Van Nuys High School FEBRUARY 16, 2017 Volume 102 Issue 3
The Mirror vnhsmirror.com
Muslims Not Welcome? I
slamophobia has been at the core of President Donald Trump’s campaign and beliefs, so it is no surprise that that irrational fear is embodied in one of the most controversial of the 22 executive orders that he’s signed within his first few weeks in office. Masked as the “Protection Of The Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into The United States,” this executive order is essentially the Muslim Ban that everyone said would not actually be implemented. The order suspended the U.S.
Refugees Admission Program for 120 days and blocked all persons from select “terror-prone” countries from entering the United States for 90 days, causing chaos at U.S. points of entry—especially airports. Ironically, no act of terror committed on U.S. soil since 9/11 has involved a person who immigrated from any of the seven of the affected countries: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Sudan, and Yemen. Trump has signed the most useless executive order ever in terms of national security; he has also detrimentally affected the
lives of innocent refugees and families across the world. The ban itself was put on hold by the courts around the country. On Thursday, Feb. 8 the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals refused to reinstate President Trump’s ban. Because the ban unjustly targets Muslims, the federal appeals court said that it raised “serious allegations” and posed “significant constitutional questions.” The United States has traditionally let in more refugees than any other country in the world. Letting refugees into the country
is not only a moral obligation but also a humanitarian and diplomatic duty. Human rights organizations and advocacy groups have slammed Trump for a policy that is contrary to American ideals. “I hereby proclaim that the entry of nationals of Syria as refugees is detrimental to the interests of the United States and thus suspend any such entry,” reads Trump’s order. On the Friday following the the executive order, many travelers who fit the criteria of the ban CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
The raging controversy over the Trump Administration’s Muslim ban
By Shayda Shevidi & Keshan Huang
Fake news articles inundate social media platforms Page 5
Birth control debate: addressing the elephant in the room Page 7
Basketball star guard Tyree Winborn charges into playoffs Page 11
2 | Van Nuys High School | The Mirror
Cover Story
vnhsmirror.com | February 16, 2017
Immigration Agents Target L.A. Immigrants
I President Donald Trump signs the “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States” order. Left to right: Vice President Mike Pence, President Trump, Secretary of Defense James Mattis.
Muslim Ban CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
were detained upon arrival at airports across the U.S. Others with valid visas and airline tickets were prevented from boarding planes that were heading for the United States as airline officials desperately rushed to comply with the new immigration policy. At LAX airport—less than two days after the order was signed—Iranian-American Hossein Khoshbakhti was in uncontrollable tears as his brother was denied entry. “The American and Iranian relations have been affected already. But we are people, we are not the government,” he said in between heavy sobs. “Why do I have to be punished for someone else’s problem? I didn’t do anything wrong.” U.S. fencing bronze medalist Ibtihaj Muhammad was also held by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Services without any explanation, expressing her belief that it had to do with her Muslim name—despite her being a
n addition to the ongoing Muslim ban, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been conducting raids throughout Southern California, especially in Van Nuys, Downey, Norwalk, Oxnard, San Bernardino and Santa Paula. ICE has been targeting individuals with prior removal orders and deportation orders. Already more than 160 people have been arrested. “It is now clear the Trump administration is not concerned with public safety, they are only focused on ripping hard-working men, women, and children from their families and communities,” said California Senate President Pro Tempore Kevin De Leon. “Mass deportations will not make us safer, instead they will simply undermine our state’s economy” he added. L.A. residents took to Twitter on Friday, Feb. 10 to report several ICE checkpoints in the Van Nuys and Pacoima neighborhoods. While these reports have not been confirmed, immigrant residents are obviously concerned. —Shayda Shevidi
U.S. citizen. “I don’t know why. I can’t tell you why it happened to me, but I know that I’m Muslim. I have an Arabic name,” Muhammad said. “And even though I represent Team USA and I have that Olympic hardware, it doesn’t change how you look and how people perceive you.” Thousands of protesters have rallied at airports across the country protesting the order. Signs reading “No hate! No fear Muslims are welcome here!” and “America wel-
comes all!” accompanied chants of anger and despair. The First Amendment states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” The Trump administration’s ban seems contrary to the Constitution . As a country that has celebrated people of all different backgrounds, the Muslim Ban makes America look bad in the eyes of the world.
February 16, 2017 | vnhsmirror.com
News&Analysis
The Mirror | Van Nuys High School | 3
BRIEFLY SPEAKING VNHS Under Scrutiny for Federal Program Audit The Federal Program Monitoring (FPM) audit, in which state officials inspected Van Nuys High School, took place on Feb. 14. The audit consisted of document reviews, stakeholder’s interviews and classroom observations of categorical programs. This process was done to ensure that VNHS is using its federal funds effectively. Ultimately, the state is required to report back to the federal government that the supplemental funding our school has received are being used correctly. Teachers and administrators worked tirelessly to guarantee that Van Nuys High School passes the audit and continues to receive the funds necessary to maintain its high standards for education. Woo Han —
Parents Visit UCLA and Pepperdine Campuses Van Nuys High School’s Parent Center hosted their first parent school field trip on Jan. 25 to tour the campuses of Pepperdine University in Malibu and the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) in Westwood. Parents toured around the campuses, experiencing a typical day at a university. “We wanted to expose parents to college—what their children will be exposed to on their first day of college,” said Mrs. Rose Avetisyan, the family educator. “It helps them be open to the idea of their child going to a four year college.” Mrs. Avetisyan is looking forward to taking another field trip to local colleges next year. Giselle Lopez —
Crimson Club Recognizes Student Achievement VNHS residential students were recently awarded by Crimson Club, a school-based organization dedicated to recognizing their academic achievement. Students with 3.00-4.0 GPAs were given Gold and Silver medals by Crimson Club Representative Amira Saunders along with Principal Yolanda Gardea and Assistant Principal Gary Kaloostian. On Feb. 8, from 6:30-8:00 p.m., they awarded the Freshmen Class of 2020 and Senior Class of 2017. The following day during fourth period, Crimson Club awarded the Sophomore Class of 2019 and the Junior Class of 2018. —Tommy Chan
SkillsUSA Dominates Regional Shop Competition VNHS students in SkillsUSA participated in a regional competition at the Los Angeles Trade Technical College on Feb. 4. Competitors from different schools gathered to participate in hundreds of categories, but VNHS specialized in Metal Shop, Automotive Technology, and Robotics. The Metal Shop competitions varied from welding fabrication to CNC technician. Participants either brought a completed work for inspection or constructed it live. Competitions were also divided into teams or individuals. In the Automotive Technology section, there were four stations. Two teams from VNHS competed, and both won gold medals. In addition, they succeeded in taking the most medals this year. The Robotics team, however, was disqualified by incorrectly using steel instead of aluminum. —Amanda Godfrey & Yerin Oh
