first time last fall. As a student athlete herself, ASB secretary, junior Nicole Lee said she was in favor of keeping the flag football activity for its significant importance in the female athletic community, due to many girls typically feeling discouraged from participating in football. “Powderpuff is usually something that a lot of people want to come out and watch females actually play sports,” Lee said. “Female athletes do not get as many people watching our games other than parents and possibly some friends, while the big crowds come for the guy teams. This event [allows] us to be able to supply an opportunity for women representation in sports.” In addition to flag football, non-athletic brunch and lunchtime activities will be held for all students with a range of interests to augment school spirit, ASB social manager, senior Megan Ventura said. “We know the physical aspect may not appeal to more than 20% of the school,” Ventura said. “We really want to provide activities that are more accessible to them, easier and have less pressure.”

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The Epitaph is a non-profit publication at Homestead High School, 21370 Homestead Rd., Cupertino, CA 95014. The Epitaph is a forum for student expression and not subject to prior review, in accordance to Education Code 48907. The staff is comprised of HHS Journalism students. Views expressed do not necessarily represent views of the school, its staff or the district. Editorials are opinions of the editorial board. The Epitaph welcomes letters to the editor but reserves the right to edit submissions. Letters should be limited to 300 words. Include contact information. Unsigned letters cannot be published, but names will be withheld upon request. Send via homestead. epitaph@gmail.com, or drop letters in the newsroom or the office mailbox. If The Epitaph has made an error, please send corrections to homestead.epitaph@gmail.com. The corrections will be published in the corrections box for the next issue. To reach the Epitaph staff in C102 call (408) 522-2572

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PAGE DESIGN BY MACY LI

Friday, March 11, 2022

Opinion

STAFF EDITORIAL

Improving emergency response policies will save lives not required to attend these HHS, administrators should Another possible approach biannual sessions, which consider creating medical is implementing advisory lesemergency drills to teach stu- sons geared toward respondmust change. When a medical emergen- dents how to respond in un- ing appropriately to medical cy occurs in a classroom or on foreseen circumstances. emergencies. school grounds, it is not During these lessons, guaranteed an adminisHHS can invite profestrator will be available sionals to discuss how to nearby. identify the symptoms of Regardless of where a medical emergency, as an emergency is on well as the proper way campus, nearby staff to react in these circummembers must be able stances. to properly respond. HHS can also allocate The most effective way time for hands-on acto ensure this is by tivities to help students mandating training sesgain experience with sions for both adminisresponding to emergentrators and teachers. cies. While all public Training students to school teachers comtake proper action in the plete CPR training for event of an unforeseen their credentialing, circumstance will furtheir certifications exther advance the safety pire after two years, of our campus. according to the Red Additionally, each Cross. As such, HHS classroom should conshould require all staff tain the information of members to renew their CPR nearby hospitals, as well as licenses upon expiration. their emergency contacts. To assist students in reWhen encountering a medsponding to medical emerical emergency, students will gencies, HHS should provide be able to refer to this inforaccess to proper resources. mation, while waiting for Similar to a trained how month- EDUCATING OUR CAMPUS: Posters detailing symptoms of staff memly fire drills common medical issues, such as a heart attack or stroke, can aid ber or adare hosted at students during medical emergencies. ministraIllustration by Ritaja Subrahmanya

A medical emergency recently occurred on campus, accentuating the need to improve our emergency response policies. Thanks to the quick reaction from administrators, students and staff, the medical emergency was resolved, and the staff member was transported to the hospital. While we applaud the HHS community for their efforts in mitigating this unprecedented situation, there are a number of policies we can implement to better prepare ourselves to respond to these types of emergency situations in the future. Currently, all administrators and district office managers are trained once every two years to handle various medical emergencies, principal Greg Giglio said. Trainers teach these staff members how to administer CPR, how to operate an AED machine and how to use an EpiPen. They also engage in basic first aid training. These training sessions equip administrators with the ability to properly respond to emergencies on campus, and they should continue to be hosted. However, teachers are

tor to arrive to the scene and administer first aid. This content can be presented on posters placed on the walls of classrooms. Those posters should outline the signs of common medical issues, like heart attacks and strokes. Under each medical issue, the poster should provide an overview of how students should respond in each circumstance. These posters will aid students in identifying a medical issue and reacting accordingly. Ultimately, changes need to be enacted to our current emergency response policies to create a safer school campus. Both teachers and students must be better prepared. Teachers must undergo frequent training, and students must be offered greater resources. As a school, we must ensure everyone is equipped to handle any emergencies that may arise. During a medical emergency, every minute counts. A student, staff member or administrator who can quickly react to an emergency situation on campus has the potential to save lives.

Healthcare crisis demands solutions

California needs single-payer healthcare By Keshav Kumar The promise of progressive reform in California faced yet another setback when AB 1400 was defeated in the State Assembly without a vote on Jan. 31. The bill would have created a trailblazing universal health care system, with citizens’ expenses being paid for by the state government, according to ABC News. The legislature’s rejection of this bill will be highly detrimental to the health and finances of Californians. If we want to fix the disaster that we call our healthcare system, our leaders must stop stalling and take action immediately. The outrageous cost of

healthcare accentuates the need for AB 1400. In fact, California spends about $10,000 per person on healthcare every year, which is higher than any other country in the world, according to the World Population Review. Despite these ridiculous costs, Californians are not getting much in return. Over 3 million Californians do not have health insurance, according to the UC Berkeley Labor Center. If an uninsured person is faced with high medical costs, they must fend for themselves, which is part of the reason why medical costs are the leading cause of bankruptcy in America, according to CNBC. Our privately-run healthcare system is fatally flawed. A health insurance company will charge its customers as much as possible, providing minimal benefits to gain maximum profit. This leads to health insurance being withheld from those who cannot afford to pay. The solution is clear: the government Illustration by Ritaja Subrahmanya should replace priCOMBATING HEALTHCARE CRISIS: vate health insurGovernment-run healthcare will inevitaance companies bly save lives.

with state-sponsored coverage. Since the government does not have to gain profits in the way a private company does, it can take on the cost of paying for universal health care. This is known as a single payer healthcare system, which is what AB 1400 proposed. Despite the clear benefits of a single-payer system, opponents argue that such a program is too expensive to be reasonable. Although universal healthcare in California would cost the state government about $350 billion, California’s government, businesses and families already spend a total of $517 billion on medical expenses, according to NPR. Although the government will spend more on healthcare, these efforts will be worthwile, because they will save the money and lives of their citizens. California should be the most progressive state in the country, and we must serve as a model for the rest of the country to follow. In the case of healthcare, we have an opportunity to lead by example, by demonstrating that an ambitious single-payer system can and will work. Ultimately, we have an obligation to take action if we want the rest of the country to do the same.

LOOKING TO CALIFORNIA’S FUTURE

Impactful policies will change student lives

SB 878 funds the transportation of all K-12 students in California starting in 2023, according to The New York Times. This will especially benefit districts without school bus programs.

SB 871 would add COVID-19 vaccines to California’s list of required vaccines, according to the LA Times. This bill will close loopholes in Gov. Newsom’s current vaccine mandate.

After March 11, all statewide mask mandates will be lifted, according to Mercury News. This decision will jeopardize the safety of our communities and place our populations at risk of infections. With new COVID-19 cases surfacing daily, it is too early to eliminate mask mandates. Infographic by Macy Li and Ritaja Subrahmanya

PAGE DESIGN BY JOSH CANTWELL-NAHRUNG

Opinion This Letter to the Editor was written by leadership teacher Jessica Kirby, in response to the article titled “ASB must amplify student voices” in Issue 4, published Feb. 4, 2022. Dear Editor, Leadership, or Associated Student Body, is a group of students dedicated to the creation of community on the HHS campus. We attempt to meet that goal through student engagement. In our role as event organizers, we clash into conflict of the tradition versus community. Is the idea of a King and Queen for homecoming exclud-

Letter to the Editor ing LGBTQ+ students from comfortable participation? Do minority students feel welcome at rallies that feature the hegemonic culture for HHS? Is the price tag for dances prohibitive for socio-disadvantaged students on campus? These conversations happen in our classroom and override events we plan. They take priority, because events that are exclusive or discriminatory have no place on our campus and do not serve the goal of community building. I am proud of the events leadership students have produced this year. Here are some of our accomplishments:

1. Homestead Food Pantry, which raised $20,000 last year and $11,000 this year for HHS families 2. Change from Homecoming King/Queen to Homecoming Royalty 3. A revision of our current election process 4. IA surplus of $8,000 for club funding 5. Four club fairs, the return of Club n’ Grub and management and support of over 90 clubs 6. The expansion of a tw0week BOTC to make it a more inclusive event 7. A charity drive to raise money for the Wildfire Foundation

Friday, March 11, 2022

8. HOP Social Valentine’s Day movie night 9. Multicultural week/night, from March 30 to April 1 10. More direct communication to the student body through google forms, engagement on ASB’s Instagram pages, students directly choosing themes, vlogs and student interviews 11. Our Zero Waste Committee works directly with our cafeteria to make environmental change 12. Our continued focus on having brave conversations about bias, the harm we can cause from our well-intended events and the potential each of us holds to make a difference.

Want to help our campus feel more inclusive? The best way to create strong community is through participation. Please check our wesbite, hhsasb.com, for more information. If you are curious or have questions about our work, I invite you to visit our second period class or reach out to me. Your feedback is vital in our decision making, and we truly value it. Your voices do matter. We cannot tackle everything, but we can use the tools we have to work together to ignite positive change. Sincerely, Leadership teacher Jessica Kirby

Stop Russia’s unjust invasion of Ukraine Other countries must aid Ukraine, condemn Russia By Macy Li, Lindsey Steel and Ritaja Subrahmanya Pushing strollers and waiting for hours, weary citizens cross the border into neighboring Moldova and Poland, according to The New York Times. Families are forced to make a split second decision: fight for their nation or seek refuge. Civilians, including the elderly, line up at enlistment centers, ready to lay down their lives for their country. This is the scene in Ukraine after warfare broke out on the eastern border, as Russia began launching deadly attacks by land, air and sea on Feb. 24, according to BBC. Russia’s brutal efforts to topple Ukraine’s democratic government and strip Ukrainians of their sovereignty must be stopped. Under the guise of defending Russia, President Putin

claimed Russia could not feel “safe, develop and exist” with the “threats” Ukraine posed, according to BBC. The strained relationship between Ukraine and Russia is fueled by years of tension, caused by the annexation of Crimea and disagreements over Ukraine’s NATO membership, according to NPR. The invasion of Ukraine will leave a lasting impact on the entirety of Europe, potentially displacing over 7 million people, according to BBC. Over 500,000 people have fled across the Ukrainian borders, according to the Washington Post. This intensifies the already worsening refugee crisis in Europe. Ultimately, both Europe and the rest of the world must prepare for an onslaught of refugees. They must equip Ukrai-

nians with resources to ensure The story of a powerful naThe Russian attack on a smooth transition as they seek tion wreaking havoc on a smaller Ukraine is grossly unjust and refuge in other countries. region is far too common in Eu- must be stopped. For the libAlthough sanctions are the ropean history. How many times erty of Ukrainians and the safest way for countries to aid must this tale be told before the preservation of peace in our Ukraine, more must be done to world takes steps to combat these world, this war must be ended directly help Ukraine during this injustices? immediately. war. The U.S., along with other Illustration by Ritaja Subrahmanya world powers, must transport essential medical supplies to Ukraine, which will aid civilians on the ground. Inaction by world leaders will undoubtedly lead to devastating consequences. Failure to curb Putin’s actions and terminate Russia’s invasion will convey the message that his desire for control in eastern Europe will not be hindered. Aside from condemning Putin’s actions, the U.S. should provide military support to Ukraine, in the form of weapons and ammunition. END THE WAR: The U.S. must intervene to protect Ukraine.

