By Karina Barillas 

After a year of distance learning, 4,000 high school seniors will receive their diplomas on a real stage this spring.  Last year students weren't able to graduate on stage, but this year SFUSD  will give the class of 2021 this opportunity.

San Francisco seniors can celebrate graduation in person. Mayor London Breed and Supervisor Ahsha Safai declare that the city would collaborate with the San Francisco Unified School District to hold outdoor graduation ceremonies for public school graduates as part of an initiative called "Graduations for All."

Kezar Stadium will host schools with large graduation classes, including Lowell, Burton, Galileo, Washington, Balboa, O'Connell, Mission, Lincoln, Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts, Marshall and Wallenberg. Meanwhile McAteer High School will host commencement ceremonies for graduates from smaller public high schools such as Academy SF, Civic Center Secondary, Downtown, Hilltop, Independence, Ida B. Wells, June Jordan School for Equity, SF International and Youth Chance.

  “Graduation is a special time for our students and their loved ones,” Mayor London Breed says in a statement. “While this year has been anything but a normal senior year for our high school students, we’re glad we can help bring some semblance of normalcy to this year’s graduation ceremonies.”

From June 1st to 3rd, 4,000 public high school students from across the district will participate in a three-day event. State and local health regulations will apply to all graduation ceremonies. Between activities, workers will provide at least two hours for comprehensive disinfection, breakdown and setup. All students will be seated at a distance of six feet from one another. Each student will be given four tickets, allowing them to bring up to four guests to the event. In the crowd, four-member family pods will be seated at least six feet apart. 

Published on 5/18/2021

By Yuqing Qiu 

Although only people 65 years and older and workers in the medical, food and agriculture and childcare industry were eligible to receive the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine when COVID-19 vaccinations first began, San Francisco and its surrounding counties are now expanding the eligibility to include all minors ages 12 and up. 

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on May 10 that it would grant emergency use authorization for the age group 12-15, and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that all youth aged 12-18 are now eligible for the two-dose Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on May 12. 

“The science is clear,” SF Department of Public Health Director Grant Holfax says in a statement regarding the approval of the Pfizer vaccine for younger age groups. “The more people we vaccinate, the more we drive down case rates and minimize risk of transmission. Vaccines are truly our ticket out of this pandemic.”

As of May 14, the city of San Francisco has over 50% of the adult population fully vaccinated. Over 60% have gotten their first dose of either the Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. As for the already eligible 16-18 age group, around 30% have been fully vaccinated, and over 50% have received the first dose.

Sophomore Yu Fung Yu says, “I feel like getting a vaccine is definitely safer than just wearing a mask. I haven’t gotten it yet, but my friends have and they had no problems at all.” 

Huishan Chen, a junior, says that she feels excited to hang out with her friends again without having to worry about the high risk of getting COVID-19.

Appointments for the Pfizer vaccine can be made on the website https://sf.gov/get-vaccinated-against-covid-19. Vaccines are available through local health care providers, pharmacies and mass vaccination sites such as the Moscone Center and the City College of San Francisco. As of May 14, anyone aged 12 and older can get vaccinated for free. Health insurance is not needed to make an appointment either. 

Ken Chen, a senior, remarks, “I chose to get the vaccine because not only does it keep me safe but also protects my family since I often have to go outside for work.” He says that he feels confident in the vaccine and that he did not experience any side effects after getting vaccinated.

“It’s all been tested in clinical trials to make sure that they [Pfizer] are safe for the younger age groups,” says Sara Chalk, school district nurse for Lincoln. “Teenagers and preteens can expect anywhere from no side effects to the same side effects as adults.”

Some side effects of the Pfizer vaccine can include muscle aches, headaches, tiredness, nausea, fever and chills. The side effects after the second vaccine shot may be more serious than the first, but they should all go away after a few days. 

“The more Californians who are able to get vaccinated, the better we can protect our communities and slow the spread of COVID-19,” Governor Gavin Newsom says during a press release. He claims that having vaccines expanded to teenagers is the next step in California’s path to safely reopening in June.

“l believe that it [the vaccine] is safe. I have gotten my two doses and I trust it. It has been studied on tens of thousands of people before it was put out into the world,” Chalk says.

As of May 14, over 260 million doses have been given out in the US and over 110 million people have been fully vaccinated as the US moves towards fully reopening. 

Chalk adds, “If you are hesitant about getting the vaccine, my door is always open and you can come talk to me confidentially about it. At the end of the day, it is your body, but I would definitely recommend getting vaccinated.”

Published on 5/18/2021

By Paola Varguez 

San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) having distance learning classes, this led to Lincoln High School’s Drama Department to perform both the fall and spring play via Zoom, with unexpected twists on the spring play production.

This year’s spring production included two one act plays that were written and directed by students with the help of assistant director Natalia Ricci and drama teacher Elaine Walenta.

The first act, “Guardian Angel,” written and directed by Sammi Strong, a senior, was a dream come true.

Strong says, “I’ve  always been interested in writing a play and I voiced my wanting to do that to Ms.Walenta since freshman year. It's an opportunity given to the upperclassmen, usually only seniors, so I decided to wait my turn. When I became a senior I told her that I wanted to write and direct one. I got to save my spot 4 years ago when I was a freshman.” 

Alongside Strong, Zane Speiser, senior, who wrote and directed the second act “Ship Crash'', said he had gotten opportunities to write some plays freshman year, and now as a senior was able to direct them and have it presented to an audience. Spesier added that spring is usually when the directed plays [rather than reenacted plays] are chosen, so the process of having a script written and submitting the script to Walenta was natural. 

  It wasn’t all a cut-and-dry production, but a learning process for these young directors, especially with this new environment of performing plays virtually instead of in person. 

Many challenges arose when creating a Zoom production. Being a stage actor denotes using your whole body to encapsulate the character, and Zoom limits the space an actor has. Acting over Zoom can be parallel to acting in a tight rectangular box; the audience only sees from the shoulders up while the actors have to show heaps of facial expressions and hand gestures. Having the actors bond was an obstacle considering that rehearsals were done with a time limit over Zoom, which gave the actors little time to build chemistry. 

Walenta added, “The energy between individuals is different on Zoom. Actor focus is difficult, especially when there are more than 2 people in a scene. On stage it is easy to show where an actor is looking. In Zoom, we cannot control where the Zoom boxes show up on someone’s screen, so an actor’s focus can be challenging. Timing is really hard to achieve due to the Zoom lag and the varying wifi strengths: timing actor to actor, and timing actor to tech cues like sound effects and visuals.”

The process of creating the script for “Guardian Angel” had taken a year to be finalized. Strong added, “ I first wrote it in February of 2020. The original script later submitted for approval for the spring play last year [May 2020] then it got cancelled. I didn't touch the script again until October of 2020 where I then completely rewrote the script. Then in January 2021 I submitted my very first draft of the script. I edited the draft from January to March.”

After finalizing both scripts, it was time to search for the right actors for each play, which also had its struggles. Strong is part of the Technical theater class while the actors were in the drama class where rehearsals were taking place, which made it difficult for Strong to know what actors needed help on.

Strong stated, “I need to find actors that would be willing to work after school with me rather than doing all of their work in class, but once I did we started we did our very first read-through of the script on March 16th, 2021.”

Both of these talented directors and young actors put a tremendous amount of time and effort into having the envisioned plays come to life. 

Ricci had this to say about rehearsals, “We have all the actors, one tech person, the main director, and me the assistant director meetup. The actors go through the entirety of the show with no interruption; directors and I aren’t allowed to say anything until after and the actors cannot break character. After the full run-through of the show we [the directors and Ricci] give actors notes to guide them in the direction of what the directors really want to see and what can help benefit the show. It's really a trivial process we give them notes and then we go through the whole thing again and hope that they take the notes we've given them.” 

As the days to the performance date got closer, more rehearsals needed to take place. Rehearsals went from twice a week starting March 2021 to rehearsing everyday starting April 19th to the 30th. Making April 29th and 30th the performance days.

  It can be challenging to encapsulate 3D artwork virtually, but this play appears to have been able to capture the ideas of driven artists in a virtual space that often feels disconnected from physical art forms.  

Ricci noted, “When you tell people you are putting on a zoom play people tend to not have a lot of faith in it. They laugh at it and they don't think it's possible. I think what I've learned from this experience is that there are no limits to creativity, there are no limits to a passion that you have. I really commend all of the actors, directors, and people putting work into this show because it's harder than it looks but they're defying everyone's expectations.” 

These arduous moments were moments to learn from. Walenta says, “So many learning moments. Always have a backup plan for your backup plan. Keep all your devices charged. Never forget the power of eye contact. I am extremely proud of all the students who worked incredibly hard to put these plays on. I think they all did a fantastic job, especially considering these times we are in!”