Trump’s New Secretary of Education Meet the Billionaire Whose Goal Is to Dismantle Public Education in the U.S. By Tyler Jung & Khrista Sayo The Mirror Staff
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etsy DeVos is now the 11th Secretary of Education of the United States. Judging by the quality of her answers from the Senate confirmations, the future of America’s education might hit some potholes. The Senate deadlocked on whether or not to confirm President Trump’s billionaire nominee for the position. With 46 Democrat, 2 Independent, and 2 Republican votes rejecting the Republican nominee, Vice President Mike Pence broke the tie—the first time in history that a vice president was called to the Capitol Building to break a tie. As expected, Pence voted in favor of DeVos’ nomination, which confirmed her position as the Secretary of Education. The new Secretary of Education seems to have acquired her meager credentials primarily through the support of private and charter schools in Michigan. The DeVos family, worth an estimated $5.1 billion, has donated millions of dollars to the Republican Party. In addition, Betsy DeVos has been an avid supporter of private education and government vouchers for education—tax money to pay for student tuition at private schools and universities. An avowed foe of public education, DeVos is a strong advocate for redirecting $20 billion of government education funds to support students interested in private or religious schools. On the surface, this act may seem beneficial to those students pursuing a private education. However, most of
America’s school-aged population attends public schools. Defunding or diverting government subsidies for public education institutions into private schools would be detrimental to efforts being made to improve public education. According to DeVos, public education leads to a “dead end” in the system, a viewpoint which she uses to further push for more government support of private education. DeVos advocates a radical shift in the education system from publicly-run schools to private and charter schools. Public education exists for the benefit of everyone in society. Private education exists for those who can afford it. Currently, tax dollars finance the educational institutions that cultivate the next generations that will lead our country. Depriving funding for public schools would only hurt the learning and development of students nationwide. Millions of children have benefitted from the advantages that public education has to offer and continue to do so today. Children from low-income families or those who choose not to affiliate with private, often religious institutions, are still offered the same opportunities and prospects that students in private schools have access to. The Obama and Bush Administrations made serious attempts to improve public schools across the country. Major school districts including LAUSD offer nutritional programs like Breakfast in the Classroom to provide food for all students—no matter their economic status—through the availability of federal funding. Limiting already restricted subsidies that public schools receive from the state
and federal government would only degrade their current conditions. Charter or private schools that receive financial income from private sponsors often outperform public schools academically. Parents and students often choose private or religious learning institutions because they are able to financially. Such schools often reflect the interests of the family since they share certain beliefs or values. Upcoming actions by the newly appointed Secretary of Education, based on her past work and Senate testimony are not likely to benefit public schools during Trump’s term. Her plans for America’s education include giving parents more choice by opening more charter schools and granting government vouchers, which would be funded by taxpayers with money diverted from already underfunded school districts. Additionally, Obama Administration education rules and policies are likely to be revised or scuttled altogether. Another policy the new Secretary of Education seems to support is guns on school campuses. Her reasoning is that guns would promote safety and establish a secure environment for learning. There had been some expectations that DeVos was in trouble because of her public statements, lack of experience and her apparent “dodging the question” tactics at the Senate confirmation hearing. Educators and advocates of public education were left shocked and reeling by her confirmation. One thing is for certain: she is sure to be a lightning rod in the ongoing debate over public education.
4 | Van Nuys High School | The Mirror
News&Analysis
vnhsmirror.com | February 16, 2017
Academic Decathalon Team Advances to State By Jeehyun Kim & Ji Yeong Park The Mirror Staff
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ine members of Van Nuys High School’s Academic Decathlon competed in the annual city competition on Jan. 28. Representing Van Nuys High School, the members competed alongside many other regional schools, including Granada Hills Charter School, which is ranked number one nationally. Academic Decathlon, also known as AcaDec or AcaDeca, is the only annual high school academic competition organized by the nonprofit United States Academic Decathlon Association (USAD). The nationwide competition consists of seven multiple choice tests, two performance events, and an essay. Contestants are given one specific subject every year, which their work has to reflect. This year’s subject was World War II. Seven of the ten events were objective, composed of math, literature, social science, science, economics, art, and music. The remaining three—essay, interview, and impromptu and prepared speech—were subjective, decided strictly on the judges’ decisions. The competition took place at the Roybal Learning Center in Los Angeles. Led by Captain Justin Buted and coached by Mr. Jonathan Mitchell, the team seemed to leave a big impression on the judges. Julian Reynaga, a senior, conducted his
COURTESY OF JULIAN REYNAGA
“Not only is Super Quiz about communicating with the team and attaining the answer, but also having fun because it makes the whole experience more enjoyable.”
together to answer questions on the spot. The teams must answer within 7 seconds after the question is read and try to answer as many as they can out of the total 10 to 15 questions. Justin Buted stated, “Super Quiz is all about collaboration with your teammates and if you can’t collaborate, it’s basically just a waste of time.” Enrique Vasquez added, “Not only is Super Quiz about communicating with the team and attaining the answer, but also having fun because it makes the whole experience more enjoyable.” The final results were released on Feb. 10. The VNHS Acadec team scored a The AcaDec team before the city competition at the Roybal Learning Center. total of 45,984.3 points, placing them as interview so well that judges continued it forward to generous points and recognition the eighth highest scorer in the district and for 20 minutes, passing the recommended for her performance. validating them to compete in state. time of 7 minutes. Reynaga ended up The competition also included Super Upon hearing news of their advancewinning gold medals for the speech and Quiz, a lively yet competitive culminating ment, the team wasted no time and has interview events. championship event that can be viewed by already started preparation for the CaliforSenior Madiha Fairooz’s speech and the general public. nia Academic Decathlon. performance also received critical acclaim. Super Quiz is an engaging, Jeopardy-style With only a month and a half left to preAs Captain Buted put it, her speech was event that presses students in each division— pare, the team will do their best to represent “exceptional,” and the team is looking Honors, Scholastic, and Varsity—to work Van Nuys High School in Sacramento.
