Opinion

By Moyses Aguirre

I yelled in excitement after getting accepted into Business Academy. As a kid, I have always wanted to be an entrepreneur. Whether it was a Frankenstein slime creation, a starch bath bomb mess, or a video game coding fiasco, I always wanted to have my own business. Business Academy was my opportunity to become an entrepreneur. However, I dropped my pathway a year later. Why, though? I found out that an academy was not the right fit for me. Find out if an academy is right for you.

To begin, academies keep you in smaller networks. An academy cohort has at most 35 students. A good amount of classes you take are within that cohort like English 2. You create relationships and bonds within that same community for three years. While some may enjoy a tight knit community, others may want to keep their options open to meet new people. For me, I found a community of people that I aligned with and I wouldn't have had that flexibility in an academy.

Secondally, academies can be cliquey. Even though community is emphasized, smaller social groups tend to form. As someone who took longer to form friendships, it was upsetting to notice tight social groups form early on in the year. While there's nothing wrong with having your own friend group, it creates a small network of people you can go to for support. At times, I only felt welcomed to sit with one to three people. If I had stayed three years, I'm not sure if that would have ever changed.

Finally, it didn't work out in my schedule. Academy classes are known to be a three-year elective pathway, with one cohort per grade level. Because of that, limited flexibility is available in your schedule to adjust classes. For me, Business Academy conflicted with AP Biology, AP United States History, and Compression. I value those courses more, which is why I dropped my academy. Courses can conflict if you are taking selective classes, and the variety of courses you can take are limited.

A variety of factors may  impact your experience at an academy. For example, the course and the teacher. It is undeniable that academies offer students many career opportunities. I even had awesome field trips around the city, like a visit to Amazon Web Services. But you should pick an academy if it is a right fit for you, not just for “college applications” or a way to “stand out.” At the end of the day, high school is a short lived experience, you will never get this time again. Do what you enjoy, and take classes that spark your interest. For me, I will never regret moving on from an academy, even if it was my dream.

By Lincoln Staff

Regarding the April issue story, “America will spend its way into bankruptcy, financial collapse–unless DOGE saves it,” by Khoi Nguyen, given you have told me that you fact-check thoroughly, I was surprised to read you fell for and repeated Republican misinformation. What you listed is deliberate mislabeling and promotes the federal administration's goals of creating confusion to avoid oversight of unilateral decisions. Note which sources are deliberately misinterpreted or overwhelmingly subjective compared to competing studies.

Contrary to your claim, $32,000 was not spent on transgender comic books in Peru, and that money came from the State Department, not USAID (United States Agency for International Development), and was an award-winning series about the power of education and US-Peru student cultural exchange. No transgender characters appeared, and only one of the characters was gay. A simple Google search would have also highlighted how the DOGE team thought "transgenic" meant the same as "transgender" and often "gay.” 

I encourage you to read a “FactCheck” summary regarding DOGE’s claims and think more critically about the information you want to spread, particularly with increasing unregulated use of AI. I want to remind you of how information is always filtered through the author and how often easily disseminated information is falsified or misrepresented. 

Regarding the alleged experimentation on transgender mice, thank you for sharing the microbiome paper to back up your claims. I read it, and it demonstrates how dangerous it is for untrained decisionmakers to judge the merits of technical research. Someone without technical experience focuses only on the hormone aspect or applicability to transgender therapy, not realizing hormones and microbiome research is essential for medical and physiological research overall and that transgender therapy is only one application of overall hormonal research. Keep in mind HRT (hormone replacement therapy) was developed and invented for cisgender patients, as are most "gender-affirming therapy" methods. That is what makes DOGE's opaque, single-factor, and uninformed approach so deadly.

In addition, the stakes are even higher, now that we are following historical precedents in condoning unconstitutional takings of rights meant to prevent easily-abused solitary consolidation of power by deferring to stated false equivalencies without further investigation. You will see your internships, scholarships, research programs, lab positions, and STEM opportunities disappear in the coming decade as part of this planned national de-intellectualization.

All of the things being criticized or defunded, by the way, already have oversight sections explaining the research's larger public health benefit (once again, a simple Google search for the original document), because those are part of preexisting accountability and transparency requirements for approving the receipt of public funds.

Response:
Dear Teacher Suh,

Thank you for your input–the “Lincoln Log” welcomes any and all community feedback as it leads to more truthful and accurate reporting. I apologize for my inaccuracy regarding the transgender comic book claim–you are absolutely right on that count.