Published on 5/18/2021

By Eddie Lam

For the first time in the 100 year history of Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) San Diego, female recruits will be training alongside men. The first female platoon of 60 women and their 390 male counterparts who make up Lima Company, one of the first co-ed platoons, has gone through 13 weeks of basic training. 

The Marines Corps is the last branch of the military to incorporate co-ed training. Previously, female Marine recruits were only trained at MCRD Parris Island, South Carolina, separate from their male counterparts. The historic event comes after new legislation requiring fully integrated boot camp training in San Diego by 2028.

Though the men and women will train together, female recruits will reside in their barracks with their drill instructors, who are also one of the first few women drill instructors to train female recruits at MCRD San Diego. 

“This is the first female platoon, so they are going to be going against all their brothers inside of that whole company, Lima Company. They have to show everyone that they are worthy to be here.” -Drill Instructor Sgt. Ayesha Zantt 

Before boot camp got underway, the female marine recruits were quarantined for two weeks due to the coronavirus pandemic. They were housed on separate floors in a hotel at an undisclosed location. For the duration of the quarantine, recruits were not allowed to leave their rooms. They were only allowed to interact with other recruits for 30 minutes a day at the threshold of their doors. Food and water were delivered and left outside of their rooms. Phones and other electronic devices were taken away. Recruits were allowed only one phone call per week. If they want to get in touch with loved ones, they had to do it the old fashioned way by writing letters. Despite being under quarantine, the female recruits kept busy and completed 140 hours of activities, which included studies because they were quizzed daily on topics ranging from the core values of the Marine Corps to military history. 

“I'm going to be super proud of myself for overcoming one of the biggest obstacles in my life. I am looking forward to earning the title of the United States Marines, especially being one of the first females to ever be here,” says Marine recruit Gabrielle Ashford.

After two weeks of quarantine, the female recruits start basic training. Once they step off from the bus, their journey from civilian to marine recruit officially begins. Commands were shouted, orders were given and the female recruits filed off the bus onto what is famously known to Marines as the "yellow footprints." After entering through the "portal," the future of United States Marines, recruits emptied their bags so that the drill instructors could check for contraband. Recruits were given one last chance to call home. Moving forward, they could only contact friends or family by letter. Next, the male recruits got haircuts while female recruits were allowed to keep theirs, as long as they complied with Marine grooming standards. Finally, all recruits were issued uniforms for basic training.

“I think it’s a privilege. I wouldn’t trade this for the world. I was originally supposed to go to Parris Island. This is definitely a step up,” states Marine recruit Jhsmyn Banks.

After four weeks into boot camp, the female recruits begin the Confidence Course. The Confidence Course is all about building confidence. The female recruits learn to overcome self-doubt in a series of challenges that test their mental and physical strength, which includes hand-to-hand combat training, rope climbing, navigating obstacles and team building. 31 days into their training at MCRD San Diego, the men and women of Lima Company train side-by-side on the Bayonet Assault Course, where they are graded on how well they work and communicate as a team. 

Six weeks into boot camp, the men and women of Lima Company move north from MCRD to Camp Pendleton to continue their training. This week, they are on the Bravo shooting range, training for their Marine Corps rifle prequalification. For the majority of recruits, this is their first experience with a firearm. To learn how to become proficient, recruits are paired with a combat marksmanship coach. The point of the training is not only to get recruits comfortable with firing their weapons, but also to improve their marksmanship. Recruits were each given a notebook to plot where they’re going to shoot, mark where the shot lands and make any necessary adjustments.

At the midway point of training, three of the female drill instructors say the women of this recruiting class seem to know the microscope they are under and are more motivated and pushing themselves harder. 

“There is a big difference between training male and female recruits. The female recruits, they’re quicker on their feet. They understand better. They move faster. They just give so much more and maybe, maybe it’s because this group of young ladies knows that they have something to prove. So they’re going at 1000% at all times,” says Drill Instructor Sgt. Ikea Kaufman, one of the first female drill instructors to graduate from the Drill Instructor Course at MCRD San Diego. 

After coming in last during their initial drill, the female platoon has been outperforming their male counterparts, taking first place on the final drill, initial physical fitness test (PFT) and final physical fitness test. 

“I think that they’ve been pushed physically harder than I have when I went through boot camp because we feel like we have something to prove. And it’s created this higher bar so they don’t feel like they’re meeting this higher bar but in reality, they’re exceeding the bar,” says senior drill instructor Staff Sgt. Amber Staroscik, who was brought in from Parris Island to oversee the first group of female recruits in San Diego.

The historic first class of female recruits has one more challenge to overcome before officially becoming a U.S. Marine, the Crucible and its feared Reaper, the highest point in Camp Pendleton. The Crucible is a three-day, 54-hour grueling hike through the winding hills of Camp Pendleton. It’s a culmination of their 12 weeks of training in boot camp. The all-female platoon of Lima Company is the first to crest the Reaper. Finishing hurt, hungry and exhausted, they are relieved to not have to climb another hill. Throughout the ordeal, recruits are allowed only six hours of sleep and two meals.

After cresting the Reaper, the newly minted female Marines each receive an Eagle, Globe and Anchor pin, the emblem of the Marine Corps, signifying that they have earned the title of Marine. The newly minted Marines will return to MCRD to prepare for their graduation in two weeks. 

  “This is the most exceptional thing I’ve accomplished cuz it’s probably the most important thing. It’s just such a big accomplishment,” states Pfc. Germaine Ramos, a high school graduate from the class of 2020.

After 13 weeks of basic training, 397 men and women of Lima Company formally graduated from boot camp on May 6. While graduation is a momentous event, this one is a bit more poignant as it is the first class of women Marines to graduate from MCRD San Diego. With all the attention on them, these women had to prove that they can succeed in boot camp with the men. Their drill instructors said that they’ve exceeded what was expected of them. 

“As far as training goes, nothing had to be altered for them and that’s the point that needs to be made,” senior drill instructor Staff Sgt. Amber Staroscik said. "They conquered something that up until this moment, no other female recruit had done.”

During graduation, graduates see their families for the first time since February. There were tears and overwhelming emotions of joy and happiness. These graduates will now report to the School of Infantry to continue their Marine training. 

Now, they too are the Few, the Proud, the Marines.

Published on 5/18/2021

By Onyx Hunter

The San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) began the 2020-2021 school year with distance learning, an experience that very few had experience with yet. Student attendance is lower than it has been during in-person, with others resigning to receive failing grades. Several Abraham Lincoln High School teachers speak on the issue and how they’ve had to reconcile the problem.

Eric Eroles an English Teacher described his expectations about this year as being off, that he could have the same student-teacher relationship he did in years past. In his 4th period, he would consistently have 15 absent students. Much of his curriculum involved student discussion and hopes that through student synthesis, they could gain a better understanding of reading and writing as a whole. The only tool he has for smaller group discussions is breakout rooms, and he found that as the year went on students became burnt out from breakout rooms. 

Mr. Eroles left the point, “It’s too much for teachers to teach in a year,” lending this issue to the increased limitations of distance learning.

Edmond Sullivan, a College and Career teacher at Lincoln, says that the students who do show up are excellent at communicating; however, students who usually never show up will not communicate.  Mr. Sullivan was impressed with the communication of students,but wary of how many students were not paying attention since he was incapable of monitoring his classroom occupants. Mr Sullivan exhibited concern for his seniors, some of whom were failing have now shown up to earn a better grade; others have not shown up at all.

Antonio Esparza a Spanish Teacher, who now fills the role of teacher for Ms. Longshore’s class, which had substitutes for several months, also left comments. Mr. Esparza said that on average, his classes have 10 people consistently absent and not completing work despite concessions he made to make the work relatively simple. 

When asked how distance learning affected him as a teacher he says,  “It makes the quality of our teaching go down because there is so much more we could do in person.” Mr. Esparza expressed that within the constraints of distance learning, students can’t learn properly and are deprived of the motivation to deal with such issues. Mr. Esparza exhibited empathy when he spoke about his experiences in a distance learning optional French class he took during the summer, he described it as not feeling right and said that he wasn’t used to it at all.

Published on 5/18/2021

By Bonnie Li

Adults always tell students about the challenges and difficulties they’ll face in life after college, but students do not really understand until they experience and face the obstacles of adult life on their own. 

Over the past year, the COVID-19 pandemic has presented many challenges in our daily lives, especially for postgraduates looking to enter the workforce. Transitioning from school with the guidance of teachers to a new part of your life, being expected to get a job and making money already sounds stressful and unfamiliar, but the pandemic adds more challenges on top of that. 