February 16, 2017 | vnhsmirror.com
Features&Profiles
The Mirror | Van Nuys High School | 5
Propagating Propaganda in the Post-Truth Era By Elissa Choi & Amanda Godfrey The Mirror Staff
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ake news has taken the nation by storm. Fake news, or false reporting, has not only swayed voters in the 2016 election with bogus information but has caused rifts within social and political realms of the country. From fallacies of the newly inaugurated president to controversies over the Black Lives Matter movement, audiences are readily influenced by the information they are fed. The individuals influenced by the misconceptions or distorted news affect the actions and beliefs of people around them through different media platforms such as newspapers, television, and websites. Recently fabricated articles about Linda Sarsour, a Muslim Palestinian-American political activist and one of four organizers of the Women’s March, targeted her religion in attempts to degrade the triumph of the movement. The reports stated that Sarsour allegedly cooperated with terrorist groups and operatives. The only evidence for the report was a single photo of Sarsour speaking at a Muslim convention with Salah Sarsour, a man believed to work for Hamas, a Palestinian Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist group. However, Linda Sarsour and Salah Sarsour are not related. Aside from articles and news outlets, social media has contributed unreliable content in attempt to interfere with campaigns and other movements. A viral video showed a woman violently attacking a Caucasian man in Chicago. The caption claimed the woman was a member of Black Lives Matter. Viewers were led to believe the attack was racially motivated. This video stirred strong reactions from members in and outside the movement. Many Twitter users expressed their embarrassment and anger while others made harsh allegations about the Black Lives Matter movement supporting terrorist values. The video was later debunked with proof that the incident had no relation to Black Lives Matter, but was a simple altercation between a woman and her partner over a trivial matter. Stories and ideas are being published based purely on opinion and rash conclusions. Readers are subjected to believe in these stories when there is no clear distinction between reliable and unreliable news. Influenced readers then share the false information to their peers without being aware of its credibility. Circulated news with erroneous facts have the power to influence
Fake news article above uses clickbait title to engage readers with entertaining yet false information.
the viewpoints of thousands of citizens. False claims that Secretary Hillary Clinton was running a child sex-trafficking ring in a pizzeria and that Donald Trump has secret ties with North Korea to launch nuclear missiles have been able to bolster and destroy political support. Voters of the 2016 election have been fed fake news throughout the race about the two controversial presidential candidates. Although it has proved to be insignificant to the outcome of the election, its small impact has left a standing impression on Donald Trump and his administration. Kellyanne Conway, a spokesperson for Trump, used a nonexistent “Bowling Green Massacre” to defend the travel ban on MSNBC’s program Hardball. She later tweeted that she meant “Bowling Green terrorists,” referring to two Kentucky men who planned to support Al Qaeda. In a recent national poll, 52% of Repub-
lican respondents believed the Bowling Green Massacre actually occurred. Conway made the same Bowling Green Massacre comment in interviews with both Cosmopolitan and TMZ. The remarks give individuals falsified ideas that strengthen her argument, even when the information is inaccurate. This stream of constant, dishonest statements compelled Clinton’s campaign and many other political activists to start their own fact-checking websites. Snopes.com is a website devoted almost entirely to fact-checking some of the more subtle fake news. Recently, for example, the site debunked a mistruth making the rounds that President Trump had made English the official language of the United States. “FALSE,” reported Snopes.com. Fabricated stories have become detrimental to the trust that users have for credible news sources and media platforms, prompting different countermeasures against dishonest propaganda. The CEO of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, initiated steps to allow users to flag and report false news that appear on their feed. If enough people report the information to be false, fact-checkers would look into it to confirm its accuracy. Facebook teamed up with news organizations like ABC News, PolitiFact and The
Associated Press to fact-check articles. Articles that have been flagged by these organizations or by other users now appear with a warning pop-up informing the reader that the content may be false. Although this may seem like a plausible method in blocking phony articles from appearing on a timeline, it is ineffective in separating all the fake from true news. It also does not prevent articles with “clickbait” from attracting so many viewers into believing. Clickbait—titles of articles, videos or posts that have captivating words and phrases—is intended to lure readers and viewers. Sites such as Clickhole and The Onion, both parody sites, are just a couple outlets out of many on Facebook that have clickbait titles and untrue content. Thousands of shares, likes, and views accumulate because of clickbait, especially now that viewers are more easily swayed than ever. The claims in these titles are clear exaggerations because sites such as The Onion and Clickhole are satirical. Titles such as, “Mike Pence Disappointed In the 200,000 Husbands and Fathers Who Permitted Women To Attend March,” “Sending a Message: J.C. Penney Will No Longer Sell Mike Pence’s Line of Jockstraps…,” and “Incompetent Leadership: Donald Trump’s Body Doubles Only Have Arms And Heads” are just a few clickbait titles that can be found on these sites. Their purpose is not aimed to cause serious controversies with false allegations but rather to be humorous. On the other hand, sites such as Breitbart News, based in Beverly Hills, World Truth TV and American News release articles intended to promote propaganda and to create hoaxes. Their intentions cloud the judgement of readers and convince voters to turn the political tide in favor of their particular candidate or party. If there is so much fake news out there, how is it possible to identify it? There are indicative features in deciding whether an article or video is credible. If the claims are outrageous or make the reader feel strong emotions, it may be false. Checking the byline and reading the writer’s biography to see if they work for a corporate sponsor is also an easy way to check. A trustworthy solution is to utilize the news feature app or widget installed on smartphones and tablets. Researching that topic in the news multiple times will also help confirm true information. Widely read outlets such as the L.A. Times, CNN, Time, or The Wall Street Journal use the process of fact-checking and verified sources to deliver real news to their audiences.
6 | Van Nuys High School | The Mirror
vnhsmirror.com | February 16, 2017
Features&Profiles
THE
By Woo Han & Mhar Tenorio The Mirror Staff
O
ne in three Californians supports breaking away from the United States and becoming an independent country, according to a Reuters/ Ipsos poll released on January 24, 2017. Most respondents were Democrats unhappy with the new President. “This is real,” said Marcus Ruiz Evans, the Vice President and co-founder of Yes California. “We treat it seriously.” Since Donald Trump was elected the 45th President of the United States, there has been a growing backlash amongst Californians who are discontent with his policies. Hillary Clinton won all 55 electoral votes for California, a historically Democratic state since 1992. Clinton received 61.5% of the votes while Trump only received 31.5%. Californians have expressed their displeasure in several ways, including protesting with signs that say #NotMyPresident or even going as far as to consider immigrating to Canada. But a campaign called Yes California takes an unconventional approach, promoting the secession of California from the United States of America to become an independent country. This movement is more commonly known as CalExit. Yes California was established in Aug. 2015 and seeks to shape the state’s political dialogue toward secession. They describe themselves as a “nonviolent campaign,” urging through their website yescalifornia.org for people to take action. The group does not promote any kind of insurgency or violence. Citizens have filed petitions before to withdraw from the Union on the White House website, where people can submit petitions about current issues. If a petition gets a large number of signatures, the Administration will seriously consider acting on it. In 2012, the White House required 25,000 signatures— which has since increased to 100,000—for petitions to be reviewed. Six states have had secession petitions that qualified. However, all were rejected. CalExit supporters have a tough road ahead. Seceding from the Union is a lengthy process. After a ballot initiative proposal is submitted, the campaign must gather 585,407 signatures within six months to qualify for a vote. The initiative would seek to amend Article III, Section 1 of the California Constitution, which
BIRTH OF A NATION? As President Trump begins to implement extreme policies that are potentially detrimental to California, a growing movement to secede is receiving increasing support.
