How the beauty of my culture helped me embrace it
Pramika Kadari, Executive News Editor
May 18, 2019
Filed under Opinions, Personal Columns
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
Filed under Opinions, Personal Columns
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
Filed under Opinions, Personal Columns
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....
Winging it
Nicholas Pranske, Executive Sports Editor
May 7, 2019
Filed under Opinions, Personal Columns
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
Filed under Opinions, Personal Columns
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...
Cringe culture inspires fear, not comedy
April 4, 2019
Filed under Opinions, Personal Columns
Some of the most popular content on YouTube contains the word “cringe”, for example Top Ten Cringiest Videos and Best Cringe (20XX). They bolster clips of tweens cosplaying, adults singing poorly, teenagers dancing or children stuttering. These videos are listed as “comedy”, but the effe...
Coming to terms with my natural body image
Shravya Mahesh, Staff Writer
April 2, 2019
Filed under Opinions, Personal Columns
If you were to meet me for the first time, the first thing you would probably notice is how skinny I am. At least, this is what my numerous acquaintances, classmates, friends and family members seem to have immediately noticed. I cannot count how many times I have heard someone exclaim how thi...
From Colombia to the U.S.: Not exactly the American dream (with video)
Laura Amador-Toro, Staff Photographer
March 18, 2019
Filed under Opinions, Personal Columns, Showcase
Since moving to the U.S., I can’t help but miss Colombia every single day. I remember getting to school early and hearing the birds chirp so pleasantly, as if you were alone in the middle of the forest. There, my friends and I had similar experiences when it came to joining a new school....
What journalism means to me: Improving work ethic leads to heightened passion
Pramika Kadari, Copy Editor
February 24, 2019
Filed under Opinions, Personal Columns
After being assigned my first Sidekick story in September 2017, I basically forgot about it - until former Sidekick entertainment editor Kelly Wei, who is now serving as editor-in-chief, confronted me for missing my deadline a week later. Somehow, I was genuinely confused about why she cared ...
Lasting impression: how journalism has impacted me, allowed me to find my own story
Sofia Guerrero, Co-Student Life Editor
February 23, 2019
Filed under Opinions, Personal Columns
It was freshman year, and I had to make a decision. I was currently in Principles of Arts, A/V Tech and Communications, and I was having trouble choosing between the newspaper and the broadcast course. Both intrigued me for different reasons, but it was journalism as a whole that excite...
How journalism allowed me to better understand myself
Shravya Mahesh, Staff Writer
February 22, 2019
Filed under Opinions, Personal Columns
“What do you want to be when you grow up?” From the moment this question was posed, I wondered what I would do in the future. I explored various hobbies and fields, including fashion design, forensics and music, yet none of them seemed to stick quite right. Finally, one d...
Hearing great stories, seeing little details
Sally Parampottil, Co-Student Life Editor
February 21, 2019
Filed under Opinions, Personal Columns
Stories have always fascinated me. From a young age, I would read book after book and watch movie after movie to build up my collection of tales. When I joined The Sidekick staff, I found that journalism became my new source of stories. Journalism gives me a chance to meet people I woul...