SAT/PSAT goes digital: vital transition or detrimental decision?

By Jack Xu With the SAT exam going digital, College Board announced the implementation of a few notable changes. The new test will be reduced to two hours, include shorter reading passages and allow students to use calculators on all math sections. The digital SAT will be instituted internationally in 2023 and within the U.S. in 2024, according to NPR News. Ultimately, these changes will benefit future test-takers. The digital SAT will display a countdown timer on every student’s screen, which will aid students in managing their time throughout the exam, instead of worrying about bringing

their own watches. In addition, students are provided with more flexibility to edit their test responses with a click of the mouse or by typing with the keyboard. Students will also be able to type more quickly, thus write more efficiently during the essay portion. This will allow them to focus on the quality of their writing, rather than the lack of sufficient time. Furthermore, the CAI (Cambium Assessment, Inc) platform makes testing easier and less stressful for students with disabilities. Security browsers will also be implemented during the student’s exam to prevent students from using unapproved applications or copying test content. This will maintain a fair testing environment for all. According to College Board, the digital SAT will simplify the administration process, through the use of the CAI platform to manage rosters, generate test tickets and configure accommodations. After the exam, proctors will no longer have to collect students’ test booklets and struggle with sorting them by serial numbers. Ultimately, the digital SAT will serve as an accessible, efficient testing platform for both students and proctors, DIGITAL SAT HELPS: Accessible and ef- while providing benefits for students to ficient digital SAT better for the students. improve the test taking experience.

New format brings disadvantages By Seoyoung Hwang

College Board recently announced is the risk of facing technical difficulties. the SAT test would go fully digital in Although the College Board stated the 2024. Although this may seem like a good test would save the progress of students transition for our technologically driven automatically, a loss of internet connecgeneration, this decision will bring harm- tion or other computer difficulties could ful consequences, such as technological hinder students and serve as an unfair problems and issues with concentration. obstacle. Cheating is also made infinitely A portion of the SAT test requires easier, since the exam will be taken on a students to read passages and answer digital device instead of on paper, where questions based on those passages. When previously students were only allowed to approaching this section, I find it benefi- bring in a pencil and a calculator. cial to annotate the text with my pencil. Ultimately, the new SAT format will Annotating on paper helps me summa- lead to many disrize important sections, underline critical advantages for information and prepare for the correlat- s t u d e n t s , ing questions. This strategy helped me and this achieve a better score, because I was able new tranto effectively consume and organize infor- sition will mation. In this way however, a digital ver- pose great sion of the SAT prevents students from risks. annotating these passages, posing the potential of a lower score. This also arises in the math section, where I perform better when I have my problems on paper and am able to show my work next to the questions. Problems with graphs or long word problems are easier to solve when I am able to annotate on paper. Students lack the ability to do so when solving math questions on a screen. DIGITAL SAT STRUGGLES: Taking SAT Another consequence of the digital test digitally causes disadvantages for students.

Illustration by Seoyoung Hwang

Digital SAT provides efficient testing platform

PAGE DESIGN BY NINA VASQUEZ CRUZ AND ESMERALDA VILLALOBOS SORIANO

Opinion

Friday, March 11, 2022

Adding personality, color to our campus By Lia Klebanov

As an artistic person, I find it important to include art around campus to help stimulate creativity. The stricken bare walls of the hallways do not encourage me to think of new ways I can approach a math problem or write an engaging essay. With the inclusion of bright colors, I would be more motivated to find creative solutions. Warm colors, such as red, yellow and orange can provide inspiration and promote conversation. Specifically, yellow tends to uplift inventiveness and imagination, while orange helps evoke enthusiasm, according to Innovation-Creativity.

Mental health days promote well-being By Nina Vasquez Cruz, Ariana Tejeda Moreno and Hope Saena “Stressed” is an understatement when describing the average HHS student. On top of attending school every week for eight hours each day, students are expected to work on the weekends to complete assignments and study for exams. With many commitments, there seems to be little room for us to fully explore what life has to offer. To provide students with more support, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB-309 into law on Oct. 8 to provide K-12 students with mental and behavioral support in schools, according to EdSource. This bill requires protocols to be put in place to handle mental health concerns. Although HHS has not implemented anything in relation to the bill, the school does offer many variations of support, principal Greg Giglio said. HHS currently has licensed school-based therapists and two psychologists, Giglio said. Even with these available resources, students require the opportunity to take mental health days. Mental health days are unique as they offer students an opportunity to recharge, maintain their health and prepare to overcome upcoming obstacles, according to McLean Hospital. Although a mental health day provides time to rest, one major worry of students is the fear of falling behind in schoolwork and missing important lectures. Instead of feeling at ease, students remain stressed as they continue to fixate on their school-related commitments, according to

The New York Times. This style of thinking originates from the stigma surrounding the topic of mental health, which can be perceived as an illness or obstacle. To ensure that students place a greater focus on their mental health, HHS should put more effort into teaching their students the importance of adopting healthy mindsets. Mental health has tremendous impacts on academic achievement and a student’s development, according to the Nystrom Associates. In addition to providing access to therapists and psychologists, HHS also offers Mustang Peer Support Groups, granting students a place to vent during difficult times. Though these groups have helped some, not all are aware of this opportunity. To address this issue, the school needs to educate the importance of mental health through advisory periods. By doing so, students will be encouraged to take time for themselves, improving their well-being HHS provides much support for its students but these methods do not compare to taking a mental health day from time to time. This is why we should advocate to elevate its acceptance within the community. For example, activist Hailey Hardcastle helped introduce a law in Oregon that excuses students from school for mental health reasons, according to NPR. We should promote mental health days to provide future students a less stressful high school experience.

Illustration by Amber Birrell

PUSHED PAST LIMITS: With more awareness and support in find-

ing needed help, students stress will decrease

HHS needs to incorporate some of these hues on our campus to provide a positive environment that nurtures student learning. Some of the budget dedicated to construction projects can be directed at enriching our environment with color. Art is proven to improve brain function, overall health and mood, according to The Healing Power of Art & Artists. Including murals on campus would bring the same benefits, especially with the low morale of students in the middle of the semester. There are many talented artists on campus who could con-

tribute to painting these murals, expanding the range of student contributions on campus. Student art will aid in creating a more inclusive environment for all. Creative expression is vital during adolescence and encouraging artistic expression can promote out-of-the-box thinking.

Illustration by Lia Klebanov

CREATING A MURAL: Art will increase student

engagement and brighten our school.

The nation’s nature protectors

National Parks cultivate appreciation for world By Nicole Kim and Erin Loh Known as “America’s best idea,” National parks have been an integral part of America for over 100 years. Parks provide numerous benefits, which must be recognized by all. National parks deserve appreciation, as they protect nature while simultaneously allowing people to enjoy it. In fact, they were created to preserve natural sanctuaries in an increasingly industrialized world, according to the Library of Congress. Additionally, national parks protect endangered species, according to the National Park Service. For example, the Island Fox population of Channel Islands National Park suffered a drastic decline due to too much predation, but was revived through the park’s reintroduction work, according to NPS. National parks are key in America’s fight to protect its

landscapes and biodiversity. National parks have the unique ability to educate about the environment through experiential learning, learning through physical and emotional interaction with a subject, according to Boston University. By allowing visitors to experience the natural world, National parks are highly equipped to nurture an appreciation for nature. Those taught the value of nature will take greater interest in world issues such as global warming and habitat loss. National parks are LEARNING also easily WHILE PROaccessible to TECTING: the public, National Parks educate the costing only public while $25-35 per allowing all vehicle for a to experience full-day trip, the beauty of according to nature.

the National Park Service. Moreover, at least one park is within driving distance for most Americans, according to The Washington Post. The affordability and proximity of national parks means the spellbinding experience they offer is available to everyone, not just the wealthy. When deciding where to vacation, visiting a National Park will be a worthwhile experience.

Hazardous highway requires wildlife bridges

Illustration by Ritaja Subrahmanya

Creativityis an essential skill to have, but often gets overlooked. The few murals I observed on my middle school campus had powerful messages behind them and included a variety of colors that brightened my day. Thinking back on it, these seemingly insignificant walls were ones I took for granted and now wish I saw more of around campus. Adding murals to campuses can spread encouraging messages and revitalize a bare environment, according to Happy School Grounds. Creating an atmosphere where walls are filled with art will make HHS a more inviting campus.