states that California is an “inseparable part of the United States of America, and the United States Constitution is the supreme law of the land.” Organizers hope to qualify for the 2018 state ballot. If they succeed and the initiative passes, the question would then be put before state voters in 2019. However, the U.S. Constitution may pose an even bigger issue for CalExit supporters. Article IV Section 3 states that “New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; but no new States shall be formed or erected within the Jurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be formed by the Junction of two or more States, or Parts of States, without the Consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned as well as of the Congress.” Yes California argues that the article does not ban states from leaving the Union. A Supreme Court ruling in 1869 after the Civil War, Texas v. White, declared that states could not secede without the consent of the other states. If supporters are successful in California, the next step would be an amendment to the U.S. Constitution. It would have to be approved by two-thirds of the House of Representatives and two-thirds of the Senate. Then, the consent of at least 38 states would be necessary. Could California stand on its own as a nation? California’s population is large; it is the most populous and most diverse state. In fact, there are more Latinos than Whites in this state. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated population of California was 39,144,818 as of July 1, 2015.
California has more residents than Canada, with a population of about 36 million. California has one of the most booming economies in the United States. It has the sixth largest economy in the world making it economically powerful. The approximate gross state product was $2,496 trillion in 2015. The economy continues to expand, having grown 4.1% from 2014 to 2015. Ms. Beth Moore, a government and economics teacher at Van Nuys High School, thinks it’s unlikely that California will be on its own. Despite this, she acknowledged California’s economic power and agreed that the state would be able to stand on its own feet if it became independent. “We have the sixth largest economy in the world, so I think economically we have a pretty good start,” said Ms. Moore. CalExit supporters offer many reasons why California should become independent. First, California would be less of a target to terrorists, who would be more interested in attacking the United States. Second, the country would be led by people who are only elected by Californians. The considerable taxes paid by the citizens would solely go to California. Finally, California would be in control of its own economy, immigration, education, and healthcare. The CalExit campaign is receiving increasing support as President Trump begins to implement extreme policies that are potentially detrimental to California.
February 16, 2017 | vnhsmirror.com
Comment&Opinion
The Mirror | Van Nuys High School | 7
Preventing Premature Parenthood By MARGARITA HOVSEPYAN
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010. Alexandria, Virginia. T.C. Williams High School makes the decision to install an adolescent health care center on their campus. The clinic offers full time services as a primary care physician and a nurse practitioner. The school’s social worker, David Wynne, confirms that this new addition to William’s campus has accelerated a drop in the number of pregnant teens. In the first year that the clinic was operational, the nearly 50 cases reported every year had dropped to only 20. There is clearly a correlation between the easy access of contraceptives provided by the school with the decreasement in pregnant teens. 2013. Colorado. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment states that there has been a whopping 42% drop in teen pregnancy rates between 2009 and 2013. Largely responsible for this drop is a state program which offers free contraceptives to low-income women. These cases pose a question: Should non-prescription birth control be provided to teens? Or will it be responsible for encouraging more intercourse and undermining a parent’s input in their child’s life decisions? After all, Western culture has become more open to talking about and working to prevent premature parenthood, but the topic still generates much tension and controversy. Parents are concerned that making birth control readily available to their teenage daughters will encourage them to have more sexual intercourse. However, if someone wishes to have sexual intercourse, then they will probably find a way, even if they haven’t taken the proper precautions to protect themselves from unwanted pregnancies. Making birth control more accessible in no way undermines a parent’s authority. Parents still have the power. They can still decide to educate their children. According to USA Today, the South—which has the largest number of schools (55%) that teach abstinence as a form of pregnancy prevention—also has the highest rate of teen births. Teens in states like Maine, New York, Oregon, and California take mandatory sex education, making them more aware of the consequences of unprotected sexual intercourse. However, they may be too embarrassed or afraid to ask for contraceptives (Van Nuys High School offers free condom distribution). Teen pregnancy is a costly matter for U.S. taxpayers. In 2008, it cost at least $10.9 billion according to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. Take into consideration that birth control not only prevents unwanted pregnancies but can also help decrease feminine menstrual pain, treat acne, and prevent sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV, chlamydia and gonorrhea. According to the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), a non-profit organization devoted to professional development, educational leadership, and capacity building, studies across the nation have shown an increase in the number of teens engaging in intercourse. The rise could also be correlated with the decreasing number of religious millennials. Secular teens no longer feel the obligation to respect or follow religious teachings about relationships. Overprotective parents can lead to teenagers becoming even more rebellious. Telling us not to have sex only sparks our curiosity and further encourages us to do the opposite. Access to proper contraceptives and mandatory sex education for all teens—who can take personal responsibility for their actions—is the best way to combat teen pregnancies. Margarita Hovsepyan is an Opinion Writer for The Mirror
Making birth control more accessible for teenagers does not undermine a parent’s authority or lead to more sexual intercourse; instead, it often leads to fewer pregnancies.
8 | Van Nuys High School | The Mirror
Comment&Opinion
FIRST PERSON: Khrista Sayo Participates in the Women’s March L.A.