But regarding the transgender mice study, even the researchers themselves made it explicitly clear that their paper was meant to apply to transgender research. The literal first sentence in the paper is “Gender affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) is used by transgender (TG) people to alleviate gender dysphoria.” The next three sentences talk about the use of GAHT by transgender people specifically and also how it relates to puberty blocking, which is a controversial practice that relates to transgender medical practices as well. 

And while I personally disagree with taking away funding from science and education entirely, my original point that government spending as a whole must be reined in to become more efficient and representative of the taxpayer’s interests must not get lost in a debate about the finer details of my argument. 

Almost every year, politicians reassure the American people that the economy continues to grow, and they typically back up those claims with statistics showing GDP (gross domestic product) growth, a metric that is supposed to represent the size of the economy as a whole. 

However, I’m sure most people would agree that their economic well-being is not reflected accurately by those statements. This is because government spending is also counted when calculating GDP, meaning that as long as the government prints more cash and uses it, this will count as “economic growth” on paper. 

What may also be shocking is that the federal government’s debt today is higher than it was while our nation was fighting the Second World War (right after the Great Depression). DOGE may make bad decisions here and there, but they are the only force keeping our government from spending the hard-earned wealth of the American people into a bankruptcy that would cause global economic collapse.

By Lincoln Log Staff

Since taking office, President Trump has chosen a hostile crackdown on freedom of expression, especially by deporting and revoking the visas of student dissidents. These authoritarian actions represent a clear and present danger to the civil liberties that our free society is built upon and they set a dangerous precedent for suppressing the opinions and voices of others, including that of student journalists.

On March 8th of 2025, Mahmoud Khahlil was forcefully taken from his Columbia residential apartment building in New York City by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents without a warrant. The arresting agents wore non identifying clothing and did not answer his eight-month pregnant wife’s questions of what agency they were a part of and where he was being taken until she asked three times. 

Khalil is a student activist and was a lead negotiator on behalf of his peers as students at Columbia University organized a series of protests and encampments  in response to the war in Gaza, demanding the university divest from Israel and companies that support the conflict. ICE originally stated that his student visa had expired, but once they discovered he is a lawful permanent resident, they said this status would be revoked instead. 

No criminal charge is against Khalil; his only offense is that the Trump Administration accuses him of antisemitism and of supporting the terrorist organization Hamas. He has since been sent to LaSalle Detention Center in Jena in Louisiana. His son was born while he was detained.

Student protesters being deported without due process is a dangerous precedent for First Amendment rights erosions. Due process has been a cornerstone of American civil liberties since the founding of the nation; it’s the right to advocate for yourself through legal proceedings, for example, being able to go to court, plead innocent, and then have a lawyer defend you. Additionally, he has the freedom of speech and the right to peacefully protest.

The concept of due process can be traced back to Magna Carta, guaranteeing that no person be deprived of life. During the Revolutionary War many were put in jail carelessly; this injustice led to what it is now, the Fifth Amendment, which grants the right of due process to all peoples (regardless of citizenship), using words like “persons” and “people” in the amendment.

Without the protection of due process, people are at risk of being imprisoned without cause, and unable to advocate for themselves.

Some may argue against due process because of its cost. Republicans, like Pres. Donald Trump, argues that since every single person has a right to a lawyer and general legal proceedings, enormous amounts of money are expended, and lawyers are stretched thin. 

The First Amendment to the U.S. The Constitution guarantees the fundamental freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition, to everyone in the United States. Regardless of one’s citizenship or immigration status, citizens and non-citizens in the U.S. are entitled to the same First Amendment rights. 

Punishing protesters, disregarding whether or not the protest was peaceful, discourage peaceful protests, damage the public's trust in the government, silence marginalized voices, increase fear of repression that leads into self-censorship, increase social unrest and violence, all combining into the weakening of democracy. Penalizing protesters and deferring peaceful protests are synonymous with suppressing freedom of expression and assembly, the very right granted to everyone by the First Amendment.

In Khahlil’s case, the government's argument of his detention and citizenship revocation depends on a section of the Cold War–era Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952. This act allows for aliens in the U.S. to be deported if the Secretary of State believes that they pose a threat or negative consequence to U.S. foreign policy.