By Joss Broward

A stretch of road between Cupertino and San Bruno is considered California’s deadliest highway for wildlife, according to a study by the Road Ecology Center at the University of California, Davis. The 31-mile stretch of Interstate 280, along with 4 other “hot spots” on the highway, cost the state of California an average of about $5.8 million per year in roadkill cleanup and damage costs, according to the report. Roadkill collisions, a result of the fragmentation of ecosystems with buildings, roads or highways, not only pose a deadly risk to numerous species of animals who live near highways, but can endanger the lives of drivers, as well. An average of 200 people in the U.S. die every year from roadkill collisions, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Pacific newts are one of the most common species that are

killed by vehicles in Santa Clara County, with approximately 5,000 killed yearly, according to Mercury News. This trend, although seemingly unimportant, could threaten an entire ecosystem. To combat this deadly issue, it is necessary that the state of California funds and constructs more wildlife crossing bridges. According to the Wildlife-Vehicle Collision Reduction report, underpasses and overpasses combined with fencing have the ability to lower dangerous wildlife collisions by 87%. Constructing wildlife crossing bridges over I-280 would be expensive, boasting a multimillion-dollar price tag, according to REI. However, the construction of wildlife crossing bridges would eventually become profitable, as the amount saved from preventing wildlife collisions in cleanup and damage costs would exceed the amount

the wildlife crossing costs to build. This solution has A RISKY seen major ROAD: The s u c c e s s e s danger can be resolved by all over the constructing world. For wildlife bridges. example, a two mile area of the Trans Canada Highway saw a 90% reduction in roadkill accidents, saving over $100,000 per year, after the construction of a wildlife crossing bridge, according to National Geographic. To protect the lives of drivers and animals while reducing the expensive costs of wildlife collisions, wildlife crossing bridges must be built across this section I-280, creating a safer environment on what is now known as the deadliest highway for wildlife in California. PAGE DESIGN BY AMBER BIRRELL

Lifestyles

Friday, March 11, 2022

PTSA president reflects on time in position

Vicki Nahrung discusses experiences within organization By Nicole Kim

The Epitaph spoke with PTSA President Vicki Nahrung, who has held this position since early 2021, to discuss her time working with HHS, leadership tactics and hopes for the future of the PTSA organization. What made you initially want to be part of the PTSA? My son went to a parent participation school from kindergarten through eighth grade, so I was used to being involved. Suddenly, it was this big change when he went into high school. There was no major way to be involved within the school, so I started to volunteer for events and the following year I was invited to be on the board. What is your leadership philosophy as president? My philosophy is centered around

collaboration. If you have more people involved in the decision making process, even though it can be messier and harder to manage, [everyone is] brought into the decision. If people feel like they made some contribution to the decision, then they are going to work towards it. Secondly, I think leading by example is important. I do not think you should ever expect of someone else what you do not do yourself, so try and model how you want others to be. What do you feel is the most rewarding part of being PTSA president? This past year, the most rewarding events have been our initial food pantry, which we did in collaboration with ASB, and our second Food Pantry, which we did with the community service project at FBLA. They were both

really successful since we raised administration does not support a lot of money, and it was an all their PTSA the same way. I hope school-based effort. Parents were whoever is president after me and working the event, HHS students for all the years to follow, recogcontributed and more financial- nizes the value of having this rely secure families gave money to lationship. help less financialPhoto courtesy of Vicki Nahrung ly secure families. The whole fact that it was HHS helping HHS felt really good. What are your hopes for the future of the PTSA? I’ve really tried to push for the PTSA to work directly with admin and students. I have felt supported by the admin and I have HARD AT WORK: Vicki Nahrung (left) and friends from other board member Vinutha Shettigar showcase a high schools whose lead-by-example philosophy.

Staying persistent

Children’s books shape perception of the world

By Ariana Tejeda Moreno

By Joss Broward

Colors for Coats stays determined despite challenges Colors for Coats startPhoto by Anushruti Nagarajan Photo courtesy of TKTKT TKT ed with a mission to raise awareness about health care disparities and injustice in the healthcare field, senior, president Kailash Menon said. During their first year back from virtual learning, the club had to adapt to the circumstances TINY BUT MIGHTY: The officer team to continue to promote works on promoting club to all students. their values. With a turnout of about 10 to 15 members “Amidst the pandemic, it made per meeting they hope to con- me realize how prevalent learntinue to grow as a club. ing about our health is.” Members can gain medical Secretary, senior Jacquelyn experience and learn about is- Cao said adjusting the club’s cursues in the world through vol- riculum in person has proven to unteer events and guest speak- be a challenge especially since ers, Menon said. Every month, member involvement has dithe club announces a new ed- minished since the beginning of ucational topic and tends to fo- the school year. Normally, events cus on it for the duration of the would be centered around guest month, providing educational speakers or webinars. information for all members. “We have not been able to “We provide students with have as many events due to the volunteer opportunities and effect COVID-19 has had on the different ways to immerse them- number of members and meeting selves in the medical field, while regulations,” Cao said. “Last year, also educating them on differ- Colors for Coats was surprisingly ent stigmas and characteristics able to have more activities. For of the medical field,” Menon example, we had a guest speaker said. “People should join this webinar with a speech patholoclub because it is a great way to gist last spring.” become more aware of the prevDue to the transition, fewer alent health issues in the world, members have joined this school but also gain new perspectives year leading to a smaller club and ideas on how to spark than expected, Cao said. change in our community.” “As we are still a relatively Director of marketing, senior new club, we hope as our club Emily Guerra’s goals for Colors becomes more well-known and for Coats include promoting experienced, our reach will inmeetings through social media crease as well,” she said. to increase the number of parWith fewer members, Cao said ticipants. This is a way to branch those who do participate have out to students in a manner proven their dedication to the they can relate to. The club has club through involvement and meant a lot to members and of- interactions during meetings and ficers since the beginning, the events. senior said. “Our members are amazing,” “My favorite thing about Col- Cao said. “The members we have ors for Coats is the amount of come to almost every meeting use the club has for our current and show engagement in every state of the world,” Guerra said. topic of the month.”

Jacob Chen

When sophomore Jacob Chen reflected upon reading “The Story of Ferdinand” by Munro Leaf as a first-grader, he was surprised by the impact the book has had on his life. “[The book] took me a while to read, but that experience was the first stepping stone to becoming a better person,” Chen said. The book, which is about a bull who shocks everyone with his unwillingness to fight, taught Chen to be less judgemental, he said. “There was this kid in my kindergarten class who I judged based on how he looked,” Chen said. “After I read [the book] I didn’t judge people on how they looked, but on who they were.”

Karen Asakawa

Junior Karen Asakawa said “The One and Only Ivan” by Katherine Applegate, a story about a gorilla and elephant’s friendship, managed to move her 11-year-old self to tears. “I realized that friends and family shouldn’t be taken for granted,” Asakawa said. “It also made me think about how family doesn’t have to be people that look like you and we should appreciate our differences.”

Asakawa said the book not only encouraged her to return to her passion for reading, but changed her worldview. “The story made me realize the world is bigger than what I was seeing,” Asakawa said. “It opened my mind to the idea that people have different experiences and struggles.”

Grace McGoran

Sophomore Grace McGoran said “Brothers” by Yin, a story about a Chinese-American immigrant and his surprising friendship with an Irish-American boy, was impactful when she read it. “‘Brothers’ inspired me to be a better person and was a source of comfort,” McGoran said. “I’m part Irish and part Chinese, so it was also cool to see my two different cultures come together.” McGoran said the book taught her there is goodness in humanity, even in a world full of hatred and violence. “I learned to always be compassionate, and even if you do not think you have something in common with someone, still try to get to know them,” McGoran said. “You might form a stronger bond than you ever thought possible.”

Photo by Joss Broward

STORIES SHAPE STORIES: Karen Asakawa said “The One and

Only Ivan” made her realize family should not be taken for granted.

THE DAY DREAMER

By Karuna Chandran

Once a school year starts, everything feels like a mad rush to the finish line. The constant cycle of homework, extracurricular activities and trying to sneak in every last minute of sleep seems to be never ending. It is through this rigorous routine I find myself struggling to stay adrift. About a month ago, I realized I mercifully had some free time and as I scanned through my contact list, I realized it had been over a month since I talked to one specific friend. I felt the guilt bubbling up and threatening to spill over. In working myself to the bone, I had neglected the people that mattered to me. I promptly set up a call with my friend and began to profusely apologize for the situation. The past year had been one filled with trials as well as tribulations and I had resolved not to lose any more friends I cared about. However, her response to my apologetic sentiments surprised me and has stuck with me ever since. She told me you should never call someone unless you really felt able and willing to talk to them. Coming from her own experiences, she explained situations when she used to call people at moments where she did not feel like talking and it would show through her demeanor. I was moved by her compassion. The whole time I had focused on how I was not being a good friend, but I did not realize the kindest thing I could do was to take time for myself, so that I would be present when I was ready to talk. Since then, I have tried to remember to pause for a second and take time for myself, and most importantly not feel guilty over it. After all, on a plane, we are encouraged to put on our own oxygen masks before helping others. I never understood why, until I realized if we truly want to help others feel secure, we need to feel secure in ourselves first.

PAGE DESIGN BY SAIRA AHMED AND ARIANA TEJEDA MORENO

In-Depth

Friday, March 11, 2022

Game of Life: High School Edition

BUSINESS MAJOR 1. Determine a business career path

R AJO S M sional S E IN fes BUS a pro d l i rk u 2. B netwo EPS 3 ST D E V MO RWAR FO

Friday, March 11, 2022

MOVE 2 STEPS FORWARD

As students navigate the winding road of life, they encounter turning points, which help shape their futures.

SJVC g to e rdin Acco d Becom an

BUSINESS MAJOR 3. Improve your resume MOVE 3 STEPS FORWARD

e com o Be ng t

rd Acco

BUSINESS MAJOR 4. Get work experience or training

WELL DONE!

MOVE 1 STEPS FORWARD

o ding t Accor eringe in g n AllE ls Schoo

MOVE 2 STEPS FORWARD

MEDICINE MAJOR 3. Pass parts 1 and 2 medical licensing examination (USMLE)

MEDICINE MAJOR 4. Graduate from medical school and begin residency

Gaia Bornste

Abby Berwick Junior Abby Berwick is hoping to pursue a career in education. Berwick is looking forward to learning about what it means to be a teacher through tutoring others. “I hope I can bring a positive experience to others’ education like my teachers have done for me,” Berwick said.

MOVE 4 STEPS FORWARD

Junior G wants to go aia Bornstein in business p to marketing or ost-graduat ion prepare, B ornstein sa . To id she volunteers at Israeli sc and takes b usiness clas outs ses. “I am plan a year off sc ning on taking h ating to ge ool after gradut a grasp o fw want to do, ” Bornstein hat I said.

Andrea Sun

CONGRATS YOU'VE REACHED THE END!

2020 alumna Andrea Sun is currently studying at the University of Rochester, majoring in English and min oring in psychology. “My horizons were broadened by college and the peo ple I met there. It made me realize I have passions for new things,” Sun said.

ENGINEERING MAJOR 1. Earn a degree

MEDICINE MAJOR 5. Pass Part 3 of USMLE and obtain a state license

MOVE 5 FORWARD

WELL DONE!

ENGINEERING MAJOR 4. Earn a professional license in a sub-discipline

ENGINEERING MAJOR 4. Find a job or internship MOVE 2 FORWARD

rray Calc Murra ulus teache y r Con trical was origina lly an nie engine elecShe s er for a and h id she find 18 years. s e ing, an r former jo teaching d belie b rew ardpursue ves eve ryo mu “You c ltiple caree ne can rs. an m Murra y said ake the cha nge,” . “If y enoug ou’re h.” brave

MOVE 2 FORWARD

MOVE 1 FORWARD

What career fields are students interested in? Based on a survey of 246 responses

30.1% 28% 22.8% 15.4%

Students struggle to choose careers based on external factors By Aiko Charon and Brevin Reed

Medicine Engineering Photo courtesy of Abigail Coelho

is one of her hobbies that would make the most money. Contrastingly, sophomore Alison Harris said she discovered an interest in psychology and mental health, which combines two of her passions into a career. “The science of the brain and how people interact is really interesting to me,” Harris said. “So I want to pursue it regardless of any other external factors.” For a long time, Harris said she felt lost due to the large amount of career choices. However, as she developed an interest in science and education, she began to discover different paths that could fit her passions regardless of other considerations. “The most important thing is to follow your interests,” Harris said. “Over time, our interests will naturally evolve, and you can find ways to incorporate your passions into STRIVING FOR EXCELLENCE: FBLA helps your career.” Kunz improve her public speaking skills.