I Will Fight for Human Rights
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illions of women, men, and children assembled all over the world to unite against the Trump administration and fight for their constitutional rights. The largest march took place in Washington D.C. where approximately 1.2 million people stood at our nation’s capital on Saturday, Jan. 20, the day after President Trump’s inauguration and the first full day of his term. From far and wide, people traveled to take a part in this historical event. Public figures, from celebrities to government elected-officials ,spoke out and stood amongst the crowd, using their voices to advocate for commonalities. Similar events occurred in major cities such as Chicago, New York City, Boston, Miami, Oakland, St. Louis, and here in Los Angeles. Sixty-six countries around the world held their own marches as well, making this event the largest global protest ever. The Women’s March L.A. was initially predicted to attract a couple hundred people, but as the hours passed, numbers grew. This is my personal experience at the march. When I arrived, there were structure of our nation. KHRISTA SAYO | THE MIRROR around 100,000 people in PershAll humans should be accepted ing Square in Downtown L.A. and allowed to express themselves An estimated 350,000 to 750,000 however they please. No matter participants rallied that day to suptheir sexuality, gender, religious port the cause. beliefs, or political views, everyone It was definitely empowering to has a right to be themself. be surrounded by so many other Our country right now is in a people who shared the same views long-overdue process of being as I did—all fighting for the same inclusive to all people regardless cause. Simply by looking at the of identity, and I believe that the artistic and declarative signs that Women’s March is a big step in were paraded around the area, accomplishing this goal. the messages they were trying to The Women’s March is the convey were clear. biggest and the most participated We all sought to secure rights protest in a historical line of social Thousands of people gather to proudly display their beliefs for all the social groups that Trump movements that have promoted threatened during his campaign. We demonstrated our support for social, political, and economic equality. equality for the oppressed: women, people of color, and Muslims to Women fought for suffrage rights mainly in the early 20th name a few. century when they recognized our constitution failed to allow both This social movement is the hope we need during the dark time genders to vote. Labor strikes during the 1930s brought change to where our social liberties could be stripped away. poor working conditions and unfair wages of that time. And the The center stage featured Hollywood talents who felt just as Civil Rights movement in the 1960s attempted to close growing passionately about this issue as the activists involved in the march. racial divide that was evident in the institutionalized racism of our Ariana Grande, Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato, Rowan Blanchard, government. Kerri Washington, Natalie Portman and many other celebrities We would not be living in the world we do today were it not for made an appearance to speak for the cause. those historical protests that greatly impacted our society. Their compelling speeches used powerful rhetoric to urge the Change is possible, and it will happen one way or another. public to resist the potential revocation of their rights, which are Power derives from the people, and we will determine the fate of threatened by Trump. our country. Being in the midst of thousands upon thousands of people It is vital to move forward, not backward, in order for progress who believe in the freedom of all Americans was an inspiring and and prosperity to occur. People who take active roles can resist the motivating moment for me. human injustices that the Trump government tries to put into action. I hold my own views about political issues and support centering Despite the fears and doubts that some of us may have during this around the individual liberties of each person. I believe that this belief troubling time, it is important to continue to hope, resist, and unite. was the foundation that our country was built upon 240 years ago. As one speaker said that day, “It’s going to be okay.” Every person is entitled to express themselves and their ideas freely in America. It is exactly what upholds the social and political Khrista Sayo is a Staff Writer for The Mirror.
Trump Twitter Relentlessly Throws Shade By KESHAN HUANG & ELISSA CHOI No. We aren’t talking about Trump Tower, Trump Real Estate, Trump Golf, or even Trump Steak. Trump Twitter is where everything is— the same place where high school students post memes and throw shade relentlessly. In fact, in the case of President Donald J. Trump, the situation is not that different. “The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese…,” “I have never seen a thin person drinking Diet Coke,” “Wow, television ratings just out: 31 million people watched the Inauguration, 11 million more than the very good ratings from 4 years ago!” Just last week, 11 of President Trump’s tweets contained false or inaccurate
information, including his claim that the court’s rule stopping Trump’s Muslim Ban will allow “very bad and dangerous people” to enter the country, which is backed up by very little evidence. From relationship advice to complaints about getting attacked by the musical theater kids, Trump Twitter has served as one of the main sources of social ridicule and humiliation. Shows such as Saturday Night Live and The Stephen Colbert Show have used political satire to target Trump’s recent actions since he was sworn in as president. Saturday Night Live performed parody skits about Trump and his late night Twitter rants. They usually portray him to be clueless and childish, a portrayal that sticks true to Trump himself. Senator Bernie Sanders displayed a giant
printout of a Trump tweet on the Senate floor to call upon Trump to veto any legislation that aimed to cut funds for Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. The tweet stated, “I was the first & only potential GOP candidate to state there will be no cuts to Social Security, Medicare & Medicaid.” Trump is notorious for contradicting his own words, and this tweet is not the first time he has done so. As an administration and president that has claimed to “Make America Great Again” since the beginning of time, Trump’s presidency has shown true maturity and strength via his shallow and petty tweets displayed for the world to see. Keshan Huang is Editor-Chief and Elissa Choi is Staff Writer for The Mirror.
vnhsmirror.com | February 16, 2017
The M irror vnhsmirror.com Editors-in-Chief Keshan Huang Jeehyun Kim Shayda Shevidi Layout Editor Elizabeth Ortiz Chief Financial Officer Lauren Yu News Editors Ezra Kim Tyler Jung
Features Editor Amanda Godfrey Opinion Editor Mayra Macias Entertainment Editor Jenisa Chuayjarernsook Sports Editors Brian Clavio Nazaret Jarekian Photo Editor Shimla Rahman Social Media Editors Khrista Sayo and Elissa Choi Copy Editors Woo Han Theresa Nguyen Yerin Oh Magnet Newsletter Editors Esther Choe and Brian Choi Staff Writers/Photographers Jackson Beckman-Smith Chandler Beon Madison Brown Tommy Chan Brian Han Margarita Hovsepyan Antonio Ibarrola Gina Kim Jason Linares Giselle Lopez Chelsea Ma Kevin Mo Eralla Montgomery Christian Naves Jiyeong Park Ariana Rodriguez Lucas Shim Mhar Tenorio Lindsay Tidmasrsh Stefanie Tyo Ty Willis Lauren Woolsey Journalism Advisor Mr. Ron Goins The Mirror is the student newspaper of Van Nuys High School. It is published five times per year. Unsigned editorials represent the majority opinion of the seniors on the Editorial Board. Letters to the editor may be delivered to Room 112 or mailed to 6535 Cedros Ave, Van Nuys, CA 91411. Letters must be signed and may be edited for space and to conform to The Mirror style and format. Advertising questions may be directed to Lauren Yu at lyu0006@mymail. lausd.net. Publication of an advertisement does not imply endorsement of the product or service by the newspaper or the school. The opinions expressed in bylined commentary articles and columns represent the views of the individual writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Mirror or the Editorial Board.