The problem with this law is that it can be interpreted very loosely, because surrounding who is or isn't a threat to U.S. foreign policy is not clarified. This poses the potential danger of the law being used against people who have done nothing wrong but have spoken out against alliances the U.S. has. 

If our constitutional right to due process is being infringed upon by outdated, war-time legislation, who will protect our freedoms? In some cases involving student activists, it’s up to the educational institution to decide whether or not to offer protection to the student. 

Similarly, as student journalists, we are concerned about what the future holds for our right to free speech.

“Lincoln Log” reporter, Mikayla Chew, expresses, “I think the impact of the first amendment on student journalism is that we aren’t able to express our values, opinions, and critiques openly to the public. It would also restrict many of us to not be able to write whatever we would like without criticism from others.” 

The nature and purpose of journalism goes beyond reporting on cold hard facts to inform the reader–it also includes exposing audiences to a diverse kaleidoscope of opinions from others in order to encourage the exchange of ideas and their open debate, a concept crucial to the continuing function of all free societies, including ours. This administration’s current stance of sanctioning the deportation and intimidation of people for simply speaking their mind not only represents the beginning of an all-too predictable march towards complete and unchallenged authority, but also signals the unraveling of our nation’s social fabric.

“Even writing in this editorial makes me feel uneasy,” says Khoi Nguyen, an editor-in-chief of the “Lincoln Log,” “I signed a contract to commission as an officer in the U.S. Army upon graduating college, and I’m afraid my political views shared here could be used against me as I try to attempt security clearances or serve my country in other capacities; background checks reveal everything.”

According to the Student Bill of Rights (5.2.1) on the SFUSD website, number 15 on their list states, “Students have the right under state and federal law to free speech, and cannot be punished for their speech unless it is obscene, libelous or slanderous; incites students as to create a clear and present danger of the commission of unlawful acts on school premises or the violation of lawful school regulations; or causes a substantial disruption to the orderly operation of the school environment.”

On top of the Student Bill of Rights, California State Education Code Section 48907 protects all Californian students’ free speech by presenting the various ways students can be expressive. 

Point A states, “...the right to exercise freedom of speech and of the press including, but not limited to, the use of bulletin boards, the distribution of printed materials or petitions, the wearing of buttons, badges, and other insignia, and the right of expression in official publications, whether or not the publications or other means of expression are supported financially by the school or by use of school facilities, except that expression shall be prohibited which is obscene, libelous, or slanderous.”

Very similarly to the First Amendment, students have the right to free speech, including symbolic speech, except if it is unlawful or obscene, and for students, disrupts the school environment.

By stripping noncitizens of their constitutional rights, the Trump Administration is attacking the values of freedom and justice that our country was built on.

We demand the restoration of due process for noncitizens because if one person’s rights are violated, who’s to say who will be next? It’s a downhill path towards a totalitarian government and a dystopian society; a path that would be difficult to reverse, as it favors the powerful individuals in our country. 

We must speak up now, before our civil liberties are stripped away and America’s identity as the “land of the free and the brave” becomes the “land of the oppressed and silenced.”

By Justin Chen

In the heart of the Bay Area sits one of the most prestigious universities in the world, ranked as the No.1 public university in the world. For some local high schoolers, however, UC Berkeley often fades into the background. The proximity to home typically overshadows the incredible opportunity that lies just a BART ride away—a beautiful campus steeped in history, innovation, and world-class academics. 

For some high schoolers, the desire to leave home for college is the only reason they overlook Berkeley. 

“I don’t want to go to Berkeley because it’s too close to home. That’s why I never bothered to tour there,” Lincoln senior Adrianna Zheng, who is committed to UCSD, expresses.

Washington senior Maria Lee, who is going to UCLA, says, “I applied to all UC campuses except for Berkeley. I really did not want to stay close to home.”

However, without fully stepping into Berkeley in-person, students cannot grasp its beauty or the distinct change of scenery it actually offers. 

Having to personally decide between committing to Boston University and UC Berkeley, I thought I would be heading to BU, as I too wanted to attend a college far from home. However, upon touring Berkeley for the first time, I became attached to the campus. 

The campus sits right at the base of Berkeley Hills, which slope upward behind it, giving panoramic views of the San Francisco Bay, the Golden Gate Bridge, and city skyline. Upon walking through Berkeley’s Sather Gate, visitors are immediately immersed in a mini-city with classic revival architecture that mirrors the environment of a European university town. Across the Memorial Glade lawn, students sprawl on the grass, chatting with friends and gazing at the sky or the towering Campanile. Lastly, Contrary to popular belief, no homeless are strolling around on campus.