Photo courtesy of Liz Kunz

Kunz said both of these clubs are helping her with the skills she will need if she decides to go into politics. However, Kunz said if she did not have to worry about being financially independent, her career path, as well as her high school choices, would be completely different. “I would definitely become a novelist,” Kunz said. “I’ve always wanted to write a book, but that wouldn’t make a lot of money. I would like a stable career where I can be adaptable and provide for myself.” Like Kunz, sophomore Abigail Coelho said if money was not a factor in deciding her future job, she would prefer to explore a career in art, since she is very passionate about it. Instead, she is planning on studying herpetology, the study of reptiles and amphibians, in her higher education since it

Connie

ENGINEERING MAJOR 2. Take the NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering exam for licensing

ENGINEERING MAJOR 3. Earn a masters degree in a sub-discipline of engineering

Money versus happiness As students hurtle toward the end of their high school careers, some prominent questions heard are “What are you planning to do in college?” and “How are you going to make money?” With the competitive climate in the Bay Area, junior Liz Kunz said students often feel pressure to choose reality over passion to make money. Kunz said she decided to pursue a different path than what she originally wanted based on feasibility and outside influence. “One of my loves is literature,” Kunz said. “I really wanted to become a literature major, and while my parents didn’t say no, they said it would be extremely hard to do and I would have to get into a really good school to be able to make money.” Instead, she said she plans to attend graduate school for law and possibly go into politics. Currently a member of FBLA and Model UN,

katesan

school g high Achievin cult, but HHS diffi dreams is ideep Venkatesan a J t n re a since elp at. Ever th n t s ju did enkatesa school, V wyer. ry ta n e m la e become a classhoped to ment rn e law to “Gov in e get m d re lp tt e a es h e an o d becom school an tesan said. ka ney,” Ven

MEDIC 2. Com INE MAJOR ple in med te educatio n ical sc hool MOVE 4 ST FORW EPS ARD

MEDICINE MAJOR 1. Pass the MCAT

BUSINESS MAJOR 5. Get a graduate degree

n Jaideep Ve

SLITHERING TO SUCCESS: Coelho's py-

thon, Topanga, is a specimen for her research.

Would your career decision change if you did not have to worry about money?

No 58.1%

Yes 41.9%

MONEY OVER HAPPINESS: 41.9% of students surveyed said they would change their career if money was not an issue.

Business

Art

Is your future career decision impacted by your parents’ opinions?

No 52.4%

Yes 47.6%

HOME LIFE FACTORS: Nearly half of students’ careers are influenced by their parents, results revealed.

PAGE DESIGN BY AIKO CHARON, BREVIN REED, AND CHLOE WONG ILLUSTRATION BY EMILY CHOI

In-Depth

Friday, March 11, 2022

Game of Life: High School Edition

BUSINESS MAJOR 1. Determine a business career path

R AJO S M sional S E IN fes BUS a pro d l i rk u 2. B netwo EPS 3 ST D E V MO RWAR FO

Friday, March 11, 2022

MOVE 2 STEPS FORWARD

As students navigate the winding road of life, they encounter turning points, which help shape their futures.

SJVC g to e rdin Acco d Becom an

BUSINESS MAJOR 3. Improve your resume MOVE 3 STEPS FORWARD

e com o Be ng t

rd Acco

BUSINESS MAJOR 4. Get work experience or training

WELL DONE!

MOVE 1 STEPS FORWARD

o ding t Accor eringe in g n AllE ls Schoo

MOVE 2 STEPS FORWARD

MEDICINE MAJOR 3. Pass parts 1 and 2 medical licensing examination (USMLE)

MEDICINE MAJOR 4. Graduate from medical school and begin residency

Gaia Bornste

MOVE 4 STEPS FORWARD

Andrea Sun

CONGRATS YOU'VE REACHED THE END!

ENGINEERING MAJOR 1. Earn a degree

MEDICINE MAJOR 5. Pass Part 3 of USMLE and obtain a state license

MOVE 5 FORWARD

WELL DONE!

ENGINEERING MAJOR 4. Earn a professional license in a sub-discipline

ENGINEERING MAJOR 4. Find a job or internship MOVE 2 FORWARD

MOVE 2 FORWARD

MOVE 1 FORWARD

What career fields are students interested in? Based on a survey of 246 responses

30.1% 28% 22.8% 15.4%

Students struggle to choose careers based on external factors By Aiko Charon and Brevin Reed

Medicine Engineering Photo courtesy of Abigail Coelho

Photo courtesy of Liz Kunz

Connie

ENGINEERING MAJOR 2. Take the NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering exam for licensing

ENGINEERING MAJOR 3. Earn a masters degree in a sub-discipline of engineering

katesan

MEDIC 2. Com INE MAJOR ple in med te educatio n ical sc hool MOVE 4 ST FORW EPS ARD

MEDICINE MAJOR 1. Pass the MCAT

BUSINESS MAJOR 5. Get a graduate degree

n Jaideep Ve

SLITHERING TO SUCCESS: Coelho's py-

thon, Topanga, is a specimen for her research.

Would your career decision change if you did not have to worry about money?

No 58.1%

Yes 41.9%

MONEY OVER HAPPINESS: 41.9% of students surveyed said they would change their career if money was not an issue.

Business

Art

Is your future career decision impacted by your parents’ opinions?

No 52.4%

Yes 47.6%

HOME LIFE FACTORS: Nearly half of students’ careers are influenced by their parents, results revealed.

PAGE DESIGN BY AIKO CHARON, BREVIN REED, AND CHLOE WONG ILLUSTRATION BY EMILY CHOI

Friday, March 11, 2022

Combating book banning with poster planning

Lifestyles

NEHS battles against censorship through banned book awareness By Seoyoung Hwang Junior Tamar Boimann participated in the National English Honor Society banned books poster-making session during an NEHS meeting on Feb. 11. She said she “ was surprised by a few of the books she saw on the banned list because she had read some of them in class and saw a couple of books she liked, as well. Banned books are books that have been put to challenge due to their explicit content, NEHS co-president, junior Macy Li said. Certain famous novels such as “The Great Gatsby” have been banned in the past.

To spread awareness for the banned books, NEHS hosted a poster-making session to put them up in libraries. T h e event was completed at the end of February. C l u b members finished their posters and put them up in diff e r e n t parts of the library next to the banned books for people to read, Li said. “We thought it would be beneficial to raise awareness for the topic of banned books and advocate for the freedom to be able

Certain books should not be censored simply because they contain more serious topics that some people think may not be suitable for general audiences. ” - Macy Li (11)

to read what you want,” Li said. “Certain books should not be censored simply because they contain more serious topics that some people think may not be suitable for general audiences. These topics are very meaningful, especially since literature is a way to raise awareness.” The officer team wants to not only educate students about this topic but also raise awareness to the general public, co-president, junior Alan Jian said. Jian and the officer team said they are planning to do so by hosting different activities such as making posters and doing some illicit activities, including having a library section with banned books. “By hosting the different activities, we’re hoping to raise awareness about banned books, and just celebrate the freedom to read all types of literature,” Jian said. “Personally, I’d love to [take this

Photo by Seoyoung Hwang

ADVOCATING FOR BANNED BOOKS: NEHS holds a poster-mak-

ing session to spread awareness about banned books.

opportunity to] read more banned books and for the club, it’s a great way for us to gain awareness and serve our school.” Through the banned books event, NEHS hopes to share the idea of freedom in reading and allow people to educate themselves

about banned books, Jian said. “The freedom to read what you want is very meaningful,” Li said. “I view literature as a way for authors to raise awareness for the topics they care about, convey messages that matter to them and advocate for their own beliefs.”

Send in reinforcements

Sticky, slimy satisfaction

By Rajiv Venkatesh

By Hope Saena, Olivia Shen and Esmeralda Villalobos Soriano

Science Olympiad holds spring tryouts going on,” Phan said. “They’ve learned to study and become part of the team, and they pick up information really quickly.” On the other hand, Tahk said he felt the upcoming competitions might make it difficult for new members to directly jump in without much preparation or many meetings with teammates. Collaboration is one of the most important parts of Science Olympiad, Poon said. “It’s important to meet with your partner to get to know them better and learn to work better with them so there is less conflict during the event,” Poon said. “The events are really complicated and it’s impossible to finish them yourself, so all the work needs to be effectively split up.” Tahk said the lack of club funds negatively impacts the team’s performance at competitions. This is especially the case in events that involve building scientific models, because replacement materials are limited, so damage to the contraptions must be minimized. Despite these challenges, team members said their love of competition and learning new things is what drew them to Science Olympiad and inspires them to persevere. In Tahk’s case, he said it was his uncle, an aerospace professor in Korea, who sparked his interest in science. “I spent a lot of my summers when I visited Korea hanging out with him and his colleagues,” Tahk said. “The cool kidsize experiments I did were the beginning of my interest in aerospace.” For Poon, she said her journey in science began with an exemplary fifth grade teacher who allowed Photo courtesy of Chloe Poon her to explore whatever she wanted. Ultimately, Poon said communication, compromise and an all-around love of science make a great Science Olympiad team member. “Some events require studying and hard work, but others require more creativity,” Tahk said. “As long as you have a passion for science, you can LOVE OF SCIENCE: Senior Chloe Poon and freshman Humza succeed.” Dalal compete in forensics at a competition held Feb. 12.