February 16, 2017 | vnhsmirror.com
Arts&Entertainment
Young Designer Takes on Project Runway Junior
The Mirror | Van Nuys High School | 9
CHELSEA MA | THE MIRROR
By Lucas Shim The Mirror Staff
V
an Nuys High School is home to another budding celebrity. Chelsea Ma, a sophomore in the Math and Science Magnet, is currently competing on Project Runway Junior, a TV series spin-off of the original Project Runway created by Eli Holzman. Project Runway, airing since 2004, is a competition in which contestants compete to create the best clothing design with limited time and materials. As members are eliminated one by one every episode, tougher challenges await for the remaining contestants. Project Runway Junior, a direct descendant of the original series, is currently airing on Thursdays at 9 p.m. on Lifetime in North America. The show offers a different vibe from the original by bringing teenagers ages 13 to 18 years into the fold and offering younger generations to participate with their own creative ideas. In the current season, three contestants have been eliminated within five episodes, leaving only nine members including Ma to compete until the season finale. Before her arrival on the show, Ma needed to take small steps by amplifying and practicing her skills. At the age of 12, she began taking lessons ranging from hand-sewing, to drafting patterns, to draping, etc. In the process of becoming a contestant, Ma went through a series of audition rounds at the beginning of May 2016. The first round included an extensive online questionnaire about herself including her designing skills. She produced a portfolio of her work and published an audition tape on Youtube. A few weeks later, she was interviewed over the phone for 45 minutes with one of the show’s producers. After waiting a couple of weeks, she received a Skype call with another producer to display and prove her acting skills on camera. After making it into the semifinals, Ma was invited to the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. She
Behind the scene shot of Chelsea Ma’s design collection
was required to bring a rack of her own clothes and present them in front of two judges , a row of producers, and cameramen. The judges immediately started their elimination game, but Ma was able to make it to the final round, where she was interviewed on camera with the executive producers in New York. After fighting her way for months through multiple auditions and interviews, she finally received her dream call saying that she was accepted into season two of Project Runway Junior. “When I found out that I was the part of the cast, I felt like I had the ability to do 27 consecutive back flips and fly to the moon... it was great,” said Ma. Ma and the other contestants filmed their first episode in New York City on Dec. 22, 2016. The first challenge took place at Central Park where the junior designers were
The Internet Is Changing Us. How Is It Changing Literature? By Madison Brown
SHIMLA RAHMAN | THE MIRROR
The Mirror Staff
Have you ever read a book that’s changed your opinion on something, specifically a political standpoint?
From a political standpoint, nothing is particularly substantial to mention because I prefer to read for lighthearted enjoyment. But I do subscribe to several magazines to stay current and informed. Do you think history is important to understand or to be mindful of when reading literature? Or does it not affect what’s currently being written?
M
edia changes constantly and often affects a lot of what we do—how we perceive our environment and even how we present ourselves. Social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook are a great way for news and trends to spread, but how is new media affecting modern writers? Self-titled “Johnny Depp look alike,” Mr. Kurt Kaufman is an English teacher at Van Nuys High School. He has been teaching here for eight years, racking up an overall 18 years of stubborn students and grammar lessons, and actually graduated from Van Nuys High School himself. Born in Waukegan, Illinois, Mr. Kaufman grew up in North Hollywood. He was taught to respect the value of education. During his college years at the University
to design any piece of clothing that they desired. Ma began with an outstanding design of a black coat-like dress with fabrics like organza and vinyl. While one contestant was eliminated, Ma’s design was able to impress the judges, allowing her to pass into the next round. Her favorite design that she crafted on the show was shown on the third episode, “En Garde Avant Garde.” The term “avant-garde” means the introduction of experimental and unusual ideas, specifically in the arts; in this case, the contestants had to create unique, cutting-edge designs. Ma crafted her design from black leather and neoprene fabric. As the show continues, Ma says the audience can expect progressively exquisite designs from her. “They [audience] can expect my usual weird stories and my horrible one liners. They can also look forward to my future wins.” The last episode airs Thursday Feb. 23 for Ma’s final chance to prove that she’s Project Runway’s best.
Mr. Kaufman: Literary Prognosticator
of California, Davis, where he graduated in 1988, he focused on developing his intellect and planning his future. Mr. Kaufman is a big fan of science fiction—a genre that’s known for turning the present into artful literature.
This is a common question concerning literature and storytelling: “Should the story stand alone or should the reader have to already recognize references?” It depends on the author’s style and whether it is supposed to be a comment on the real world. One end of this spectrum would be Animal Farm; a reader should know some examples of fascist dictators to understand the themes and symbols. On the other end, the science fiction masterpiece, Dune, by Frank Herbert, stands alone with no connection to our society or history. Do you think social media has become a distraction? It’s a double-edged sword. It has revolutionized communication, but it has created
new problems and dangers. How do you feel about forms of writing being centered around more modern media and technology?
Progress in technology improves how writing is composed and shared. Creating the poem or writing is still a creative process. This aspect of it has not changed. Yes, autocorrect has improved spelling, but you still have to think of the original pieces and then say/write/type the words out. In your opinion, will social media and current political movements on apps like Twitter and Instagram create a new environment for writers?
Yes, but I am not active on either so I cannot speak about them. The most revolutionary aspect of all of these apps and social media is that they potentially connect all individual users with each other over the entire planet. It revolutionized areas such as journalism, entertainment, personal correspondence, to research. For the most part, social media shapes our society and the way we respond. While literature may seem outdated in today’s modern world, the writers and styles will always change the same way as our technology and social trends do.
10 | Van Nuys High School | The Mirror
Arts&Entertainment
vnhsmirror.com | February 16, 2017
Mike, Dustin, Lucas, and Eleven embark on their strenuous journey to find their companion Will, who mysteriously disappears.
Stranger Things from Netflix leaves viewers drooling for more of the hit supernatural comedy.