Local San Francisco native and post-grad student, Alan Li, who graduated in 2020 from the University of California, Santa Cruz with a bachelor's degree in computer game design, shares how his life has changed after graduation and the difficulties that he’s currently facing during the pandemic.

Li, who didn’t get to have an in-person graduation ceremony in June 2020, already started on a rocky path, as the world was just at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. He finds that even finding a temporary job in his neighborhood to help pay off his student loans is much more difficult. He says, “I’ve applied to a lot of different jobs, but not all of them have responded, and even the ones that do have simply rejected me.” 

Currently, he has applied for many game programming jobs in Silicon Valley and also many local entry jobs at stores such as Walgreens, Macy’s and Apple, but he has not heard back from any and is currently unemployed. The jobs that he applied for all seem to have some tough competition, as the positions that were available when he applied were soon filled up.

Since graduating, the only paying job he’s done is menial work assisting a relative who works at a truck company but has not worked there since last year because business has been slow.

Li states that many menial jobs still require recommendations and won’t hire college graduates with no past work experiences included in their resume. That is the case for him as he was unable to work during college due to being preoccupied with studies. Additionally, Li went to school far away from home and couldn’t cater to many employers looking for full-time employees rather than part-time. The lack of experience has made his resume seem much less impressive as a result since he has only had one paying job.

Recently, he’s done some volunteer work which included giving out food during the pandemic to the less fortunate families to get more recommendations on his resume. In his free time, he works on a programming project to develop his own game.

Now, Li is interested in becoming a teacher, dedicating most of his time to an online class to get a certificate for teaching English. He says, “Short term, I think I want to become a teacher teaching English, and long term...if I end up liking teaching, I may just stick to it.”

Overall, Li remains hopeful and wants to find a job in teaching soon, though he is still willing to work in the game industry should an opportunity arise.

He concludes with a piece of advice for current students who may be post-grads soon or worried about their future: one should never close oneself off to an option, as there are many career paths to go down.

Published on 5/18/2021

By Vicky Yu

On December 17th, Business Academy students submitted their ideas to NFTE’s World Series of Innovation (WSI). WSI is an international competition where young adults aged 13 to 24 address the biggest issues that we are currently facing. They brainstormed innovative ideas to help advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

On April 1st, the top competitors for WSI were announced through their online website. "ElectroMat" by Yuetong Zheng, Elaine Ma and Cleo Lu placed second in the Clean Energy Challenge, which was sponsored by Bank of the West. 

Second place winner, Yuetong Zheng, explains, “Our winning idea for the NFTE WSI Bank of the West Clean Energy Challenge is the ‘ElectroMat,’ an energy-generating mat that powers schools with efficient kinetic energy conversions.”

Zheng then further elaborates on how local communities have public spaces like schools with high foot traffic, so they can harness the kinetic energy using electromagnetic induction. 

Initially, their group was stumped by this challenge because countless clean energy solutions already exist, such as solar panels and wind turbines.

However, Zheng reveals that Elaine Ma, her fellow teammate, discussed a vague idea involving kinetic energy with Vicky Lee, the Business Academy teacher. Lee liked the idea and encouraged the girls to incorporate their own ideas into their product. The trio continued to develop their kinetic energy-based product until they were satisfied with the final result and pitch. To see the finished pitch, visit https://innovation.nfte.com/results. 

After winning second place, Zheng shares that she was buzzing in delight since she has never won a global contest before. Although her group did not place first overall, she believes that their achievement is no easy feat. 

Ma says, “It felt unrealistic, I was also extremely happy for my group. We immediately shared the news of joy with each other and our family members.”

Similarly, Cleo Lu also says that she was shocked when she heard about the team’s victory. She reveals that last year, she became a finalist after spending a lot of time on it, but this year, she did not expect to win. After hearing about the news, she felt very delighted. 

The significance of this win is indicative of the knowledge and progression that future generations will bring to society.  This contest is an outlet for innovative expression for young adults to find solutions to ongoing global issues that are negatively impacting the world. These young adults will soon enter society and have the ability to work in conjunction with impactful entrepreneurs and politicians to potentially implement these solutions.

Published on 5/18/2021

By Samantha Kuang

On March 19th, 2020, the Asian Pacific Planning and Policy Council, Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA), and the Asian American Studies Department of San Francisco State University created the Stop AAPI Hate reporting center in order to track and take action against racism towards Asian Americans. In 2020, the Stop AAPI Hate reporting center received reports of 3,292 incidents. 

An individual who might not be part of the Asian American Pacific Islander community may wonder why they should help or step in when witnessing a hate crime if the issue doesn’t affect them directly, but being a bystander is the same as helping the perpetrator. If no one steps in, then the perpetrator of a hate crime will learn that their actions are acceptable.

An easily accessible way to help is by sharing infographics about AAPI hate crimes on social media sites such as Instagram, Twitter, or Snapchat is easier than ever. Social media sites can bring light to the hate that members of the AAPI community experience and encourage other AAPI members to speak out about their experiences.

On March 30th, 2021, a 65-year-old Vilma Kari, a Philipino woman,  was repeatedly verbally assaulted with racial slurs, punched, and stomped on as onlookers watched. This incident shows how essential bystander intervention training is in preventing hate crimes against minorities. 

If you see a hate crime in progress, direct confrontation may feel difficult and scary, but intervention will be key in preventing continued harm to the victim. Here are some actions you can take to maximize your safety and the victim’s safety. Delegate the situation to someone in a position of authority such as a teacher, security guards, or police officers so that they can de-escalate the situation.

Distract attention away from the perpetrator, victim, or situation by asking the victim for the time or pretending to know the victim and strike up a conversation with them. Call out the perpetrator’s actions in order to set boundaries. Documenting the incident on video can be useful for reporting the incident to police, making sure to share it with the victim. 

The victim’s mental health may be at a low point after experiencing the traumatizing experience so be sure to check in with them.  For those in the AAPI community the rise in hate crimes can be especially scary, talk with your friends and family to help process any emotions you may have.

Published on 5/18/2021

By Nicolas Galvin

Just like most businesses in the world right now, the coronavirus is causing some complications. For the Mission Boys and Girls club, it has caused big problems for the staff members and kids. Due to the virus, they were closed for a few months, and within those months they had to brainstorm a way to become a safe place when and if they ever reopen.

Until then, the kids in the Mission had no place to go after school to work on school or to have time away from home which may or may not be the best environment. For those of you who don’t know, the Boys and Girls Club is for 6-18 year old and they provide a safe space and they have groups for high schoolers and middle schoolers. The pandemic has made it tough for the mission Boys and Girls Club specifically they are not allowed to hold or help as many kids as they would like and it makes programs very very difficult. The highschool program really took a hit during covid because everything is different. We can’t go out and do exposure programs or stop by business and learn about them. For example, last year we went to the tesla headquarters and they told us how it is made and what job opportunities they provide but because of the pandemic we don’t get nearly as many opportunities.

One part of the Boys and Girls club that remains strong with or without covid is the Youth of the Year program, the Youth of the Year program acknowledges one highschooler from each clubhouse that stands out and they all go through a series of programs and “compete” for money for college. This year I was selected as the Mission Boys and Girls club youth of the year so I was able to complete the program and gain $5,000 for college. This is just one example of how the Boys and Girls clubs provide students with amazing opportunities but they also give you the opportunity to test yourself and push yourself to ultimately become a better person.

This upcoming summer the Boys and Girls Club plans on upping the capacity and allowing way more teens and kids. And slowly trying to get into the regular program, pre-covid students were allowed to leave and return with no worries. The teenagers would have teen nights. Teen nights is when the teenager age group would be allowed to stay at 10pm and just chill and have fun.

The Boys and Girls Club has been pushed to only 50% capacity which only allows us to have 15 kids a room but in a regular year we would have upwards to 30 kids in a room. Sadly, the boys and girls have lost a good chunk of money as well because of the amount of kids that are allowed to pay and join the club. Staff have to change their activities to make sure it’s safe. Different age groups aren’t allowed to mix with each other so we are only with one group of people everyday. So the new members in the club don’t get that real club experience. 

In conclusion The Boys and Girls club is a big part of communities all over the world. Many of you reading this may be a part of a club or know someone that is a part of the club. It is a great place for kids and teens. I hope this organization will last forever because it is so impactful and honestly it has changed my life for the better without the club's support. I'm not sure where I would be right now. 

Published on 5/20/2021

By Nicolas Galvin

The National Science Bowl is a highly competitive science education and academic event. Among the event participants, there are Highschool and Middle school students who compete in a fast-paced verbal forum to solve technical problems and answer questions in all branches of science and math. The National Science Bowl hosts 32 teams before the elimination rounds occur, each team is composed of four students, one alternative student, and a coach. Regional and national events encourage student’s involvement in math and science activities of importance to the Department of energy and the nation. 