Everybody is passionate about something. Whether it is biking or collecting vinyls, these activities bring satisfaction into people’s lives. For senior Christine Hoy, the satisfaction of her life is making slime she can play with and sell for her business. Beginning in middle school, Hoy said she was first drawn to the gooey substance when she noticed its popularity growing amongst her A SLIMY SURPRISE: Hoy said she uses her busipeers. “I saw everyone play- ness to share her love for slime. ing with it all the time and so I was like, Most of Hoy’s business exchanges ‘That’s actually really nice’ and then are either made verbally or through [that encouraged me] to make my own,” Instagram (@christinehoy_). Someone Hoy said. “[My slime] was never as good will directly place an order, then she’ll as other people’s but I still made it [be- just make it and bring it to them the cause] it was the way I could fit in with next day, she said. other people.” Being a small business means when Though Hoy’s interest in slime died it comes to slime, Hoy said she is both out throughout the years, she said she financially and professionally indepenrediscovered her love for it during the dent. For Hoy, advertising her products building of the senior homecoming started from just word-of-mouth, and float. making the slime also comes down to “Last year, my interest sparked again her. when I had some glue,” Hoy said. “The Hoy said she soon realized her perfirst thing that came to my mind was sonal determination and the support of slime because ‘What else are you sup- customers only motivates her to work posed to do with it?’” harder. To Hoy, there are many aspects of “My business is something I have to slime that stand out to her, but the most work really hard to make real so that amusing is its uniqueness in texture. I’m making money,” Hoy said. “My first “There is nothing else like it,” Hoy customer bought it on the spot and that said. “It’s solid, but also not solid at the made me feel really proud.” same time, and it’s stress relieving when Starting a business from scratch has you play or fidget with it.” made Hoy realize the value of hard work While all of Hoy’s slime seemingly and commitment to her craft, she said. looks the same, the marvelous muck’s For anyone who is interested in variation extends beyond just the color making slime or starting a business, diversity. Hoy said it is essential to put one’s Hoy said her slime’s textures span a mind to it, so they can keep going even varied spectrum, ranging from stretchy if they face obstacles that set them back. to fluffy. “If it’s something you really put your Since slime serves as a stress reliever mind to and it’s your passion, don’t for Hoy, she said this encouraged her to hesitate,” Hoy said. “Do not give up on start her own business, in hopes of pro- something you know you can do beviding the same feeling she gets when cause I can tell you right now, no matter playing with slime to those interested who you are or what you do, you can in buying it. make slime.” Photo courtesy of Christine Hoy

When Science Olympiad first held tryouts last fall, turnout was not as high as in previous years due to the recent return from distance learning, club president, senior Chloe Poon said. By the end of fall tryouts, the original team consisted of 20 members, Poon said, which was fewer than in previous years. “There are a lot of events in Science Olympiad, so each member has been competing in four of them, though we typically do two or three each,” club member, sophomore John Tahk said. “The first time around, a lot of people didn’t realize Science Olympiad was holding tryouts, so we’re trying to recruit more members and spread the events out more evenly.” During the spring tryouts, which were held Jan. 24 through 28, Poon said the club’s officers looked for students who would be engaged in the club, were excited about specific events and who understood the need for communication. Science Olympiad consists of a variety of events that cover many scientific fields, according to the organization’s website. In the club, members learn about branches of science that are not covered in school, such as forensics and epidemiology, Poon said. Team members can change their events each year, unlike other STEM-related clubs with a single focus. Club secretary and treasurer, junior Natalie Phan said the tryouts allowed the club to send two teams to recent competitions for the first time this year. “The new team members are adjusting really well, and we’ve paired them with older members so there is a mentorship

Christine Hoy starts slime business

PAGE DESIGN BY ERIN LOH

Lifestyles

Friday, March 11, 2022

Taking a step toward animal awareness

Animal welfare officers share passion for nature, going beyond their duties

By Anushruti Nagarajan Clubs on campus are meant to help students take action on what they are passionate about, but the officer team of the animal welfare club goes beyond to dedicate themselves to the cause as an element of their lives. Animal welfare club is a space for students to communicate their concerns regarding animal care while also being able to advocate for such causes and take steps toward raising awareness, club president, senior Jodi Yu said. Every meeting, the club officers hold an interactive activity for members to engage in, such as treat making or volunteer activities, Yu said.

Jodi Yu

Not only does the officer team try to educate others, but

they also work on learning more themselves, Yu said. In a previous meeting, Yu said the officer team covered cruelty-free products and to how look out for specific ingredients. “I thought it was really cool because I remember going to a drugstore, seeing these labels and wondering what they actually meant,” Yu said. After doing research, Yu said she has felt her habits have changed by steering away from certain products that are not animal-friendly.

Odin Bruyere

Club secretary and treasurer, senior Odin Bruyere has always supported animal welfare and said he changed his eating habits to cater to his love for animals.

“I have been vegetarian for four years now,” Bruyere said. He said he is able to accomplish this by supplementing his diet, for example by eating lentils to get a good amount of protein.

Desiree Poon

Club vice president, sophomore Desiree Poon loves giving back to animals, as she said she feels this helps humans improve their kindness and compassion. “Animal welfare teaches me a lot about how to be a decent human being,” Poon said. “Animals help you, so if you help them, you are helping everyone in society.” Outside of the club, Poon said she enjoys volunteering at Animal Assisted Happiness, a local nonprofit whose mission is to foster joy.

Coping with campus culture

Students undergo pressure, fear unknown future By Lia Klebanov Silicon Valley is known to ed, Sanchez said. Competing be one of the most renowned with classmates for an admisplaces in the world for technol- sion ticket through originality ogy, with many major compa- can prove to be challenging, he ny headquarters just minutes said. apart from one another. High “I’m in this area of really school is considered to be the successful people, and I don’t building block leading to every want to look like the only failstudent’s future, but the jour- ure,” Sanchez said. “Honestly, ney differs for all, especially for it’s a little embarrassing if [you HHS students. Senior Josue don’t have a high GPA] to see Sanchez said he has observed everyone with one. [During the that the competitive envi- fall], suddenly you start hearronment pushes students to ing about all these prestigious breakpoints, while others have places and there is peer presthrived under it. sure that exists, just because Living in the Bay Area and there is a chance they will get attending the same high school in.” as Apple creator Steve Jobs has According to the 2021-2022 created pressure Sanchez said school profile from the class he feels constantly. Due to the of 2021, 70% of students went positive connotations associ- on to attend 4-year universiated with HHS, Sanchez said ties, with 24% in the UC system living up to such high expec- and 12% in the CSUs while 20% tations never escapes his mind. reported attending 2-year col“When you take into ac- leges. count that HHS is supposed to In comparison, the statebe almost one of the top high wide average includes 7% of schools of California, we have high schoolers enrolling in UCs, 13% enrolling in this exterior pressure to live up to that standard that we CSU, 7% attending out have to be our best and the of state, 3% attending stereotype that we’re really in-state prismart,” Sanchez said. vate colleges Enrolling in AP and 40% attending a classes, notoricommunity ously known for their rigor, college, according to the has become Public Policy an expectation for some, not a Institute of California. With many students choice, especially all wanting to be accepted during junior year, former HHS student, junior into a few selective schools, Shobitha Meduri said. junior Isabella Tedesco said Meduri said AP classit simply is not possible for es have everyone, Illustration by Lia Klebanov proven which adds TOO MUCH STRESS: Students feel to be to the comoverwhelmed with the pressure to suca chal- ceed from their peers and the school. petitive atl e n g e mosphere. Like Sanchez, junior Noga she did not even want in the Aloni said the abundant first place. As a senior, college applica- amount of STEM-related jobs, tions create an atmosphere of as well as opportunities in the social stress due to the gossip Silicon Valley, indirectly ensurrounding which universi- courage students to study in ties to apply to and not wanting fields that may not be suitable to be the one who gets reject- for them.

“I don’t necessarily wish I lived somewhere else because I’m happy with the life I have here, but I do sometimes question what interests I would have developed if my mindset was different,” Aloni said. “We tend to forget that just because everyone here feels pressure to major in engineering and attend the best schools, doesn’t mean that’s the actual reality everywhere.” Being judged for not wanting to go into a STEM major is an experience Tedesco said she has faced numerous times. Wanting to pursue graphic design has been a challenge mentally, since she said criticism can make her question a passion she has long held, Tedesco said. “[A peer told me] I was not going to make any money and possibly be homeless,” Tedesco said. “I looked at him and was almost in shock because it was uncalled for and I was not expecting that [kind of response]. It truly made me uncomfortable.” The habits and mental processes students acquire during their formative years, guidance counselor Raquel DeJesus said, may linger into the future. This, however, can be concerning, she said, since not all habits developed are beneficial in the long run. DeJesus said admin has been trying to encourage students to take better care of themselves in hopes of teaching them important and applicable life lessons. “I think if students have those high expectations for themselves, now, it will continue on later in life and it will be difficult for them to manage that stress,” DeJesus said. “I think we meet with a lot more students than we usually have in the past to help with coping strategies and how to manage your mental health, but that may not be available later on.”

“Volunteering [at AAH] has allowed me to see that playing with animals [is a destressor],” Poon said. “It is a form of therapy that has helped me cope as well.”

Noelle Lee

bilities, the animal welfare team goes above and beyond these to express their love for animals through conscious decision making, volunteering and educating others. “Being an officer and a part of this club helps us in our journey because it feels like we are taking a step toward the cause and making an impact,” Lee said. “We are not just sitting there, we are actually taking action and I think that’s what feels most rewarding.”

Club activities director, sophomore Noelle Lee said the officer team places much importance in educating about animal safety. As the club activities director, Lee said she conducts a lot of research in order to keep meetings informative and engaging. “I use the information that I researched and apply it to my life,” Lee said. “[One example is being] mindful of littering and making [ethical] decisions when it comes to buying products,” Lee said. While offiPhoto courtesy of Jodi Yu cer positions also come with MATTER OF PRIDE: Club activities range from great responsi- alternative recipes to informational presentations.

Exploring facets of STEM Field encouraged on campus By Zeinab Rakhshandehroo Especially in the Bay Area, STEM is a vital topic for students to be exposed to in schools, AP biology teacher Dara Alleyne-Levy said. “STEM teaches students critical thinking skills,” Alleyne-Levy said. “Those skills are transferable to really any aspect of life.” Stuents can explore STEM at HHS by taking STEM courses and joining STEM clubs on campus. Beyond HHS, students have a multitude of opportunities to gain further STEM exposure.

Courses:

Digital innovation and design, introduction to programming and AP computer science teacher John Shelby said HHS’s STEM course offerings are very strong in comparison to other schools in the U.S. “We have a really big variety in science course options,” Shelby said. “We also have CTE (Career Technical Education) style pathways which help prepare students for a specific field or career they want to go into.” Shelby said having such a diverse variety of STEM classes at the school has a positive impact on students. “Having these resources encourages students to participate in a wider variety of careers and do more creative things using STEM,” Shelby said. Despite this, SNHS president, junior Lela Hanson said she thinks that although students are presented with a wide array of STEM classes, they do not get the chance to explore all of them. “At Homestead, you’re not allowed to take more than one class of the same subject,” Hanson said. “This can be really limiting to students who enjoy science be-

cause they have to pick the physics track or the chem-bio track and can’t explore both of them.”