Things Get Stranger & Stranger By Lucas Shim The Mirror Staff
W
hile most people keep raving about the New England Patriots and their amazing comeback to prevail in Super Bowl LI, others are drooling over the new teaser trailer for the second season of Stranger Things that previewed during the commercials. Right after the trailer aired, Netflix immediately uploaded it on Youtube where it reached approximately 11 million views in less than two days. The trailer made Netflix the most mentioned 2017 Super Bowl Brand with a total of 307,000 tweets and counting on Twitter. It was also nominated in the Ad Blitz, where users can vote for their favorite commercial that aired specifically for the Super Bowl. Currently, the media is buzzing with reaction videos and fan theories about the
show. Stranger Things is a science fiction/fantasy based drama that first aired July 2016 on Netflix. It was written by Matt and Ross Duffer, who are also known for directing a thriller called Hidden and writing several episodes of the TV series Wayward Pines. The show’s first season, set in a small Indiana town in 1983, revolves around a boy, Will Byers, who mysteriously disappears without a single trace after leaving his friend’s house. Racing to find her son, his mother, Joyce Byers, played by Winona Ryder, desperately calls Chief Jim Hopper, played by David Harbour, for help and to spread the news about her missing child. Meanwhile, Will’s friends, Mike Wheeler, Dustin Henderson, and Lucas Sinclair, played by Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, and Caleb McLaughlin, decide to investigate Will’s disappearance on their own—until they come across a strange girl who calls herself “Eleven,” played by Millie Bobby Brown. Soon realizing that Eleven’s background may somewhat be
connected to Will’s disappearance, the kids, including Joyce and Hopper, come across supernatural phenomena and secret government experiments in their quest for the truth. The reason why Stranger Things stands out from other shows is that while it has a unique 80’s vibe with references to Star Wars and comic books, it is also able to express multiple themes such as horror and romance, with a slight touch of comedy. The horror aspect revolves around the sudden disappearance of Will Byers and the mystery behind Eleven. These events present an ominous tone with intense popups that kept the audience on the edge of their seats. Teenagers can relate to the romantic aspect of the show, especially the teen drama between characters Nancy Wheeler and Steve Harrington, played by Natalie Dyer and Joe Keery, and even the comedic relationships, such as the one between Mike and Eleven. However, the supernatural eventually catches up to each one of them. After watching the first ten minutes of
the first episode, it’s apparent that there’s going to be a comedic vibe, especially between Mike, Dustin, Lucas and their light-hearted encounters with Eleven, even as the show turns more serious and dark. The show hardly has any drawbacks, but some may be disappointed that a majority of the mysteries and cliffhangers presented throughout the season were not answered as the storyline ends. However, keeping the story at a stable pace and not shoving all the answers down the audience’s throats was a good strategy by the Duffer Brothers, considering that they are most likely saving the answers for the second season. The cliffhangers gave the audiences no choice but to click on the next episode for more. The show managed to receive a user rating of 9.0 on IMDB and a fresh score of 95% by both audience and critics on Rotten Tomatoes. Fans can hardly for its return on Oct. 31. Until then, we’ll be on our toes to find out what lies ahead for the characters.
Must See: A New Musical Classic La La Land, a movie reminiscent of yesteryear’s extravaganzas, whimsically dances and sings its way through the City of Angels. By Madison Brown The Mirror Staff
L
a La Land was an overnight hit. Written and directed by Damien Chazelle, the film stars Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone. With a 93% Rotten Tomatoes rating, the highly acclaimed movie has warmed its way into critics’ hearts—a hard-to-accomplish feat. The movie revolves around two characters, Mia (Stone) and Sebastian (Gosling), and how they find their way in the City of Angels. Viewers immediately find themselves amongst a whimsical, musical number titled “Another Day of Sun,” where the movie’s large and vibrant introduction commences with Damien Chazelle’s “Los Angeles.” The musical number leads into the main characters’ first encounter. While many people don’t often jump out of their cars when they’re on the 101 and 405 ramp, it instills a very LA-
centric feeling by the end of the number. The next two hours are filled with music and stars and an overwhelming need to own a jazz club. There were a few parts in the middle that feel slow, but songs like “A Lovely Night” and “City of Stars” make up for whatever time issues there are. Director Damien Chazelle said in an interview that this movie took seven years to produce, starting as a pipe dream with his friend—and composer for nearly every note in La La Land—Justin Hurwitz. It eventually turned into an epic adventure. For the audience, it feels like a story you’ve seen a million times before—except it’s just as fresh and emotional as the first love story you saw. Not only does the film focus around relationships, but it also focuses around falling in love with the abundant city we live in. The movie is going head-to-head with the other smash hit cinema flick, Moonlight, at most award shows. The two films feel like they are in a Battle of the Bands,
Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) and Mia (Emma Stone) are both struggling artists finding their way through Los Angeles.
where the bands feature John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Despite the competition between the two movies, La La Land won a whopping seven Golden Globes, all of which were well deserved. Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone’s chemistry is wonderful and feels quite natural. The movie is loud, colorful, and overall is very reminiscent of older Hollywood movies.
February 16, 2017 | vnhsmirror.com
The Mirror | Van Nuys High School | 11
Sports
Varsity Ballers on a Roll GISELLE LOPEZ | THE MIRROR
By Nazaret Jarekian & Eralla Montgomery
TOMMY CHAN | THE MIRROR
The Mirror Staff
T
he regular season is over, and the playoffs are right around the corner for the Boy’s Varsity Basketball team. The Wolves have played their best season ever under Coach Evan Porter. For the first time, the Wolves have the best overall record in their division (19-9) and the second best league record (10-2) behind Sylmar (11-1). Over the last two years the team has had some success, finishing 16-14 in 2015, and 15-13 in 2016. But this season’s team is different, in a special way. Led by Star Guard Tyree Winborn, the Wolves offense averages a little over 70 points a game, with 20 of those points scored by Winborn, who leads not only the Wolves, but also the league in points per game. Winborn is not the only player on the team playing outstanding ball. Matthew Sykes, averaging 13.7 points and 5.8 rebounds, is the fourth leading scorer and the second leading rebounder in the league. On defense, Sykes is head and shoulders above every single other player, averaging 1.3 blocks per game. The second leader in blocks, averages 0.6 less a game. Captain Ethan Quiambao has been the architect of the team’s offense, averaging 2.9 assists a game, which is also the league’s best. Kevin Hurlic III is third in assists, averaging 1.5 per game. Not to mention “double-double machine” Anthony Daniels, who is known to have insane games, such as his 22-point 13-rebound performance on the road against school rival, Panorama. This ball squad understands how to play as a team: every single player knows their role, accepts their role, and excels in their role. But this isn’t just a one man show. LAUREN WOOLSEY | THE MIRROR
Kamal Singh attempts to steal the ball from the opposing Regent.
ARIANA RODRIGUEZ | THE MIRROR
Star guard Tyree Winborn helps the Boys Varsity team move forward against their opponents.
Coach Porter deserves much of the credit for their success. In the upcoming postseason, the Wolves look to easily outrun other teams with their high-paced offense and their bulldogs on defense, who force turnovers that led to easy transition baskets. The Wolves are a difficult team to guard because they employ many different offensive weapons and skills. Most teams have one swiss army knife player who can do a little bit of everything on the court. The Wolves have more than one, and that’s what makes them so dangerous this year. Any player on the team can contribute to the game, whether it is Winborn dropping 30, Quiambao setting up beautiful plays for his teammates, Sykes locking
Kevin Hurlic takes the burden for his team against Canoga Park Hunters.
down opponents on defense, or Daniels dominating the board. This team comes at you in every single direction. Although this isn’t a single-star team, Winborn’s performance makes you think so. His tight handle of the ball combined with his explosiveness allows him to get to the rim whenever, and when he gets there, he uses his pseudo ambidextrous skills to
finish the play. But if you sag off him, anticipating him to drive into the paint, he can pull up and shoot the ball with what seems like unlimited range. There is no stopping him on the court. Van Nuys is solid in every aspect of the game. To whichever team faces the Wolves in the postseason, know that you are witnessing something special in the making.