National Science Bowl participant Zixuan Zhang says, “The National Science Bowl competition didn’t feel like a competition to me but more like a learning opportunity. It allows me to learn science knowledge, teamwork, and how to think and analyze. I also get to meet brilliant students from different schools and learn from them.”

Regional science bowl championships teams receive an all-expenses-paid trip to compete at the National event. High School and middle school teams travel to Washington, D.C in April. There are many different programs like Advanced scientific computing research, Basic energy sciences, Biological and environmental research, High energy physics, nuclear physics, workforce development for teachers and scientists, small business innovation translation, project assessment, and isotope R&D and production. The National events are several talks of science activities, sightseeing, and competition. There are cutting-edge science seminars and hands-on science activities. 

The leadership of The national science bowl, the office of science mission is to deliver scientific discoveries and major scientific tools to transform our understanding of nature and advance the energy, economic and national security of the United States. The goals of the U.S National Science Bowl are to stimulate young people to achieve excellence in science, recognize outstanding students, recognize the achievements of teachers, and challenge the knowledge and skills of young students. Students who partake in the National Science Bowl will have an opportunity to meet new people, and learn more about science from their peers. Even though at the end of the day the National Science Bowl is a competition, it’s also a gathering of people that are like-minded and share the same interests.

Zhang adds, “ I would recommend the competition to people who are interested and excelled at science but I would like to warn them that It’s not going to be easy and it requires a higher level of knowledge compared to what we learned in school.”

By Jesse Mon

On March 17, 2021, San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) announced the continuation of  outdoor extracurricular athletics. SFUSD is taking the precautions to foster a fun, competitive, and most importantly, safe season for all outdoor sports. Student athletes will not play the typical full season, but instead have a total of four games/matches against other public schools within SFUSD. 

“Though we only have four games this year, I am grateful we have a senior season,” said Abraham Lincoln High School men’s soccer captain, Own Commins. Lincoln men’s soccer has  lost 2 of 3 games so far this season, but hopes to defeat Galileo’s team on Thursday, May 20th to end the season with an even record. 

After Interviewing Tennis coach, Darryl Fong about the modified season, he responded, “I applaud SFUSD for making an effort to build community through sports in a time where teenagers lack that sort of environment”. 

The sports season has helped comfort many students during these uncertain times. Theo Golz, senior, stated, “I have only seen my friends once since the beginning of the pandemic. Competing against other schools, socializing with friends,  and practicing soccer with my teammates has made times much easier.” 

The sports season also helps students complete work and act as motivation to maintain above a 2.0 GPA. Distance learning has caused many students to develop poor learning techniques, and lose motivation. In class, few people  speak, or have cameras on. When SFUSD approved outdoor sports to begin, many students found the motivation they needed to continue in their studies.

Published on 5/18/2021

By Justin Maung 

“Stay focused,” you tell yourself. Your heart rate drops. You hold your breath. All your muscles relax and you focus. You pull the trigger and fire. Whether your shot was good or bad doesn’t matter. You have to focus on the next shot, and the shot after that, until the round is over. This is what it’s like to be a rifle shooter. 

Competitive shooting is a sport with appeal to many. Not only those who enjoy guns, but to those who enjoy it for its many challenges. 

If competitive shooting’s only draw was the pure destructive element, then it wouldn’t be half as interesting as it truly is. The challenge, the discipline, the “Zen”, as well as respect for the power of your tools are what separate gun aficionados from true riflemen (and women).

Competitive rifle shooting is a relatively obscure sport but has a reasonable foothold across the world. For instance biathlon, a sort of hybrid between cross country skiing and rifle shooting (affectionately referred to as ‘Canadian drive-by’ by my brother) is one of the most popular winter sports in Europe. In the United States, the National Rifle Association (NRA) hosts many different styles of shooting competitions. Some are ones they developed themselves, others are more similar to those that are held by the Olympics. 

Rifle shooting has competitors fire at targets from a static position. The targets have rings that increase in point value as you go to the center of the target. With one being the lowest on the edge and ten being the highest in the center. In most modern competitions electronic scoring systems have taken the place of paper targets.

The reason I started shooting was partly because during the Rio 2016 Olympics, Virginia Thrasher of the United States had won the first gold of the games in women’s 10 meter air rifle. That and the fact that my dad had competed in shootings competitions in Burma (now Myanmar) when he was younger. 

My father, though he competed in every discipline of Olympic rifle shooting, (there are three, 10 meter air rifle, 50 meter prone, 50 meter three position) was mainly a prone shooter. Much like my father, I compete in every Olympic style rifle match, though my focus is on the 10 meter air rifle event.I remember the first time I asked my dad if I could compete like he did. His response was “You know there’s no money in it right?” I followed with a stiff nod. 

When my dad finally said “Okay…” and allowed me to start practicing, the first thing I did was figure out where to even practice.

Figuring out where to practice is the first issue for many shooters. There are few firing ranges which can accomodate Olympic style shooting. Someone who lives in a more rural area can, in some cases, shoot on their property without so much as a call to the cops. For those of us who live in the city this would be impossible without starting some sort of criminal investigation. Even air rifles (which don’t use gunpowder) are still, in the case of San Francisco, illegal to use in the city.

One solution (which is sometimes the only solution) is to dry fire;  or fire a gun without loading ammunition. I did this for about a half a year before ever shooting live ammunition. I couldn’t wait to start practicing. Which led me to my next issue... what was I even going to practice with? 

What I had starting out was an old hunting rifle and an even older motorcycle jacket from my dad. I would stand at the end of the living room and aim down the hallway. Standing as still as possible I would stare at points on the wall.

Equipment, for better or worse, plays a huge role in shooting. For one, there is a lot of it. Then, there’s the price of it all. My dad and I have spent hours looking at all the things we could possibly buy. 

Proper competition rifles cost anywhere from 3,000 to 5,000 dollars. The specialized pants and jackets used in these styles of competitions are quite expensive as well. Custom fitted ones can cost several hundred dollars to over a thousand. There are more budget friendly, “off the shelf” jackets and pants that are available, but they come at the cost of not being the best fit. Then the additional odds and ends a shooter could want carry a decent enough price tag in their own way. Adjustable sight apertures, kneeling roles (a sort of pillow put under the leg to aid in comfort and stability in the kneeling position), and rifle slings are some of the many things you could possibly buy.

At the same time, as much as having good equipment or the most up to date gear can help you it is not the deciding factor of whether or not you will do well. My dad always says, “If you want it bad enough, nothing else matters.”

As alluded to by the existence of three position matches, types of competitions use different shooting positions. The 10 meter air rifle is a standing competition. 50 meter prone is… prone. The third, kneeling, is the only position that doesn’t have a match by itself.

Standing is often considered the most difficult position due to no support from the rifle sling (the sling is used for prone and kneeling) and a higher center of gravity (CG). A higher CG means there's more opportunity for movement which, for this type of competition, is the last thing anyone wants. Kneeling is the second hardest position with a slightly lower CG and you are able to use a sling, though it is not a particularly comfortable position. Think proposing to someone in close to 7 pounds of clothing, holding a 15 pound rifle for about 45 minutes straight; probably not too fun.

Prone is the easiest since you’re laying down on the ground. So much so that my dad said “You’d almost expect to get 10s the entire time,” and “You lay down all the time! You should be an expert.

In rifle shooting, there's a lot of equipment that is designed to help (ie. the sling, jacket and pants) there is still a decent amount of strength and discipline required. 

In all the different events, breathing is key. Breath control does a few really important things. It keeps muscles from getting nearly as tired as they could be by supplying proper oxygen to them. It also slows down heart rate if done properly, which is important since a person’s pulse can cause the rifle to move and it is actually quite noticeable while shooting. Finally, proper breathing helps to maintain focus. 

Core strength is important as those are the main muscles needed to keep the rifle up and stop it from moving, as well as good overall fitness.

One of the most important matches for young shooters are the State Junior Olympic Competitions. The State JO, as they are often called, is one of the times shooters can meet other competitors from all across the state (though california is split between northern and southern California). It also has the potential to set up a clear path to the national team. Winning at the State JO means that you can go to compete at the National Junior Olympics. Winning there, or at least doing quite well, will get you on the development team. Shooters there can go on to be part of the national team; otherwise known as the Olympic team. 

Shooting at one of the state matches is about as stressful as it gets for a young shooter. At a JO three position match at Sutter California in 2019, with temperatures hovering just over 50 degrees, the shakes were common not just from stress. At least 20-30 competitors had arrived with their parents, not to mention the numerous members of the club overseeing the match. Adding to the anxiety is the fact that each one of them had their eyes fixed on either a competitor or the screen showing the scores (a large flat screen in the corner of the main room in this case). With the firing line just adjacent to where most everyone was it was pretty easy to hear the chatter of the parents when someone was shooting well and the silence that ensued when someone was doing terribly.