Clubs:

HHS works to provide STEM clubs on campus with several resources, data science club president, senior Rushil Jayant said. “They give us a facility, funding and we work with ASB in order to get clubs more popular,” Jayant said. “All these help increase interest in STEM clubs.” Additionally, there are a wide variety of STEM clubs on campus for students to explore, Hanson said. However, having so many STEM clubs on campus presents its own challenges, Hanson said. “Because of how many clubs there are, it can be difficult for clubs to make a name for themselves and to be active within the school community,” Hanson said. “It becomes a competition instead of a cooperation, which is not the most ideal.”

Events and Opportunities:

In addition to school-related opportunities, the district has many programs with community colleges which allows students to take in-depth STEM courses they cannot take at HHS, Jayant said. Additionally, there are many STEM-related events students are encouraged to explore outside of HHS such as hackathons, programming competitions and maker fairs. “Our ability to design the world and the way the world works is becoming shaped by STEM,” Shelby said. “So giving our students the opportunity to learn about it empowers them to make an impact on the world through STEM.” PAGE DESIGN BY RAYMOND RANBHISE AND JACK XU

Deeper meaning behind Japanese anime

By Seoyoung Hwang and Hope Saena

in our lives. The movie helped me value the connections I had between different people during the pandemic and put emphasis on making the most out of those connections. Alongside 1980s classics such as “Ninja Scroll” and “My Neighbor Totoro,” Katsuhiro Otomo’s 1988 film, “Akira,” remains my favorite anime movie of all time. After watching it, I became a sci-fi, cyberpunk nerd, fascinated with the exploration of the unknown. Set in dystopian Tokyo, the movie focuses on a biker gang leader who battles against the corrupt government to save his friend from a confidential government project. This was the first sci-fi, cyberpunk movie I had seen and I was absolutely stunned by its smooth animation and storyline. Watching the vibrant colors flash through the screen and people transforming into robotic supervillains gave me a feeling of excitement and I wanted more. From “Akira,” I began watching movies like “Blade Runner” and “Star Wars.” Not only are these movies entertaining but watching them is now my preferred way of relaxation. Although Japanese anime can be seen as abnormal to those who do not understand it, these films depict Photocourtesy courtesyof ofthisistda TKTKTK Photo powerful messages that are just as valuable as anything the Western world has to offer and can people help discover new interests. From superheroes saving the world to teenagers dealing with the obstacles of high school life, anime has something special to A SILENT VOICE: Japanese anime teaches about values of human connection. offer everyone.

Japanese anime is often stereotyped as weird and I have noticed people who watch anime are often made fun of for watching it. In reality, these movies not only show a great storyline but impact many watchers, including me. During the pandemic, I was scrolling through Netflix and came across an anime movie that has been significantly impactful to me. Kyoto Animation’s film “A Silent Voice” tells a story about the growth of a teenage boy from bullying a deaf girl to becoming friends with her. The movie focuses on forgiveness and redemption of the past, including dark topics such as suicide and bullying. Through the movie, I was able to acknowledge the importance of self-reflection and the willingness to change from past mistakes. After watching it, I reflected on my own mistakes, from those made in school to those in my social life. After reflecting, I improved my outlook on life and became more positive and progressive. Additionally, I learned human interaction shown in different forms, starting from friendship, family relationships, and even relationships with people we do not know well can be valuable

Arts & Culture ‘Ice Age’ sequel leaves fans in the cold

‘Adventures of Buck Wild’ ruined by Disney By Rajiv Venkatesh The first few Ice Age movies are family films, enjoyable whether you prefer slapstick comedy or cleverly crafted jokes about evolution. However, the latest addition to the franchise, “The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild” lacks its predecessors’ broad appeal, choosing to limit itself to a simpler, less thoughtful form of comedy. Gone are the days in which the original voice cast was joined by stars like Queen Latifah and Drake. Instead, most voice actors from the previous films were recast, adding to the feeling that this movie is a spinoff, rather than a true addition to the franchise. The newly cast voice actor for Manny does his best to replicate Ray Romano’s irritated yet comforting voice, but the end product is no better than if Siri had been cast as the voice of the animated mammoth. While many of the recast voices appear for only a brief moment, viewers must deal with the worst part of the movie – the villainous dinosaur Orson for almost all of its 90-minute runtime. The Ice Age franchise has always loved anachronisms, inventing a fantastical “Lost World” of dinosaurs despite their extinction over 63 million years before the franchise’s eponymous time period. However, I feel that a scientist should have been consulted, or at the very least someone with a sense of aesthetics, since my memory of the villain’s storyline is clouded by my fear while watching the movie of Orson’s grotesque, protruding brain. Though the villain is the worst part of the film, the absence of Scrat is a close second. In each of the six movies that preceded, the squirrel-rat hybrid provided comic relief as

Trader Joe’s delights with unique flavors

By Amber Birrell, Karuna Chandran and Ritaja Subrahmanya Trader Joe’s, a popular grocery store, is known for its unconventional food combinations. Shopping there is always an exciting experience as you never know what new snacks you will find. Cacio E Pepe Puffs Trader Joe’s Cacio E Pepe Puffs are meant to mimic the traditional Italian pasta dish in a corn and rice puff. I originally expected a vibrant cheese flavor; however, but was underwhelmed as the actual taste reminded me of flour. Luckily, the pepper is able to save the flavor. Despite the disappointing cheese taste, they provide a great crunch and are a delightful snack for when you are on the go or scavenging the cabinets for something to munch on.

Chicken-less Mandarin Orange Morsels This Trader Joe’s staple is enough to make your mouth water from the name alone. It provides the tried and tested sweet and sour combo while also being incredibly easy to prepare and that is coming from someone who barely knows a stove from an oven. TJ’s continues to produce high quality food for people with dietary restrictions and this product is no exception. Mini Vegetable Samosas The Trader Joe’s mini vegetable samosas have the perfect blend of spice and flavor as they maintain their Indian authenticity while not being too

spicy. Stuffed with peas, carrots and potatoes, these bite-sized snacks are incredibly addictive and easy to prepare. They are crispy on the outside with just enough of a crust to keep the vegetables sealed inside while providing a great crunch. Their 12-minute bake time makes them perfect for a quick snack. Seasonings When going to Trader Joe’s, it is often easy to get lost in all the colors and designs and miss the biggest steal in the entire store: the seasonings. TJ’s everything but the bagel seasoning is reminiscent of early morning bagel runs. The seasoning is versatile, due to its dynamic flavor. It can be the crispy sesame seeds on noodles or the spice rub on sandwiches. Also enjoyable are the chili and lime seasoning, as well as the 21 seasoning salute.

he created the continents and caused floods on his relentless quest for his beloved acorn. However, Disney was unable to include Scrat in this movie after losing the rights to the character. This is perhaps the film’s greatest loss, since its director is most famous for an Oscar-nominated short film about Scrat, and would have been able to improve the film by incorporat- ICE AGE ing Scrat in some SPINOFF: New movie greater way. should have In the end, “The been a TV Ice Age Adventures show. of Buck Wild” goes the way of Scrat: another franchise ‘The Ice Age Adventures of Buck ruined by Disney. As it searches for a plot, Genre: Animated Comedy for some deeper meaning, it comes Released: January 28, 2022 up empty, with only a paltry 90 minutes of mildly entertaining swashbuckling to show for it.

Photo courtesy of Disney+

Friday, March 11, 2022

Wild’

A ‘Wordle’ a day, keeps players engaged By Lia Klebanov

Only one chance left to guess. I sit in front of my computer pondering over the letters I have managed to guess correctly and trying to figure out the correct combination with no luck so far. Shirt? No, that would not work. How about, ultra? Yes! Creator Josh Wardle launched the website for popular game, “Wordle,” in early October 2021, according to the New York Times, and the game has already managed to become a phenomenon played by millions. On Jan. 21, The New York Times announced the acquisition of the software from Wardle, explaining it would be included in their array of games offered to subscribers. Each day, gamers have the opportunity to guess a new five-letter word, but with only six chances to get it right. If chances run out, they have to wait 24 hours to play again. “Wordle” provides guidance through color-coding the letters in the guessed word to help eliminate possibilities. A green letter means the letter is in the correct spot, yellow signifies the letter is located somewhere else and gray signifies that the letter is not in the word at all, according to The New York Times. Even though it may seem annoying to have to wait an entire day to attempt a guess at another word, I find the whole process thrilling. The concept of being restricted to six tries and feeling pressured to decipher the correct combination makes the game stand out from other games. Currently, paying to continue playing is not an option, which I greatly enjoy since I am not tempted to resort to a backup plan. Its exclusivity challenges me to think outside of the box and gives me something to look forward to, daily. Additionally, since the word is universally the same for all, discussing with friends is another fun aspect. Collaborating with others can be difficult, especially when it comes to mind games, but “Wordle” makes it easy. It is a great way for friends to relate to one another and have an entertaining debate over who is right. Ranging from words such as “moist” to “drink,” I have been on my toes when it comes to thinking outside of the box and considering all 158,390 possibilities. It is a wonder nobody had previously thought of this seemingly simple idea since the concept is straightforward, but still captivating. Whether I am in the car or on my way to class, there is always time to guess today’s TAKING A GUESS: “Wordle” is an new five-letter word. intriguing game with a challenge. Illustration by Lia Klebanov

PAGE DESIGN BY GABY CRISTANCHO AND NICOLE KIM

Arts & Culture

‘Tall Girl 2’ introduces host of new issues

Friday, March 11, 2022

Tangled plot lines make for painful viewing experience

By Karuna Chandran and Madhavi Karthik Don’t you hate it when you see a movie and think, “Wow this is painfully mediocre.” Then they make a sequel, leaving you to lose all faith in the future of the entertainment industry. Well, that sums up the Netflix original “Tall Girl 2.” The original movie focuses on lead Jodi Kreyman and her journey to become more confident in herself. The sequel picks up three months after, with her auditioning for the latest school musical and facing the fears that come with putting yourself out there. The main criticism of “Tall Girl” is Jodi acts as if her height is the end of the world and no one else could ever have comparable problems. We will admit,

‘Tall Girl 2’

however, the sequel attempts to solve the previous problems by focusing on Jodi’s social anxiety in relation to her insecurities, which overall was a logical direction forward. For instance, Jodi is seen experiencing an anxiety attack when feeling agitated about whether or not she can perform adequately as the lead in the musical. It is a significant step in the right direction as many high school students encounter similar issues regarding their mental health. Although the movie sheds light on the prominence of anxiety among teens, the plot ultimately fails to encompass the resolution of how Jodi comes to terms with her anxiety. This movie added random characters left, right and center that if taken out would have had no impact on the overall story at all. It almost leaves us missing the mind-numbing simplicity of the original. For example, we have no reason to care that her two friends