While Berkeley’s campus and location is undoubtedly beautiful, students who worry about Berkeley having a cutthroat nature and not succeeding at the university may be reluctant to apply to or attend Berkeley. However, the perception of Berkeley as cutthroat is a misconception for almost all majors. Some exceptions include computer science, electrical engineering, and other STEM majors, as admission to these majors are even more selective than to the university itself. 

“Berkeley is competitive, but it’s not cutthroat. Everyone here is really supportive and collaborative, and we help each other out. However, it is sort-of like a sink or swim situation here,” a Berkeley junior majoring in applied mathematics says at a Cal Day student panel.

Students should also consider the fact that only UC Berkeley, along with UC Merced, utilize semester systems, compared to every other UC school, which utilize quarter systems. The use of semester systems mean that students take classes for a semester, for 15 weeks long, as compared to quarter systems, which only last 10 weeks. Quarters move much faster than semesters, meaning that students have to take tests more frequently and often cram material. With semesters, Berkeley students have much more time to absorb material and get necessary help from professors. 

Another reason some students may dislike Berkeley is because it is a large public university with more than 33,000 students. Most of the time, students believe that larger class sizes are associated with limited access to professors and a lack of support, but that is not the case at Berkeley. The school offers a wide range of academic resources, such as discussion sections after class with 20 to 30 students to review lecture material, professors with flexible office hours, and peer tutoring. 

Adding onto the large university aspect, it is also important to note that larger universities like Berkeley almost always have more clubs and a highly diverse student body. Additionally, the university has a large variety of both student and faculty research, translating to lots of research opportunities, and with good funding alongside. The combination of scale and diversity creates endless opportunities for involvement in academic societies, research groups, and volunteering, and opens broader social and professional networks crucial for post-graduation.

Another significant aspect that students consider when choosing a college is also social life. For many, Berkeley is also associated with being socially dead. However, that is not the case with Berkeley at all, as the school actually has a surprisingly active Greek community. With 55 different fraternities and sororities, frat row brings a vibrant social scene. 

UC Berkeley is at times disregarded by local high schoolers, but a little research, a visit, and overcoming misconceptions can show students why the school deserves another look. 

By Aidan Bolosan

Many high schoolers find activities to occupy themselves when not in school, like clubs, or sport teams. However, what do students do when school ends and those activities come to a halt? Many turn to internships or jobs, but what's the process? How can you go about 

Chester Lam, a college and career readiness advisor for SFUSD students, commented on why one might consider getting a summer job.

  “A lot of students are just like oh my mom wants me to do something during summer and I don't think that's a good reason to apply to anything,” Lam elaborated

 “The most success I've seen students are students actually wanting to do something over the summer… they want to work, and not because of just money either, the money is a good plus, but it's because they want to”

Before applying for any job, always consider the rationale, why are you doing this? How is this benefitting you? 

Finding a job for the first time can be overwhelming. When applying for jobs and internships, individuals should ask several essential questions. How much does the jobpay? What are you interested in doing? What are the hours like? How vigorous is the work?

The most common job that many turn to is working in fast food. In early April 2024, the great state of California mandated that all fast food workers get paid a minimum of $20 an hour. Most big fast food corporations offer 401k plans. However they might have restrictions. For example, Starbucks offers a 401k for those 18 years or older, which one will get after at least 60 days of employment. With minimal certifications needed, and semi-flexible hours, this makes a solid job.

Retail is another solid option. Stores like Target, Ross, and even Trader Joe’s often hire teenagers, especially over the summer. Trader Joe’s even offers scholarships to workers who want to pursue a higher education. Working in retail also builds essential skills like teamwork and customer service, which can help later in future careers

Beside jobs, students can turn to internships. Lam stated in an interview, “Internships are great, though most of the deadlines have passed, internships offer hands-on experience and a classroom perspective.” He emphasizes the fact that though internships don't offer as much pay, they still have amazing benefits.

In the end, it's what students really want to do;money, parental influence, and other outside factors shouldn’t drive students to commit to things they don't want to do. Find your Ikigai, the Japanese concept to look at all aspects of what one desires to pursue.