National League of Cities Congressional Conference 

Date: May 31st, 2025

By: Prableen Kaur

 The NLC Congressional Conference is held in Washington, D.C., on March 10-12. The Junior City Council selects 4 student members each year to have the opportunity to attend the conference. Junior Councils from across the nation are invited to participate. Your Journalism President Rowan Santos and member Prableen Kaur were able to attend, alongside Junior Council member Phia Chia, and we had an astounding experience!

We attended workshops, met people across the nation, explored D.C., and met many impressive people. Honestly, it was a lot of work, but I’d say we did a great job. We had setbacks, though, such as the hotel sink pipe somehow breaking. It sounds humorous when we look back at it, but honestly, that was quite scary, but it taught us how to persevere through challenges without guidance. 

 After the last workshop, there was a party hosted at the conference spot with music and dancing. You’d be shocked seeing people who were just in suits, shaking off the stress from travel and workshops, doing backflips and getting into that dancing spirit, with such duality! That night, we met with the Mayor of Auburn and the City Council over dinner. We gained valuable insights about the government, our city, and identified additional opportunities for us. We learned about their lives and journey, but also had some light-hearted conversations. I had a great, down-to-earth conversation with Council member Kent Hay that I will never forget. It honestly showed us that local government officials or seemingly “uptight” people are just normal people who joke around and want to make the city better for others, and also for their family. 

We are proud to have represented Auburn, and we unfortunately did not see any others from Washington State, so we were glad to be the ones there! There were so many from states such as Texas, Oregon, and North Carolina. At the last workshop, pitches were given on stage. The one from Jarrell David was moving and had an immense amount of emotion. He sounded like a real president, and as it ended, people stood and cheered. Jarrell is the Chairman of The Young Dem Party of Proviso and Superintendent Roundtable President Emeritus. He is a very passionate young man. 

To sum it up, NLC felt like one of those life experiences that are rare, can’t be described, and would stick with you forever. It felt like a first step into the adult world. It’s been months since NLC, but I am writing this with the thoughts still fresh in my mind. I hope we can spread awareness about opportunities such as these through leadership opportunities like the Junior City Council. I wish that these types of things were better known about, and not just told through connections. 

Age in Politics: An Examination 

Throughout American history, we have had presidents that were bidding for a candidacy at a reasonable age and some weren’t really at the ideal age that one would think a president should be at. But let me remind you, the requirement age to be president is 35 and there are many that exceeded that limit. Theodore Roosevelt was 42 years old when he became president and that made him the youngest president in American history. Following that, Kennedy, Clinton, Obama and a few more presidents were all in their 40s when being elected president. That alone isn’t so bad, matter fact it pretty much fits the requirements of being a president. However, we’ve had presidents that were much older than those presidents and were at the age of instead of being president, they were at the age of being admitted into a retirement home. Gerald Ford, Dwight Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan and most notably, Donald Trump and Joe Biden. Let me also remind you that Joe Biden became the oldest person to ever become the commander in chief. He began his presidency at 78 years old and ended his presidency at 82 which doesn’t seem to make anything much better.  

The point that I’m making here is that there must be an age limit to hold such higher positions like being president or a senator. Having a limit would benefit American the society and instead of having those who are at an age that aren’t really suitable for holding such a position, we need those that actually fit to hold a position and are ready to impose “new” ideas into our society that’ll benefit others not only for the sake of their own. By “new” ideas, I mean that these ideas will stem from others in older generations  that have proposed ideas as similar as whatever idea that they have. As of right now, we are seeing a rise of a new generation that are holding government positions and we still see those of older generations in the government but they must realize that they can't  hold these positions forever. They might have some advantage but at the same time at some point, the American people are going to wake up and not want them in office anymore. Maybe they’d want to see fresh faces that are qualified and ready to become the voice of the people instead of those that have been holding these positions for what seems like ages. It could be time to change things around a bit and have this generation show those of the older and younger generation that we are capable of holding these positions. We can be the voice of the people, old or young but only by the will of people. 

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Not  a "Trend", but an incremental factor of growth

By: Rowan Santos 

Date: April 26th, 2025

A pivotal occurrence of the 2020s has been the prioritization of DEI (d their DEI initiatives, aligning with President Trump’s conservative agenda. 

