Letter in the mail isn’t your future
May 20, 2019
“Hey, did you get into the college you wanted?” Everyone gets asked this question from the moment the letters come in. Some may answer with a prideful smile, recounting the exact moment they realized they were accepted into such-and-such university. Others’ smiles may falter, as they re...
How the beauty of my culture helped me embrace it
Pramika Kadari, Executive News Editor
May 18, 2019
Nine years ago, my 7-year-old self excitedly climbed onto a school bus for the first time and sat next to a friendly-looking boy. While introducing ourselves to each other, he made a face and said, “your name is really weird”; being the dramatic child I was, I cried to my mother upon returning home that day. I have been embarrassed about my name ever si...
Becoming myself again
Umama Suriya, Staff Writer
May 17, 2019
Quiet. She sits there on a desk surrounded by her classmates, silent and looking at her laptop. Trying to work, can’t focus, constantly nodding her head yes to every person who asked her if she was OK. I was born in Pakistan in 2002 and moved to California in 2004, when I was only about 18 months old. Fr...
Saying “I love you” should be embraced, not discouraged
Sally Parampottil, Co-Student Life Editor
May 14, 2019
I love saying “I love you.” I say it to my friends and family, my classmates and peers and they always give me, at the very least, a bright smile. It makes them happy to hear. When I hear someone say they love me back, a similar feeling ensues. Yet somehow, people find an issue with the phrase....
A dual identity
Christine Zacuai, Executive News Editor
May 10, 2019
The December drive back from College Station after a night out caroling with my youth group is an unforgettable one. Little to nothing is seen on the road, besides the occasional stop sign or roadkill. But it isn’t difficult to hear the lively chatter and guitar riffs in the van that didn’t m...
Political gains for women providing promise for America’s future
Akansha Singh, Staff Writer
May 8, 2019
In 1863, Abraham Lincoln described the U.S. government as “for the people and by the people,” a valiant vision for a country founded on freedom and liberty. In 2018, America came closer to that vision. One hundred and seventeen women were elected to Congress in 2018: 102 to the House of Representatives a...
Winging it
Nicholas Pranske, Executive Sports Editor
May 7, 2019
It was not the turbulence, it was not a weird guy sitting next to me. It was not airport security, it was not even having to wake up at 4 a.m. The strangest thing about my recent flight to John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, Cailf. was the looks on people’s faces when I told them I am 17 and had nev...
Celebrating teachers as literal superheroes
Claire Clements, Editorial Page Editor
May 6, 2019
First things first. Teachers deserve the pay of doctors. Of course, I have to disclose something that just might affect this viewpoint: I have two grandparents, three aunts, three cousins and, perhaps the biggest influence, my mom, April Clements, who are all involved or were involved with edu...
We are our biggest fear
Anika Arutla, Staff Writer
April 17, 2019
That will not happen to me. That is what most of us say - until it does. There is an assumption that everything will solve itself and that a safety net will catch us if something were to happen. This mindset is nothing new, it exists within every person. Our parents were just as carefree a...
Mental health should be priority, not an afterthought
April 9, 2019
Modern adolescents are known for their sporadic attitudes, desire for independence and raging hormones. Many teens have seen the familiar picture of adults rolling their eyes, humored smiles on their faces, sighing, “teenagers,” with a shake of their head. Often, we are suppressed by this cliche...
Photo Essay: What my house has taught me about cultivating culture
Kelly Wei, Editor-in-Chief
April 5, 2019
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