In a way, like the mating dances of birds, on the firing line you see the numerous and unique warm up routines of each competitor. Some stretching, some meditating,  others apparently flirting (two guys had tried hitting on my girlfriend who came to watch me shoot). It could be a disorienting scene to many (to the point my brother stayed outside in the car). With sound and movement from all directions it can be hard to relax and stay calm. 

When any match begins the competitors are basically all silent. The faint murmurs and background music are disrupted by the cracks of gun fire. 

At this match in particular the relative monotony of what would otherwise be like any other match was disrupted when our targets and computers all shut off (each competitor had a screen which was hooked up to the targets and would read out the scores after each shot). 

After the computers had restarted the shooters were told to unload their rifles and get off the line while the officials checked on what happened. Apparently someone had shot one of the wires for the targets. The one attached to my target no less. After that everything went back to “normal”.

Shooting in the 70s was, in all aspects, far less advanced. “We had these pulleys which our targets were attached to,” my father told me once, “Either you would have to do it or someone might help you. Either way it wasn’t as easy as now.” At that time paper targets were all they had (especially in Burma). “I guess it just made us more adaptable. Like our jackets, they fit terribly. They were like a whole size big or more.”

With what we would consider archaic by today’s standards, all things considered they always managed to figure out how to get things to work. My father told me about a pistol shooter he knew. Since he couldn’t always practice with his pistol he had to find some other means of training. “He had this rock that he somehow managed to shape a little bit like his pistol, at least in the grip section. Or what would be the grip I guess.” It is common practice to repeatedly lift and dry fire your gun. For rifles we have a type of stand that allows you to rest your rifle in between shots. So you put your rifle on the stand then pick it back up getting ready to shoot, or as if you were shooting. The same goes for pistols just instead of a stand they have a table. 

“He put his rock down then lifted it. And just kept doing that over and over again.” “You don't necessarily need all the best equipment or whatever, just make do with what you got.”

A common saying for my family is, “If it were easy… everyone would do it.” Though mildly condescending, it defines the work ethic needed to be successful. In shooting it becomes very easy to see progress stop and for your scores to plateau. And sometimes it isn’t particularly obvious what you’re doing wrong or what you need to improve. What I’ve heard from my father, and even my fellow competitors, was that the key was to just keep trying. In a cheesy fashion you’ll even hear “Never give up!” but that is what’s necessary to shoot. 

My dad always says, “Wanting to shoot is like wanting to climb Everest. I mean if you ask someone ‘Hey, why’d you climb Everest?’ they're probably going to say ‘Oh, cause it's there,’ ‘Because it was a challenge,’ or ‘Because it was fun,’ Shooters say the same thing….”

Published on 5/18/2021

By Sharon Tang

Many in the United States may have never heard of netball, a fascinating ball sport that requires good hand-eye coordination, teamwork and attention to restrictive rules. 

Netball is similar to basketball, but it is played by two teams of seven players. Netball is played on a rectangular court with raised goal rings at each end. The height of the netball goal rings is the same as the ones used in basketball but without the backboard. To score goals, each team has to pass the ball down the court and shoot it through its goal ring. 

During the general play, a player with the ball can hold on to it for only three seconds before shooting a goal or passing to another player. While defending a pass or a shot, players must be about three feet from the player with the ball. 

Although netball might sound like a restrictive sport, it is definitely interesting to play or watch. Ivy Ting, a college student who has been playing netball for seven years, says, “I joined my school netball team after watching a game played in my school. I was obsessed with everything that happened on the court. Compared to sports like basketball and football, netball has less contact and requires more teamwork than any other sports since you cannot pass the ball through the court all by yourself.” Remembering the first game she and her team won, “I will never forget the moment when the game bell rang; it is one of the happiest moments in my life.”

Since netball is a sport developed from basketball in the late 1800s, there are similarities between the two sports. Shanice Tang, a basketball player who started learning netball a year ago, says that she enjoyed playing both netball and basketball. She says, “I found that they represent each other in many different ways.” She also advanced herself as a basketball player after learning how to play netball and says,“I’ve learned a lot of passing techniques through netball, and my basketball skills have helped me learn how to play netball in a much easier way.” 

Charlotte Leung, a netball player who has been playing netball for eight years, says that “I learned about netball from my PE teacher, I was first frustrated by all the rules that I need to memorize before going on court, but the more I understand about netball, the more interesting it becomes.” The complexity of netball rules is definitely the biggest obstacle for netball beginners. However, once players overcome this challenge, it becomes rather exciting to play. Besides the time spent on court, Leung also enjoyed the time she spent outside of court. “My favorite memory about netball is the time I spent training with my school team teammates, it was the biggest joy throughout my school years.”

Despite netball being an uncommon sport in the US, anyone who lives in the Bay Area can contact the San Francisco Stars netball club through their Facebook page to join the team; they are the champions of the 2018 US Open Netball Championship, and are willing to spread their love of netball to anyone interested in it. 

Published on 5/18/2021

By Connor Gaughan

“Star Trek: The Next Generation” is easily one of my favorite shows since it holds up narratively and thematically to the current age.  It is the perfect show for busy at-home workers and students who are cooped up during the pandemic. The show provides a dizzying array of short, self-contained episodes that entertain in a multitude of ways.

“The Next Generation” is the second show in the “Star Trek” universe. It is a long-running sci-fi show that began in 1987 and ended in 1994. Both “The Next Generation” and the original “Star Trek” are the brainchildren of producer Gene Roddenberry. “The Next Generation” was directed by many individuals,  including some episodes that were directed by members of the acting cast. 

The show provides thoughtful narratives, impressive performances and monologues and well-written dialogues. 

However, the greatest strength of “Next Generation” is its uncanny ability to create memorable stories despite how each episode is self-contained. The show hardly ever has an overarching plot. Each episode has one-off characters that are never seen again with locations that are never visited again. This type of storytelling works incredibly well because an entire story plot happens in the episode that you watch. The 45-minute time restraint guarantees that the show never stagnates; something of importance happens in every scene, keeping viewers glued to their seats. 

The other advantage of this storytelling style is the freedom of narrative tone in each episode. The U.S.S Enterprise’s mission is to “boldly go where no one has gone before.” Because of this, the show can go anywhere thematically, as long as it fits into the sci-fi theme. (And sometimes, even when it doesn’t!) The show can range from being a survival show, a political drama, a horror show or even a comedy. For instance, the freedom provided from this type of storytelling allows for episodes like “The Best of Both Worlds,” a terrifying encounter with the Borg, a cyborg race whose sole goal is to assimilate all other living things into their “Hive-Mind” way of life, usually by force, into a much more lighthearted episode by the name of  “Family,” where Captain Picard visits his brother Robert on his grape farm back on Earth. This stark contrast between episodes pleasantly surprises and convinces me to continue watching. 

The next episode is guaranteed to be dramatically different from the episode you just watched, which is “The Next Generation's” greatest trick.

An issue with self-contained episodes is that the show may feel static, as if it doesn’t progress as time goes on. The show squashes this problem ingeniously by using a surprisingly simple storytelling device: character development. 

“The Next Generation” has a wondrous cast of mainstay characters, who each conduct actions around the Enterprise. For instance, Lieutenant Commander Data, a unique high-functioning android with a fascination for human qualities and an ultimate wish to become human, and Lieutenant Worf, the security director of the ship who is the only Klingon, an alien race that prides itself on its war power and brutality, serve on the Enterprise. 

Every now and then, episodes focus on these characters and either expand upon their past, provide events that challenge their views and beliefs or introduce people from their past that forces a character to grow. These are easily some of the greatest episodes in the show, as they portray characters who have been in the show for a long time in a new light, providing nuances that weren’t previously shown.  These episodes excel at offering the viewer an ever-changing relationship with the characters and the show by extension. 

This masterpiece is a seminal work that shows how to keep a long-running show interesting and fresh. Its great narratives, fantastic writing and stunning performances  make “Star Trek: The Next Generation” one of the best TV shows that I have had the pleasure of viewing.

Published on 5/18/2021

By Conrad Somogyi 

Chess originated in India during the 6th century AD. This game was heavily influenced by another common game back then called chaturanga, a four-person game with many key aspects of modern chess. 

To win at chess, one must think ahead multiple steps and adapt to the situation should your opponent make an intelligent move. People judge your chess skill on whether you can figure out what a good move would be and whether you can avoid making bad moves. 