This rebuke of DEI hit closer to home, striking schools on March 14, 2025. Recently, an Idaho teacher was demanded to take down her poster, depicting the words, “Everyone is welcome here.” Law enforcement demanded that Sarah Inama, a sixth-grade history teacher at Lewis and Clark Middle School in Meridian, Idaho, delete this “Controversial message.” Enforcements claimed this message evoked evocative, progressive mindsets. They claimed it would disrupt the classroom environment, causing terror within school grounds.

This forced denial of DEI is incredibly absurd. The sign exclaimed a positive message, encouraging the idea of belonging. There is nothing wrong or detrimental about a sign radiating inclusivity and safety. Numerous students feel embraced by signs like these. They feel safe, supported, and accepted by these messages. Political leaders are prioritizing their beliefs, rather than the betterment of society.

This occurrence makes us wonder whether DEI removals will surface at our school. I am concerned about the future of inclusivity at Auburn Mountain View. Signs are modestly arrayed all throughout the school, enriching our multi-identity presence. These signs make us feel safe and belong in political leadership against acceptance. 

Eid Mubarak: A Celebration Cored in Community

By: Rowan Santos

Date: April 3rd 2025

To commemorate Eid Mubarak, the Afghani club at AMHS, empowered by JROTC, hosted a celebration filled with food, joy, and connection. Eid al-Fitr occurred on March 30th, and billions of Islam practitioners rejoiced in this paramount holiday. Historically,  Eid Mubarak is a greeting meaning "blessed festival" used by Muslims during the two main Islamic festivals, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, which commemorate the end of Ramadan and the Hajj pilgrimage, respectively. 

Hundreds of students who roam the halls have Afghan heritage. Mountain View has one of the highest Afghani populations in Washington state. Their diverse cultures, foods, and expressions contribute to the cultural vibrancies within our school. Through their populous, they organized the “Afghani Student Association” a club aimed to empower and unify students with Heritage in Afghanistan. This club is the first of its kind and is a major stepping stone to progress and cultural equality.

They hosted a celebration on April 3rd, and it was unforgettable. Numerous  Muslim students dressed in cultural clothing, reflecting the fashion from their countries. Many students were adorned with beautiful textiles, colored in red patterns, topped off with jewels bedewed on their garments. Their outfits reflected the pride in their cultures and the beauties of their homelands. 

One unforgettable moment was the food they served. At their celebration, they served Kabuli pulao, Aushak, Bolani, and plenty more. The food was delicious and unlike any other cuisine.  It was a perfect meal, of flavor, balance, and savor. For many, it was their first time-consuming Afghani Food, and they were astonished by the flavors.

Although this celebration highlighted a Muslim Holiday- all were welcomed. Attendees ranged from: students, teachers, JROTC members, and parents. Everyone had the opportunity to connect through this amazing display of culture. This celebration unified AMHS one dish at a time. Everyone shared a moment of laughter, happiness, and joy over a newfound culture and connection. Although many weren’t familiar with the culture of Eid, it was an educational opportunity for all to learn about the rich history and cultures of the Muslim population.

It is imperative AMHS continues this work- unifying all cultures and perspectives. We are responsible for fostering representative environments, and this Eid celebration was a wonderful start. Although we may be separated by language, we are connected through humanity. Thank you, to the brilliant Afghani Club, for bridging all together, and making a difference. This event was more than just a celebration, but a formidable change.

Creative Coding Competition 

By: Rowan Santos

Date: 1-30-25

The creative coding competition was an event hosted by the coding club. It was an art competition hosted for both teachers and students. They competed for 10 dollars from the DECA store. They coded on the platform "Code.org" to reciprocate a seamless coding experience.  This competition is intended to "Enrich Auburn Mountainview with the foundations of the possibilities coding contains," as stated by Matvei. 

It was an amazing way for coders and artists to express their creativity while exploring new realms of their crafts. This year's theme was "your place", allowing participants to make their ideal place. Some individuals expressed their dream destinations, as cozy taverns, adventurous oasis, beautiful beaches, to even fantasy worlds filled with monsters & magic.  Their creations fill with imaginations, as they dive into universes of creativity. 

The coders from the coding club aimed to share the process of how technology works today. They aimed to make the behind-the-scenes process more prominent in the minds of students. Through fostering this event: AMHS students learned to code, express creativity, and the ways we see our technology function operate. 

After interviewing the organizers behind this event, we gained invaluable insight. 