Playoff Opponents Beware: Wolves on the Hunt Brian Clavio & Antonio Ibarrola The Mirror Staff
T
he Van Nuys Wolves Basketball Team is back at the top of the Valley Mission League. Since Head Coach Evan Porter joined the team in the 2013-14 season, the Wolves have not been at the top until now. The Wolves have constructed an overall record of 19-9 and a 10-2 league record for the 2016-17 season. After his first coaching year at Van Nuys, where he had a horrendous 2-10 record, the Wolves have since gained a positive league record for two years straight. This year has been the best, topping Coach Porter’s previous records of 8-4 in the 2014-15 season and 7-5 in the 2015-16 season.
Much of their success was because of the foundation that Coach Porter built within this team. This was possible with the recruitment of Tyree Winborn and the leadership of Captain Ethan Quiambao. Ethan’s ability to strategically place his team members to impede the opposing team’s defense has allowed Van Nuys’ offense to be impeccable. Winborn has been considered to be the “main carry” of the team. Leading the league at 20 points per game (ppg), his offensive presence in each game is nothing short of intimidating. The most recent game where Winborn showed his dominance was on a road game at Canoga Park High School. He led the team to an 85-44 victory by scoring a season high of 40 points as well as grabbing 5 rebounds. Van Nuys had several blowout games such as their 104-
61 stomp against San Fernando and their 79-36 victory versus Reseda. Van Nuys has also been able to triumph over their rival, Panorama High School. The Wolves surpassed the Pythons in both games, defeating them 84-61 on the first game and 64-52 on the second game. Even with the moral-boosting victories, the team still experienced some tragic upsets. In their most recent game with the Sylmar Spartans, the Wolves had the lead until the Spartans went on a 14-3 run in the 4th quarter to steal the victory from Van Nuys. In the second game facing the Kennedy Cougars, the Wolves faced a similar defeat as they lost grip of their lead on the 3rd quarter. The Cougars went on a 21-9 run on the third quarter and an 18-16 run on the 4th quarter, overtaking the Wolves by a mere 4 points.
12 | Van Nuys High School | The Mirror
vnhsmirror.com | February 16, 2017
Sports
SHIMLA RAHMAN | THE MIRROR
Rookie Sarah Choe Shoots for
GOLD By Jeehyun Kim
The Mirror Editor-in-Chief
S
tanding next to Sarah Choe are young players representing their own countries, many who have been playing for multiple years, if not a decade. She holds her Pardini three-pound pistol, standing perpendicular to the target in the European Championships in Munich, holding her gun. As a sixteen-year-old sophomore at Van Nuys High School, Choe currently represents the USA Junior team for 10 meter shooting. She attended her first international game on Jan. 26 and 27 for the European Championship in Munich, Germany. In order to qualify for the European Championship,
Choe had to place first, second, or third in the Winter Airgun Championship at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. The competition was held over a three day period. On the first day, Choe placed second place in the junior (21 and under) women’s match. On the second day, she placed first in the open (all ages) women’s match. On the final day of the competition, she finished with another first place, this time in junior women’s match. Choe wasn’t interested in shooting when she was little.
When a fellow Van Nuys student, Angela Park, first introduced her to shooting, Choe refused to participate in the unconventional sport. “You don’t see someone just casually shooting, and I knew that it was going to be really time-consuming and difficult,” said Choe. After much persuasion from her sister and her mom, Choe decided to join the Bridge Junior Club, a shooting club under the direction of Coach In Kim during the summer before her first year in high school. With dedicated support from Coach Kim, who already had an established reputation in the shooting field, Choe became a champion even though she only has a year-anda-half of experience with gun. At first, Choe was hesitant to participate in the European Championship in Munich. “I wasn’t confident,” she said. “I had to compete against opponents who have been playing for years. Their lives revolved around shooting. Meanwhile, I was just a newbie and lacked experience.” Despite her doubts, she ended up
being by myself and knowing that I am not only person to rely on, and no one else. In shooting, it’s really just you. YOU either shoot well or not. You can’t expect other people to shoot for you.” Shooting can be an incredibly stressful and tense sport, as a one millimeter shift can change the outcome drastically. Competitors need training to trust themselves and tune out the audience or the people around them. “I sing songs in my head during competition,” said Choe. “It helps me focus and get less tense about shooting.” Choe plans to keep training with Coach Kim. Her main goal is to win more gold in international competitions. If she remains on her current trajectory, she is almost assured to represent the USA in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
placing eighth overall in the Juniors International Competition. After her outstanding performance, Choe decided to continue her shooting career. Choe has come to love shooting. “I like
goal
“Keep in mind what your is, and you will do well. I mean, that’s what I did.”
Sophomore Sarah Choe participates in an international competition to represent USA.
COURTESY OF SARAH CHOE
SHIMLA RAHMAN | THE MIRROR
PLAYER PROFILE:
John Galvan Spikes up a Storm
By Brian Choi & Brian Han The Mirror Staff
J
Galvan is ready to take on his opponents as captain of the Varsity Volleyball team.
ohn Galvan first joined the Boy’s Junior Varsity Volleyball team as a freshman. Throughout tenth and eleventh grade, John played as a middle blocker/ hitter. This year, as Varsity Captain, he started as an outside hitter. Standing at 5’11’’, Galvan’s lanky arms combined with his 34-inch vertical jump distance makes him one of the most successful middle blockers and outside hitters on the team. His greatest weakness is passing, but his greatest asset is placement of the ball. Although many student athletes struggle to balance academics and sports, Galvan claims that great time management skills are the major key to his success.
“Our advantage this season is our size, but our disadvantage is our lack of experience.” Being a varsity player on any team inflicts a tremendous amount of pressure. “It is a lot of pressure because of the high expectations coming from my teammates and coach,” Galvan said. Before any nerve-wracking match, Galvan’s secret to calming his own is to isolate himself from the others, listen to music, and properly warm-up. This season, the team expects to perform with laser-sharp focus. Galvan and his teammates look forward to going deep into playoffs and fighting for the Division 1 Championship. “Our advantage this season is our size, but our disadvantage is our lack of experience.”
As a captain, Galvan’s plan is to bring the team closer together, promote team chemistry, and develop great communication skills with them. He believes that communication is also the concept that they need to work on the most. Galvan would love to play college volleyball but he tells us that he believes that his chances are highly unlikely, although the team disagrees. “My favorite part of the season is the competition,” said Galvan.“Our team has potential to win it all this year but we just need to stay disciplined and maintain our team bonds.” There are many additions to the team who lack experience, but Galvan confidently declares that they are ready to learn. Van Nuys’ toughest adversary in the league this season will be the Sylmar Spartans. “As a senior, I want to give it my all,” he said.