I like chess because it rewards people for thinking ahead and creating scenarios about how you can make a move after guessing what move your opponent would make. And for an extremely old game, it is still relevant as a game that people play today.

I recently discovered a chess website called chess.com that allows people to play chess for free against anyone from around the world. The way this online game pits you against your opponent is ELO, a rating for how good the website thinks you are. You will play people from around the world that has similar or equal ratings as you; after all, pitting someone who isn’t very good at chess against someone who is far more experienced does not make sense. 

The chess website also has a feature that allows you to play chess puzzles, where players try to find the best move that allows them to win the game or gain a huge advantage. These puzzles allow you to think multiple steps ahead. I recommend completing your puzzles every day if you want to improve at chess. This option of online puzzles is also cheaper than purchasing a book with chess puzzles.

I recommend chess because it is a really fun game that helps you plan ahead, which is useful in life. Chess promotes critical thinking and improvisation that helps you steal a victory from your opponent’s grasp. 

Published on 5/18/2021

By Yuetong Zheng

With San Francisco in the orange reopening tier, amazing restaurants like Stix, a shop that sells street food and fresh drinks, are beginning to see longer wait times and greater demand. Conveniently located on 1353 Taraval Street, Stix is mere blocks away from Abraham Lincoln High School. 

As a foodie who loves to try new dishes, I immediately wanted to try the innovative take on a corn dog at Stix and support another local business on one sunny afternoon.

Despite a 25-minute wait for my order takeout, my doubt faded the moment I bit into their finger-licking Korean-style corn dogs. The Potato Combo corn dog ($8) initially seemed pricey, but the unique texture and taste dispelled every negative thought from my mind. My first mouthful of golden French fries and rice flour coating was delectable.

Underneath the coating, piping hot mozzarella cheese and two beef links satisfied my appetite. The melty mozzarella cheese pull one might see in a televised pizza advertisement tasted just as it looked.

This freshly made corn dog differed completely from the typically soggy corn dog one might find in a frozen food supermarket aisle. I had never tried Korean-style corn dogs before, but now, I understand the raving reviews about this innovation.

Compared to American corn dogs, Korean corn dogs are usually enjoyed with toppings like fried potatoes, ramen, bread crumbs, cornflakes or even sugar. Korean corn dogs also include springy, spreadable melted cheese inside the bun that delights like no other.

Stix’s Waffle Fries ($4.25) dipped in homemade Spicy Mayo ($0.25) are just as delicious as their famed corn dogs. Perfectly crispy and bursting with flavorful seasoning, this snack further elevated my newfound appreciation of Stix.

As every scrumptious meal calls for a refreshing drink, I also ordered the Black Sugar Milk Tea ($4.50) as a nice refresher. The subtly sweet milk tea induced many sighs of appreciation.

Many savor the treats from this restaurant during its opening hours of 12 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. every day except for Wednesday, the only day it is closed. While indoor seating remains unavailable, bundled-up customers pick up their orders to enjoy elsewhere with friends and family, like the lovely park across the street.

To ensure a safe shopping process, Stix requires every customer to order online with contactless payment options like credit cards. For customers who prefer delivery over takeout, Stix also offers DoorDash and UberEats services.

Easily accessible and fresh street food has never been tastier. If you ever crave a quick afternoon bite, be sure to check out Stix this summer!

Published on 5/18/2021

By Miles Millman

The original anime for “Death Note” was first released in 2006, with the live-action adaptation being released later in 2017. Both the anime and live-action adaptation follow the story of Light, an unassuming student who plays the role of protagonist. 

In both the original and live-action adaptation, Light finds and uses the death note for his own benefit. However, the Death Note and Lights' reaction to it differ in the live-action adaptation. The adaptation’s version of the book contains weird circular and triangular symbols on the cover. When Light finds it, he is noticeably more frightened and bewildered than when he first meets the Shinigami (Japanese god of death) in the original anime. Some controversy surrounding the Netflix adaptation, specifically regarding director Adam Wingard's decision to substitute Asian characters from the original “Death Note” anime with white actors. Overall, the live-action adaptation of Death Note is unsuccessful due to inconsistencies within the plot and character development of the adaptation.

Light Yagami from the original Death Note is a cold-hearted straight-A student with plans to become a god by delivering justice to the world and murdering criminals with his Death note. Light Turner in the Netflix adaptation is a more relatable character because he is less dominant within his social hierarchy and plays more of a meek, unsuspecting role. I found this to be a smart decision by Adam Wingard because by lessening Light’s academic and social achievements, Light becomes a significantly more relatable character to the audience. Furthermore, Light Turner is more relatable than Light Yagami due to Turner’s initial reaction to the Shinigami being much more realistic. His screaming and running in terror from the supernatural demon rather than behaving as nonchalantly as Light Yagami in the original Death Note are convincing. Regardless of how relatable Light Turner is, he doesn’t spark the same level of interest and curiosity that the hyper-intelligent and calculated Light Yagami sparked in the original fans of Death Note.

Another notable difference that detracts from the adaptation is the portrayal of L as a more passionate and emotionally invested character, which juxtaposes too harshly with the original Death note’s portrayal of L as a calm, collected detective with a world-renowned ability to catch criminals. This inconsistency in L’s representation is shown in the adaptation when L’s assistant Watari is killed by Kira. In the adaptation, L responds in a way that the original L never would: losing his cool and chasing Light on foot through Seattle, where the adaptation takes place. While considerably more emotionally charged, this inconsistency in L’s character made the adaptation less authentic and more theatrical and phony.

One final inconsistency that unnerves me while watching the live-action adaptation is the more involved role that Misa plays in the adaptation. In the original “Death Note,” Misa is not as ambitious or ruthless with her Death Note as in the adaptation, where she eventually becomes even more ruthless and evil than Light himself, killing FBI agents and even writing down the name of Light in his own death note. It almost seems like some of the evil and ruthlessness Light possessed in the original anime was taken away and given to Misa in the adaptation. I feel that if Light himself was as ruthless and enigmatic as he was portrayed in the original anime, my rating of the adaptation would be substantially higher. I disagree with the decision to give Misa a more influential role in the storyline.

Overall, Adam Wingard’s adaptation of Death Note is largely unsuccessful and failed to meet the expectations of Death Note fans around the world. Was the movie impossible to watch? No, it is still fairly entertaining; it just failed to represent the original characters and plot of Death Note compellingly and accurately. Although the character development and plot are entirely inconsistent with the original show, the live-action adaptation still has its moments of glory. However, in comparison to the appeal of the original show, Netflix’s adaptation leaves much to be desired.

Published on 5/18/2021

By Derek Baldi

Disney heard people’s call for an AAPI Princess movie and delivered. Raya and the Last Dragon, a wonderfully directed movie, respectfully represents Asian Cultures. It covers cultures from all around Southeast Asia from Thai, Indonesian, Vietnamese and many more.

“Raya and the Last Dragon” is about a Girl named Raya and her quest to get rid of the antagonists, Druun and uniting Kumandra, once again. Along her way she meets a bunch of interesting characters that she befriends.

Raya herself is a new take on what a princess should be. She takes on a strong and leading role as a devoted warrior fighting to protect the dragon gem. Throughout the movie, she becomes such a intricate character when her soft side is revealed. She travels the land in search for the last dragon gem piece with her ragtag team of strangers that eventually become bonded almost like family. 

The movie’s references to different Asian cultures was astounding. The first and foremost is the name of her adorable furbug, Tuk Tuk. A tuk tuk is a three wheeled motorized vehicle often used as a taxi in Thai culture. In the movie, Tuk Tuk is her fur bug that rolls around as her best friend and mode of transportation.

Other cultural references include the customs that are held in Asia, such as shoes being taken off before entering a home and the type of combat that is used in the movie. Throughout the movie, multiple battle scenes involve Namaari and Raya. In these scenes, we can see different kinds of martial art forms, such as Muay Thai and Pencak Silat.

The most notable happened to be the dishes and food that were served in the movie. Common Asian dishes were used in the movie to really hit that final mark to make it feel like home. These dishes are heavily rooted within many of these cultures and really represented what it meant to be an AAPI.

I highly recommend this movie, as it is a new take on what we commonly refer to as a princess type movie. It is full of action and adventure while also giving you the wholesome feel of a Disney movie.

Published on 5/18/2021

By Bairvarsu Sid Rao 

The human mind is extremely complex. It controls the way a person thinks, perceives and feels. Not being in the right state of mind can hurt our mental health. Meditation is a medium through which we can achieve a mentally calm, clear and emotionally stable state.

     Everyone in the world deals with some form of stress. Over time, stress may lead to anxiety, depression, loss of sleep and other mental health problems. Meditation helps relieve stress by helping us to focus our attention and eliminating the stream of thoughts that may be crowding the mind and causing stress.