Matvei, a coder in 10th grade shares, "I am the main leader of the coding competition." Matvei spent his time creating an event that was enjoyable and easy to comply with. He shares, "I planned the events, it was fun." The coding club has been planning this event for a while, and Matvei is proud of seeing his dedication come to life. He further elaborates by sharing, "We decided to make it art-based, as it was more user-friendly." Numerous students at AMHS are artists, and the Coding Club ensured a competition that students could enjoy together. "I enjoy coding," Matvei exclaims, "I want to do it in the future." His coding work in high school is only the beginning of his career in computer science. By forging an elaborate event, Matvei is at an incredible start. 

We also spoke with Joshua Chan, a passionate computer science enthusiast. He shares, "I helped make the decisions during the competition! I like doing coding, and have always liked computer science." His dedication to coding led him to make critical decisions during the competition. Joshua decided on the theme, which he shared, "The theme is your dream place, and you have to draw things." More students would enjoy coding if they centered it about otroversial dreams, rather than technicality. He tenaciously shares, "We're hoping to convey how an action is performed rather than the full image."  There are immeasurable complexities behind digital displays, and Joshua hopes to exemplify the complex processes behind the scenes. 

It is so exciting to see an emphasis on educational events at our school. With technology progressing, it is critical students comprehend the fundamentals of coding, computer science, and it's functionalities. This coding competition not only fostered learning but expanded AMHS's dedication to diverse education. 

The Holidays

By: Fernando, Syd, Rowan

Date: 1-10-25

As he emerged from the shadows, field with vengeance, Father Christmas suited up, exclaiming “it's christmas time”. Moving aside from that totally real screenplay, Christmas is a time for the whole world to come together and be with the ones we love. This sense of unification is so strong, that on Christmas Eve during WW1, there was an unofficial truce between the Germans and the French and British. In which soldiers sang christmas carols, exchanged gifts, and even had mini soccer matches. Even in other countries where Christianity isn’t the dominant religion, many still recognize and celebrate some aspects, such as gift giving and arranging gatherings. This leads one to question, how are people in AMHS celebrating Christmas?

Most people at AMHS celebrate with hearts of joy and Christmas spirit. This can look different for everyone, as people embrace it through various ways. 

Some students are channeling their adventurous spirits, roaming across the world, Em, a 10th grader says, “I’m going to California to visit the redwoods and I’m going to San Francisco like San Jose, to just go sightseeing with my family and then I;m going to Santa Cruz and to Portland, then going back home”

Other students want to enjoy time away from school, as Juni states, “ My plans for the holiday is to celebrate with my family and enjoy some relaxation away from academic stress.”

Some individuals are spending their times at home, enjoying the moments of community, connection, and affection with their families. Sometimes, these are the best moments of the holidays. Ms.  Aline, an office secretary says, “I’m spending time with family and probably just doing a lot of Christmas things around the area.”  

Some teachers and staff are reconnecting with their families, and their children are coming home from across the world to embrace the holidays!  Mrs. Austin says, “My Plans are to spend time with my family. All three of my children are in college, and one is teaching in Hawaii.”

She elaborates and says 

“I'm super excited to spend time with them. And my kids are hopefully gonna go skiing, so they’re super excited, but I am recovering from a foot surgery so I am hoping that it heals fast so that I can soon play in the snow too.” 

The seek for the loving kitty:

Mr. Gordon, the Journalism Club Facilitator states, “Oh, uh I actually think tonight it's a Wednesday, uh my partner who works at and Newear middle school, we might go get a a couple cats, because our kitty passed away in October, so now we're ready, because we're waiting for breaks, so we're home for like two weeks. but it takes like two days, I guess. like you apply and then it takes like two days. So, where we might go and see which ones like us. And then like, you know, go in a room and hold them and we found a couple last weekend but then they got adopted like later that day. So we gotta go quick. But yeah, that's pretty much it. I Don't really visit my family too much, so yeah.” Some people are both: depressive, and excited for the holidays. Mr. Gordon has faced unfortunate circumstances, specifically, the death of a cherished one. Although Mr. Gordon has been commenced with  adverse events, the holidays are inspiring him to celebrate with his loved ones, and find a new cat to fulfill his denatured soul.

Generally, people at AMHS are celebrating the holidays in multitudes of ways. Whether with family, with loved ones, at home, or across the world, we’re all embracing the holiday spirit, connecting with the principles of connection, love and celebration.