Genre: Romantic comedy

Release date: Feb 11, 2022

Best boba in the bay

Homemade boba chain Boba Guys has the best quality drinks By Saira Ahmed and Bobby Gorelick From unique flavors to homemade boba, Boba Guys provides some of the best drinks in the Bay Area. The cute cafe is in downtown Los Altos and stands out from the rest as it is evident all drinks are made with care and finesse. When I first set my eyes on the grainy and spotted drink known as the black sesame latte, I was slightly concerned. It looked gritty and rough, like one Photo by Saira Ahmed UNIQUE TEA FLAVORS: Boba Guys sip would leave cuts in my uses a variety of flavors to stand out mouth. After drinking it, from other boba places. however, it has become my new favorite drink. The texture is taste bad, it tastes like a combinathere, but the sweet and interest- tion of flavors that should not be ing flavor overpower it. The boba in a drink. itself is phenomenal – as always If you are looking for a deli– and not a single cent spent on ciously sweet and creamy drink, this drink went to waste. the strawberry matcha latte is for The layers of the caramel mat- you. I have tried this tea at other cha latte are nothing short of boba shops, however, none combeautiful: smooth, tan caramel pare to the perfect balance Boba on the bottom, the dark matcha Guys offers. The sweetness of the on the top and the creamy milk strawberry pairs perfectly with in the middle separating the two. the creamy matcha. The layers of It is easy to mess up the balance white, green and pink make for of sweetness and matcha, but beautiful aesthetics and only add the caramel matcha latte does it to the classiness of this perfect perfectly. If you are looking for a drink. It has been my go-to order light refresher, the caramel mat- and will definitely stay that way. cha latte is the one. The butternut spice latte is confusBoba Guys ing, mainly because it tastes more like food Location: Los Altos than a drink. The texture at the bottom left Cuisine: Taiwanese me wondering what I was chewing, which impacted the drinking experience negatively. Though it does not

are dating, because the movie never gave us a reason to. Sometimes, it feels as if the movie is finally going in the right direction, only for it to once again switch directions. We are dragged from scene to scene, wondering why we are forced to sit through this trainwreck in the first place. The film also includes not one, not two but three suitors who attempt to pursue Jodi. As the movie focuses on Jodi’s romantic drama rather than developing how she tackles her insecurities, the Photo courtesy of Netflix writers detract from SURFACE LEVEL DEVELOPMENT: “Tall Jodi’s internal struggles Girl 2” fails to execute social anxiety stothat are ultimately the ryline, the only element worth watching. most relatable aspects of her character and the movie. her life instead. The one bright light, the shinAfter one and a half hours of ing star of this entire movie, is Jo- our lives down the drain, we recdi’s sister Harper. Her tendency ommend saving your Saturday to trail off or entirely forget Jodi’s afternoons for literally anything original question is a running gag else, whether that is your calcuthat feels organic to the plot. We lus homework or your 2,000 word wished this was a movie about essay.

Funny or flawed: FUHSD Instagram accounts By Joss Broward and Harshitha Vijayakumar

Recently, all I have seen contribute to cyberbullying, on my Instagram feed are some accounts have impleFUHSD and HHS-related ac- mented changes to be funny counts. Their niches vary from while respecting students’ pripictures of students sleeping vacy. For example, Instagram to satirical HHS news posts. account @fuhsdposturecheck, Many of these accounts house which is known for their posts funny content that entertains of students with poor posture, both myself and the FUHSD has recently implemented a community. new posting protocol, now One such Instagram ac- only posting pictures of stucount is @hhsonion. Known dents who have given their as ‘HHS’ finest news source,’ it consent. This decision will provides a satirical viewpoint prevent students from havof many HHS occurrences, ing their privacy violated and such as joking about HHS ad- hopefully encourage other acmin removing fire alarms after counts to do the same. the multiple false fire alarms. The school accounts trend Inspired by The Onion, this can be fun but poses the poaccount is a prime example of tential of being invasive. Some how to engage in the school accounts create funny content account trend in a funny and that maintains student privacy, creative manner without be- while others post hurtful mesing hurtful, as the account sages that contribute to a toxic surrounds topics relating to internet culture. To preserve HHS instead of individual the privacy and comfort of students. all students, it is essential all However, many accounts FUHSD Instagram accounts need to change. Some HHS request permission from Instagram profiles feature those featured in their conposts that violate the privacy tent before posting to avoid of students, not bothering spreading rumors or to ask for consent before gossip. posting. Branded as a place for “gossip” or “tea,” these accounts only serve to stoke division in the FUHSD community. By publishing hateful messages submitted by students, the owners of these accounts, are contributing to cyberbullying. Although many HHS and Illustration by Joss Broward FUHSD Insta- GOOD AND BAD: Some accounts are gram accounts entertaining, others violate student privacy.

FASHION POLICE

By Amber Birrell

Last summer I saw crochet pieces becoming more common, and this spring I can confidently say they have rising popularity and will be a prominent style in the fashion world this season. Many popular figures such as Emma Chamberlain, Dua Lipa and Olivia Rodrigo are hopping on to this trend early and with reason. They are the perfect look for all different occasions, from formals to casual wear, and have endless uses. The versatility of crochet pieces are one of their finest features — from shorts, tank tops, swimsuit coverups to most commonly, dresses. Each piece can be styled with other crochet clothing or other clothing. For example, a crochet halter top and a pair of your favorite jeans go perfectly for a casual outing. The unique appearance and texture of crochet clothing sets them apart from other pieces, cultivating a special style. Consequently, the stitching makes these pieces irresistible to wear in warmer weather because of their flowy, comfortable designs. And naturally, with unique stitching comes a never-ending assortment of bright summer patterns. From flowers to checkered patterns, there is something for everyone. Crochet has not only become a popular style but many people have also taken it into their own hands and now crochet their own clothes, adding unique and personalized pieces to their wardrobe. This has proven to be a great way to exercise creativity as you can bring your fashion visions to life, carefully choosing the colors, fit and shape of your clothing. If you are looking for a new staple for your spring and summer wardrobe, I highly recommend investing in some good quality crochet pieces or even making your own, as they are a great way to spice up any outfit. PAGE DESIGN BY MAE RICHARDSON

Friday, March 11, 2022

Putting her best foot forward

Sports

Varsity girls soccer captain Jordyn Ortiz discusses struggles, success By Karuna Chandran and Keshav Kumar

RAYMOND RANTS

By Raymond Ranbhise The Cincinnati Bengals (2022) Eli Apple should have been the Super Bowl MVP. He wanted to guard Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp and when he did, he did a terrible job covering him. He let Cooper Kupp score crucial touchdowns, including the game winning touchdown, which gave the Rams a 23-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. The Rams victory can be solely credited to Apple’s inability to guard Kupp. In all fairness, Kupp is one of, if not the best, wide receiver this year but, Apple did a terrible job covering Kupp. Near the end of the game, he committed a defensive pass interference penalty to give the Rams another shot at a touchdown, which they capitalized on. Because of his horrible Super Bowl performance, he received a lot of hate on social media following the game. Many players, including Ravens WR Hollywood Brown and Kansas City Chiefs WR Mecole Hardman mocked him. Apple is known for trash talking, and if he cannot back up his mouth, then he deserves to get roasted on social media. Another clown on the Bengals is cornerback Vernon Hargreaves. He was inactive for the Super Bowl, yet he still somehow committed a penalty. After an interception by safety Jessie Bates III, Hargreaves, who was on the sidelines, went on the field to celebrate. This caused a 10” yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against the Bengals, moving them back from their own 20 to the 10 yard line. This caused the Bengals to punt the ball away. Luckily, the Rams wouldn’t score, so his mistake didn’t impact the outcome. The Bengals had the Super Bowl in the bag, but Apple snatched the title away from the Bengals and gave it to the Rams. The Bengals have now lost their third super bowl and are still looking for their first title.

For junior Jordyn Ortiz, the road to becoming a captain of the varsity girls soccer team was one filled with challenges and rewards. Soccer, Ortiz said, is a sport that runs in her family. Because of this, she began playing soccer before entering kindergarten. Looking back, Ortiz whose position is outside and center back said she has learned valuable lessons from the sport. ¨Playing soccer for all these years has taught me to stay determined,” Ortiz said. “I’ve always been told that if you’re not working hard, you’re never going to succeed. You put in what you get out.” A large part of that determination, Ortiz said, is making sure

to be dedicated and making the most out of every opportunity to improve. “You have to give it your all at practice because practice makes perfect and you play the way you practice,” she said.“Conditioning is also important to stay in shape, especially in the off-season.” With this mindset, Ortiz said she was able to work her way up from the bottom team in her club to the highest levels of competitive soccer. As for her future plans, Ortiz said she is interested in making soccer a central part of her life, as she hopes to continue playing at a college level. “I’m looking to play in the Washington or Oregon area, and I really like San Diego State

University, but it’s extremely competitive,” Ortiz said. “You have to perform at a high level in order for colleges to contact you, so it’s definitely been a rocky road. But, I’m very blessed to play with a club whose Photo by Karuna Chandran level of play is very PATH TO IMPROVEMENT: Determination high, so a lot of col- and perseverance allow Ortiz to triumph. lege coaches come out to watch talent on the team, but because us.” of the new players coming in, it In regards to this year’s school has taken a long time to really soccer season, Ortiz said as her mesh and adjust to playing toteam developed a tighter bond, gether,” Ortiz said. “But over the they were able to improve as the last few weeks, we’ve had some of season progressed. our best games, especially against “We have so much individual Mountain View and Palo Alto.”

Lifting spirits up

Weight room provides students space to destress, stay healthy By Ariana Tejeda Moreno and Nina Vasquez Cruz What can be intimidating at first can actually be a place of comfort. The HHS weight room is a welcoming space for all students to enjoy. Before, it was only accessible to P.E. weights students or athletes. However, according to a Jan. 19 announcement made by athletic director Mallory Lantz, the weight room is now accessible to everyone, opening everyday after school except for Fridays. Since the announcement, many students, like junior Roopa Srinivas, who are not in-

volved in sports have utilized the newly available resource. Srinivas said she has been using the room since the beginning of second semester. “In P.E. weight class, they teach us exercises and I would only use the class to work out,” Srinivas said. “But, I started coming after school because I don’t have a gym membership.” As a student who just began using the room, Srinivas said the environment has been welcoming and helpful. “The football coaches and others in the room are there to help,” Srinivas said. “There’s always someone to make sure you’re doScan this QR code to follow weight room ing stuff the regulars as they show off their favorite right way so workouts, and reveal their tricks and methyou don’t hurt ods for helpful exercising. yourself.” In addi-

Working out in the weight room

tion to being a safe place for classes, but it’s stressful when athletes, the room serves as everything just hits you all at motivation to junior Ningning once.” O’Brien, she said. The room With the presence of his has offered O’Brien the chance coaches in room, Delgado said to accomplish personal goals, he and his teammates have been she said. motivated to improve before the “Not everyday you think of next football season. hitting your personal record, “My goal is to become better but with lots of energy you with my teammates,’’ Delgado know you are able to go past said. “ Having him [Coach Milo] personal records and those believe in us gives our team condays are the best,” O’Brien said. fidence and makes us stronger. The weight Photo by Nina Vasquez Cruz room has been a place of relaxation where junior Jason Preett Singh Delgado is able to focus on his mental health, he said. “ Wo r k i n g out gets my mind off things like homework,” Delgado said. WORK IN PROGRESS: Senior Jerome “I don’t hate my Spencer improves his ability through lifting.