     Meditation has many benefits. It teaches a person how to respond to situations rather than reacting to them. It helps a person to be awake and purposeful about their actions. Over a period of time, it can enhance emotional and physical well-being. 

     Meditation is highly beneficial for students as well. Studies have shown that students who engage in meditation or other zen practices perform better academically. Research from Columbia University Medical Center states that “meditating can change the structure and function of the brain through relaxation, which can: Reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. Increase focus and learning concentration. Improve memory and attention span.”

     This research corroborates another study by  David Geffen School Of Medicine in 2017, which concluded, “Meditation is believed to help relieve stress, lessen depression, lower blood pressure and improve sleep [while boosting] memory, mood, and even social intelligence."

     Another good aspect of meditation is its convenience. One can meditate in any place that is peaceful and quiet. It doesn’t require any equipment, and it is very easy to perform. All you have to do is sit in a comfortable position, close your eyes, breathe naturally, focus your mind and attention on your breathing and try not to let your mind wander off on other thoughts.

     Beginners can use a variety of applications available online to assist them in getting started with meditation. The app that I recommend is Aura. Aura is a free-to-download app available on both the App Store (IOS) and the Google Play Store (Android). Aura will help you learn and progress towards becoming more mindful.  It includes a gratitude journal, as well as a mood tracking feature that allows you to record and remind yourself of what you are thankful for. Aura also provides guided meditation sessions that are just the start. 

     A person does not have to meditate for a specific amount of time. Beginners are advised to start with five minutes and increase the time gradually. Clinical interventions such as Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) recommend practicing meditation for 40-45 minutes per day. According to an old zen saying, “You should sit in meditation for twenty minutes every day - unless you're too busy; then you should sit for an hour.”  As long as you are meditating regularly and properly, you don’t have to worry about the amount of time you should meditate. 

     In my personal experience, meditation has helped me deal with stress and anxiety and it has helped me focus my attention on studying. As a result, I have been able to perform better academically.

     What makes meditation effective is self-realization. When we sit down to meditate, we tell our body that we care for ourselves and that we believe in changing how we feel to how we want to feel. That self-realization is probably the most vital part of meditation. 

     Meditation is a great exercise for our mind, and it has numerous benefits. Meditation has taught me the importance of mental health. It is very important to take care of our mental health so that we can function better.

Published on 5/18/2021

By Elaine Ma

March 22, 2021 is a day of tragedy for Coloradans after a horrific attack occurred in Boulder, Colorado. A 21-year-old shooter, Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, attacked a King Soopers grocery store. Alissa walked into the King Soopers grocery store armed with a Ruger AR-556. He fired his gun towards workers and shoppers inside, which fatally killed ten people. The ten victims were aged 20 to 65 years old, and one victim was a police officer.

Police managed to immediately subdue Alissa after shooting his right leg and held him in custody. Alissa was charged with ten counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder. Police investigations revealed that Alissa was charged with a misdemeanor assault once in 2018.

Shortly after the shooting, Alissa participated in his first court hearing. During the hearing in court, he only spoke when he was questioned by judges. However, Alissa did not express any remorse nor motive for the shooting at King Sooper grocery store. Alissa’s attorney, Kathryn Herold, pleaded for a full mental assessment on Alissa and requested the next hearing to be scheduled after his mental state was fully evaluated. 

Thus, the first court ruled Alissa to be held in custody without bonds, which meant that he had to stay in jail until the next court hearing. Meanwhile, Alissa is now undergoing a mental health assessment. Alissa and his attorney can plead an insanity defense for his actions if Alissa is proven to have mental issues. 

According to Cornell Law School, “In an insanity defense, the defendant admits the action but asserts a lack of culpability based on mental illness. The insanity defense is classified as an excuse defense, rather than a justification defense.” 

In a hypothetical situation, Alissa would be able to avoid a prison sentence and remain confined in a mental hospital instead. 

I believe that mental illness is not the sole cause for violence; rather a mix of other contributing factors are the starting points for violence. In an FBI report studying active shooting incidents from 2000 to 2013, an assessment of a variety of stressors on active shooters shows that they experience an average of 3.6 separate stressors in the year before the attack. 

As for Alissa, his violent actions are possibly built up from high school bullies and an impulsive personality. 

A past classmate of Alissa, Damien Cruz, said in an interview with CNN, “People chose not to mess with him because of his temper, people chose not to really talk to him because of all-how he acted and and things like that. So yeah, he was very alone.”

As an emigrant from Syria, Alissa was taunted throughout high school by bullies for his name and religion. 

Once in 2018, Alissa continuously punched a classmate in response to that classmate calling him racist names. Alissa went on a one-year probation and did 48 hours of community service after being charged with misdemeanor assault. According to an interview with his brother, Ali Aliwi Alissa, the bullying is likely the cause of his brother gradually socially distancing himself from others and believing that someone is after him. 

Another factor that possibly contributes to mass shootings is the accessibility of guns. Although the state of Colorado is required to issue a permit and background check to carry a concealed weapon, Colorado residents aged 21 or older are allowed to purchase and own a legal firearm. On top of that, The New York Times stated that investigators revealed Alissa purchased the Ruger AR-556 six days before the mass shooting. He was also seen by a relative playing with a “machine gun” two days prior. 

All these activities and factors suggest that Alissa may have planned the bloodshed in King Sooper grocery store. This furthers my view that mental illness isn’t the sole factor behind Alissa’s motive in this shooting, but his vengeance towards those bullies is a contributing factor. Moreover, his record and descriptions from previous classmates suggest Alissa tends to use violence for emotional releases.    

In my opinion, Alissa should be fully prosecuted whether he is proven to be mentally unstable or not. The loose gun control laws in the U.S. allow Alissa to purchase a firearm, which directly causes the deaths in King Soopers. Therefore, Alissa should be responsible for misusing owned firearms. It also seems that the painful bullying experience is to blame for Alissa's mental deterioration. Despite that, these reasons shouldn’t be used as excuses from being held accountable for all the innocent victims. Hence, Alissa should be fully prosecuted for the shooting incident at King Soopers and receive a necessary amount of sentence. 

Published on 5/18/2021

By Valentin Wanderkauven

Birthdays are starting to suck. I said it, they’re falling off, especially as we get older. Each year they gradually lose their value, charm and importance. Sure, these are supposed to be the “golden years” where you go out with friends, attend parties, and just enjoy your youth, but that stuff doesn’t contribute to that ever-growing number that relates today’s date to your date of birth. 

Maybe it’s the age of COVID-19, where going outside seems like a hefty task due to the restrictions on gatherings and the thought of wearing masks for hours on end. Who wants to celebrate their birthday inside without all of their closest friends? I don’t, and I heavily doubt that you do either. Beyond that, there comes a certain point where that “special” number really holds no value. The older you grow, the less grandeur there is at most of your birthdays and the more unimportant each birthday begins to feel.

I just turned 18, and most people would perceive it as the world opening itself up to me, that true mark of adulthood beginning. Yet, that’s not how it felt at all. We perceive birthdays as a day closer to freedom, but, for me, it’s actually a day closer to more responsibilities that we have to tend to. I have to begin to manage banking, consider insurance, and more. All of these things, while incredibly important, are not the mark of that fun that we sought for as kids. Upon turning 18, you suddenly realize that life is only getting more difficult, and the passing birthdays probably won’t mean much more to you than a day. 

Now, I’m not saying that birthdays are pointless and hold no value. In fact, I believe that they do hold certain value in our lives it’s just that it’s a lot more monotonous than we’d expect with a coming of age. 

Now, for the adults reading this, I know that you’re probably asking, “What’s an 18 year old doing telling me that birthdays have no charm when they’ve only had so little compared to me?” To that I respond, many of us are having our “key birthdays” in a disastrous era of sickness, political turmoil, and boredom. What’s there to be happy about when the so-called “golden years” are spent indoors looking at a computer screen because there’s nothing else available to do? Beyond that, many people are fearing for their lives when hate crimes are on the rise,  bringing them fear of going outside for multiple reasons other than COVID-19. 

Birthdays lose their charm because we’re older and have to acknowledge our surroundings way more than we once had to. We have to begin opening up our eyes and seeing that the world is a bit of a mess. That’s a daunting task, especially for someone who’s beginning to come of age. The charm is lost both because it begins to feel like any other day and because the world’s issues begin to impact you more. 

What’s the solution to this? Maybe it's the mindset. I acknowledge that I come across as very cynical throughout the article and seem to have a less-than-positive view of the world. Perhaps I can make attempts to view the positives that come with a new age, whatever those positives may be. Maybe it's the environment? We’ve lived with the threat of COVID-19 for over a year, and loads of us have had birthdays during quarantine. I can totally see a world where that changes once we end this cycle of waking up to look at a computer screen for however many hours of the day. 

Or maybe there isn’t really a way of changing this feeling. That’s completely possible as well, and I wouldn’t be surprised if this remained the same way for so many people. 

I’m interested to see what birthdays will feel like once quarantine is all over, but for now, I, much like a massive chunk of the population, will continue to believe that birthdays have lost their charm.

Published on 5/18/2021

By Justin Muang

Art takes many forms and video games are one such form. And, like much of literature, games often aim to tell a story. As video games can take advantage of all the senses, the way their stories are told expand into those areas. There are three crucial elements to a game's storytelling: the story itself, which consists of the actual plot and what seeks to be told; the visuals of a game, from character designs to the world itself; and, finally, what you hear, from the musical score to environmental sound. For those unfamiliar with the games I am going to talk about there will be spoilers.

Part 2: The Visuals 

Upon a massive stone cliff a young boy rides a large black horse. Carrying with him a body wrapped in white cloth. He rides on through a forest illuminated by fireflies. With dawn he arrives at ancient stone gates. Beyond the gates he stands at the end of a stone bridge that spans across a vast and empty desert, stretching farther than the eye can see…. And that's just the intro sequence 

Those familiar with the game Shadow of the Colossus know of its grandeur. As the name implies the game and its monsters are well… colossal.  Despite that it is a game filled with small and subtle details. 

Our game follows the story of Wander (the boy) on a quest to revive his lost love. He learns he must battle the 16 colossi in the world in order to bring her back. 

Wander is a young man no older than his early 20s. He has brown hair adorned by a blue grey headband. His clothes consist of a brown shirt and a tabard of varying shades of grey. Along with green and blue shorts with leather sandals and shin guards. 

As you defeat more colossi it is shown that Wander’s appearance changes. His skin becomes paler, his hair darkens and markings begin to emerge on his body. As the game winds to a close and all 16 colossi are slain, Dormin, the one who tasked Wander with killing the colossi to save his lover, possesses Wander. The Wander we see now has skin even paler than it was before with black veins evident under his skin. His eyes now glow blue and small horns protrude from his head. 

The physical changes in wander are a direct result of his actions. Wander’s appearance changes to what some might consider “evil”. In Shadow of the Colossus the colossi themselves are benign until attacked by Wander. The changes we see help bring to light the possibly immoral things that Wander is doing. His more evil appearance may be due to his possibly evil actions.

Shadow of the Colossus is one of three major works by Team Ico headed by game designer Fumito Ueda. The game by which the team gets their name, Ico, predates Shadow of the Colossus by a few years. Ico, just like Shadow of the Colossus, has many details within its design which can be overlooked on a simple glance. 

The game begins with a hooded figure mounted upon a horse. In front of him is a small boy with horns in shackles. The boy, Ico, is taken to a castle, lonely upon its own island. Ico is taken to an enormous hall in which hundreds of body sized capsules line its walls. Ico is placed inside one such capsule. Some time passes and the ground begins to shake and the capsule falls from its position setting Ico free.

From here the player is now in control.  Some exploring leads Ico to find a girl named Yorda. The rest of the game is the adventure of Ico and Yorda trying to escape the castle. 

As leaving the castle is the objective of the game, the castle is where it all takes place. As many games would have multiple biomes in which to explore, Ico does not. The vast majority of it is made of stone with some sections being made of wood and others made of dirt. Numerous trees grow within the complex. Windmills and fountains can also be found. The aforementioned stone walls all appear aged and worn with areas even chipping away. 

Peculiar statues act as doors in many of the areas. These doors are one in which only Yorda can open (and Ico toward the end of the game). 

Though terraces and ledges throughout the game help add to the overall look of the castle, they often act as ledges and platforms for Ico to climb and jump from. So too do the chains and ropes. What appear to be stone couches are save points for the player and in game are places for Ico and Yorda to rest. 

In many, if not all games, the world is designed with a specific purpose. The purpose of a castle in regards to storytelling can imply the power and prestige a character has in their world. The weathering of rocks and their deterioration show the age. Details such as these give context to a story without explicitly saying it.  Even the seclusion of the castle and its lack of friendly inhabitants tells the player that they are on their own… well Yorda’s there at least. Details without exposition are even more important for games like Shadow of the Colossus and Ico as there is little dialogue in either game. 

A peculiar aspect of Ico, at least by today's standards, is its camera and the way it functions. The camera angles in Ico are fixed depending on where the characters are but can be panned slightly in any direction. Many third person games nowadays have camera angles which can be moved in almost any direction. Though for a time that wasn’t always the case, some games had cameras which barely moved at all. Though it was mainly due to technological limitations it too can tell the player a story in its own way.

Resident Evil (1996) was the first game of the now eight game franchise. In some regards it is the quintessential horror shooter game. One element that added to its horror, aside from the grotesqueness of zombies eating people, was its camera.

Depending on where your character stood in a room the camera would fix itself to a position, only moving very slightly as the character walked. This created a field of view that for many was completely foriegn. With no peripheral vision or mobility it induces a feeling that is best described claustrophobic and uncomfortable. Perhaps it's because of not being able to see behind your back, or not knowing what's around the corner. Maybe because of seeing your character get chased down. Nonetheless the sense of dread and unease of not knowing whats where or what's even happening is a feeling shared by both the player and the character themselves. The events that unfold in Resident Evil are those in which even the intro sequence describes as “... a nightmare.”

As many horror games deliver obscene visuals that are meant to frighten the player, just as often they use sound to bring even more realism to the dread and terror.

Part 3: The Sounds

Those familiar with horror games, and horror in general, know the concept of jump scares. When tensions are high and nothing seems to happen, people are often lulled into a false sense of security. And right when you think you're safe…. “Surprise!” Something jumps out at you. 

Jump scares are quite common and in some ways over used. Yet at the same time they are no less scary. Paired along with whatever horrible visage the creator decides on, an equally terrifying sound is used. From screams to car crashes, so long as it's scary it can be used. 

Few games use jump scares to the same degree as Five Nights at Freddy’s. Fnaf, as many people call it, is an ever expanding franchise with so much lore and story that whole carriers have been made focused on just that. 

You play as a security guard working from midnight to six AM. The only thing weird about your job is that the animatronics you are meant to guard are trying to kill you. If you fail to keep the animatronics out of your office you die, but not before being greeted by the animatronic jumping out at you teeth bare with screams no one should ever hear in real life. 

The blood curdling screams of the damned are not the only sound in the game. For one the office fan you have on can be heard. Though that only adds to the fact that you as the player know that your fan is probably working. More importantly, distant footsteps, metallic clanging, and deep laughter can all be heard at various points throughout. Each one of these sounds could have different meanings. Maybe Chica (one the animatronics) is knocking on your door trying to get in. or Foxy (another animatronic) is running down the hall at full speed. Perhaps the laughter is Golden Fredfy coming to pay a visit. Whatever the case may be, the sounds are what give you, the player, these queues. 

An of  example of FNaF jumpscares here

Environmental sound in a game connects both the character and the player themselves. Musical scores, on the other hand, are something only the player hears (normally). Though isolated from the world of the game, music as it pertains to auditory storytelling is just as important as anything else.

For over 30 years The Legend of Zelda franchise has been known for its unforgettable soundtracks. Notes and rhythm all intertwine to create a narrative unto itself. For an upbeat tone a fast rhythm and whimsical flute playing may be used. For the backdrop of a sleepy village, perhaps a slow violin will be the lead instrument. For the final boss, why not use the whole orchestra?

Sleepy village here

Boss theme here

Music can build tension with use of a crescendo. As the notes pile on so too do the emotions packed into each one. To set a happy tone major keys will be used. For one that is sad, minor keys are the way to go. 

Music not only sets up the mood but can also help to emphasize the feelings invoked by an area. For instance in an “exotic” area of the game odd time signatures or nonwestern style rhythms will be played. 

“Exotic” here

Without diving headlong into the ideas of music theory and harmony, only the broad strokes of how music can make you feel could be covered.

Part 4: End

As video games become more prevalent in modern culture the need to understand them as more than just entertainment becomes increasingly more obvious. In many regards they can be just mindless fun but they are nevertheless art in their own right. 

For those wondering it is not as though video games will completely take over books in the story telling department. Rather, they are an expansion upon the base that is literature. Our means of transferring knowledge has always evolved. From drawing pictures on walls to telling them aloud, to writing them down. Now, in this modern age, where technology has become so much a part of our lives, video games, in some ways, are the modern means by which we tell our stories. And the means by which we may continue to explore and expand upon in the future.

Published 5/24/2021