Behind the limelight

Athletes share how pre-game rituals boost morale By Macy Li The moment athletes step onto the fields and courts, they are thrust into the limelight. Yet, few people know what occurs behind the scenes, or how they prepare for these golden moments. Numerous athletes craft pregame rituals to elevate their performances, such as junior Josie Cho. As someone who loves

aquatic sports, Cho said she enjoys being on both the varsity water polo and swimming teams. “Before swim meets, I usually wake up early, listen to music to get myself in the right mood and eat a good breakfast,” Cho said. Cho said she also consumes foods that are rich in carbohydrates, such as pasta and bread. This ensures her body is fueled for her competition, she said. “[On the other hand], for water polo, I warm up with my team, and we cheer before our games,” Cho said. “We’ll jump around and Photo courtesy of Josie Cho hype each other up.” ELEVATING TEAM SPIRIT: Cho said Cho said these pre-game rituals uplift her team.

pre-game traditions boost her team’s morale and raise her spirits before a game. “This creates a sense of community, because we’re all in this together,” she said. “We’re all competing together, and these traditions make it so much more fun.” Like Cho, sophomore Beatrice Ho, a member of the track and field team, said she has also developed pre-game rituals to improve her mindset before a race. “Before my races, I usually do some stretches and breathing exercises,” Ho said. These personal rituals allow Ho to focus on the competition ahead, rather than letting herself be consumed by stress, she said. “I think it gets me in the right headspace, whether I’m just

clearing my mind of any negative thoughts or getting extra oxygen before I start running,” she said. Similarly, senior Luis Zamudio, a left wing for the boys varsity soccer team, said he has also adopted a few of these techniques to prepare himself for his games. “I usually just meditate,” Zamudio said. “When I get nervous, meditation helps me relax.” Right before a tournament, Zamudio said his entire team gets into a huddle, and a few players deliver pep talks. Afterward, they participate in a chant before stepping onto the field, he said. “This helps all of us feel more motivated,” Zamudio said. “When we’re playing, we’re representing our school, and knowing that gets us in the right competitive headspace.” PAGE DESIGN BY YUKARI E. HERNANDEZ

Sports

Trip down Memory lane

Friday, March 11, 2022

CCS

Continued from page 1 “Getting into NorCals wasn’t even a possibility known to us until we got to the CCS finals,” Leuenberger said. “So discovering that we still had a chance to compete for a state title and represent Homestead was a nice surprise.”

By Naomi Baron, Josh Cantwell-Nahrung and Hope Saena

As the winter season comes to a close, team captains reflect on the challenges they overcame, triumphs they earned and memorable moments made. 10 - 15

Wrestling

Photo courtesy of Homestead Athletic Department

Photo by Madhavi Karthik

18 - 3

Varsity boys basketball

Varsity girls basketball

Pictured: Jacob Tang

1-5

Varsity girls soccer Pictured: Saloni Nadarajan Although varsity girls soccer underperformed this season, senior Lindsay Felipa said there were still many memorable moments. “We lost our senior night game, but it was still fun for me as a senior, since I was given a surprise by my teammates,” Felipa said.

5 - 12 - 2

Photo courtesy of Craig Uyeda

Photo by Karuna Chandran

8-9-1

The varsity girls basketball team ended the season successful, placing third in SCVAL and second in CCS. Junior, captain Tatum Luenberger said she is proud of the team’s performance. “We played great, showcasing all the hard work we’ve built up this season,” Luenberger said.

Wrestling Pictured: Gefei Ma In the end, the wrestling team had a decent season this year, senior, captain Dylan Uyeda said. It was no surprise to him that he and other wrestlers on the team would make CCS this year, he said. “It was satisfying to see my teammates win the tough matches that they all fought hard for,” Uyeda said. “My expectations for my teammates were high and I am extremely proud of them.”

Photo by Nicole Pimenta Inneco

Pictured: Tatum Leuenberger

The varsity boys basketball team faced many difficulties as numerous players were injured, including senior, captain Connor Kane. Because of this, the team underperformed, Kane said. “We had high expectations,” Kane said, “especially coming after last season’s CCS championship.”

Varsity boys soccer Pictured: Leo Janson Despite the many defeats varsity boys soccer took this season, senior right midfielder, captain Vikram Penumarti said they worked hard to win their last game against Los Gatos. “The experience overall was bittersweet,” Penumarti said. “But everyone played their best and it was a great way to end the season.”

From left: Varsity girls soccer captain Catherine Zhang, varsity boys basketball captain Connor Kane, wrestling captain Dylan Uyeda, varisty girls basketball captain Ellen Cheng, varisty boys soccer captain Vikram Penumarti

The wrestling team placed 20th out of 82 in CCS, with senior, captain Dylan Uyeda placing 5th in the 120 weight class. Other wrestlers who participated in the tournament were seniors Gefei Ma, Kelvin Snell, Yusuf Yanik and sophomore Colin Lou. “Normally, wrestling tournaments are two days and you have to keep winning matches to go the next day,” Uyeda said. “This year we had six athletes [who made it to the second day.] It was crazy.” Ma said he was not surprised when he made CCS, as he went his sophomore year. Nevertheless, he was happy to have progressed further in the tournament this year. He said he believes both he and the team have improved since the last time he qualified. To mentally prepare for each match, Ma said he tries to focus on what is happening. “I think about wrestling to the best of my ability and try not to worry about how other people wrestle,” Ma said. “I stay calm and collected and prepare physically by getting warmed up.”

Boys basketball

Boys varsity basketball lost to Independence High School 74-64 on Feb. 18 in the first round of the CCS D1 tournament. Head coach Matt Wright said the game against Independence was an extremely tough matchup. “Since last year we went to the championship game, my expectations were high [for this season],” Wright said. “We’re a little disappointed that we didn’t make it as far as we wanted to, but [I am] still proud that we made it.” The team faced numerous challenges throughout the season as key players were injured and many on the team contracted COVID-19 at some point in the season, Wright said. He said three players were in quarantine during the game against Independence. “One of our best players, Connor Kane, had a fracture in his ankle in early December and was out for basically the whole season,” Wright said. “Missing one of our tallest and better shooters really hurt us throughout the season.” Wright said the team took positive steps this season, like having assistant coach Shawn Hook joining the staff and players’ improvement. “The path was just frustrating,” Wright said. “Every time we thought we were taking a step forward we faced some type of setback. Overall, the season was frustrating, especially because of the success of last year, but we’re excited for the future.”

PAGE DESIGN BY NICOLE PIMENTA INNECCO AND ZEINAB RAKHSHANDEHROO

Spotlight

Friday, March 11, 2022

The Legends of Homestead

From eerie stories to former students who made it big, HHS has a peculiar historical background

Put your best hoof forward

Steve Wozniak - Class of 1968

1) Expelled from the University of Colorado freshman year for hacking the university’s computer system 2) Co-founded Apple with fellow HHS alum Steve Jobs in 1976 3) Gifted The Epitaph desktops in 1986, allowing them to be among the first to use technology to produce a student publication

Illustrations by Ritaja Subrahmanya

By Christine Kim, Keshav Kumar and Anushruti Nagarajan

The big three alumni

Photo

by Anu

shruti N

agaraja

“During the first staff meeting of 2015, we came up with a list of potential names for the students to vote on and Maximus was chosen. I think it was a reference to the movie ‘Gladiator,’ which was popular at the time. At graduation, you’ll see a lot of students and their families taking pictures around Maximus, so it’s a nice focal point to the ceremony. Students have started a tradition of decorating the statue for special occasions, like Valentine’s and St. Patrick’s Day.” - Principal Greg Giglio “[Maximus] seems strong, the way it’s positioned, showing HHS has a strong community. My friends and I eat lunch in front of it. It’s become a symbol of our meeting place.” - Junior Kate Jelfs “It’s welcoming, and it’s open to interpretation for all students. We can associate whatever memories we want with it. Personally, when I see it, I think of Homecoming and all the memories I made.” - Sophomore Elisa Floyd

Senior shenanigans Former HHS teacher Paula Weismann reflects on her favorite senior pranks The Volkswagen

Michael D. Shear - Class of 1986

1) Worked at Washington Post 2) Part of a Pulitzer Prize-winning team that covered the Virginia Tech shooting in 2007 3) Covered Barack Obama’s re-election campaign in 2012 4) White House correspondent for The New York Times

Dan Gordon - Class of 1978

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1) Graduated from the five-year brewing engineering program at the Technical University of Munich 2) Founded Gordon Biersch Brewery and opened their first restaurant in Palo Alto in 1988 3) Won gold several times at the Great American Beer Festival and the World Beer Cup 4) Currently oversees the brewing operations at the Gordon Biersch brewing and bottling facility 5) Frequently lectures at Stanford University, UC Davis, UC Berkeley and USF

ega

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Illustra

tion by

Karuna

Chand

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“My favorite prank was when they took a Volkswagen bus, cut it in half, and welded it around the gigantic tree that used to be in the quad. It was hysterical.”

The Payphone

“In the days before cell phones, one student’s dad, who was an electrician, installed a new pay phone in the quad. It was illegal, and expensive to take care of.”

The Campout

I heard something about a ghost in the A building… “The story I heard was HHS used to be a ranch and supposedly, the A building ghost is the daughter of the rancher who was killed. There was also a really weird experience in the field house several years ago. The girls volleyball team was practicing and one of the side hoops was down and it started vibrating and [suddenly] shattered.” - Principal Greg Giglio “[There was] a dog that was barking at the closet. And so Mike, [a resource teacher at the time], comes over to the closet [to check it out]. When he opened the closet door, he felt this ice cold wind through his body and the dog was barking at it and I could see this thing go through the air and out the window because a dog was biting at something invisible.” - Law, International Business teacher Byron Lee

“Once, the senior class camped out unsupervised in the lawn that used to be the quad. Eventually, administration had to send people to keep an eye on them.”

“The wind goes through [the A building] and some of the doors rattle or make creaking sounds. However, I have not seen any images or anything unusual.” - Student conduct specialist Louise Garces PAGE DESIGN BY CHRISTINE KIM, KESHAV KUMAR AND ANUSHRUTI NAGARAJAN ILLUSTRATION BY TIFFANY YU