Story by Eddie ZhouStaff Writer Illustration by Alicia ZhangStaff Illustrator People are conditioned to believe that constant productivity is a requisite step in order for one to succeed in an increasingly competitive world. In turn, many attempt to overexert themselves in order to match perpetual productivity idealized by the media. This resulting external pressure manifests […]
Believing survivors should not come out of convenience
Story by Amber ChenOpinion Editor Illustration by Nicholas FormanStaff Illustrator This article contains descriptions of sexual assault that some might find disturbing. Tara Reade, a former Joe Biden staffer, initially came forward with allegations of sexual misconduct against Biden alongside several women in the spring of 2019. On March 25, 2020, Reade came forward with […]
Why SPPD needs to be defunded
Story by Quinn ManzoStaff Writer Illustration by Tarry SongStaff Illustrator Anger over police brutality has reignited following the murders of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd. Protesters are enraged over the continued killings of Black Americans at the hands of police and the racist system that refuses to hold officers accountable, with local residents now taking […]
Public health shouldn’t come at the cost of excess plastic waste
Story by Noah KuhnNews Editor Illustration by David SohnStaff Illustrator 2019 saw the youth of this country and the world utilize their power and demand an end to the destruction of the earth. The youngest generation staged school walkouts, protests, and launched a campaign on social media. Greta Thunberg inspired millions with her fierce defiance […]
Reconciling voting in an era of excuses
Story by Noah KuhnAssociate News Editor Illustration by Alicia ZhangStaff Illustrator Voting continues to be the most important and effective way for citizens to influence the laws that govern both themselves and future generations. However, the United States has one of the lowest turnout rates among developed countries — only 56 percent according to the Pew […]
Understanding the limits of empathy
Story by Amber ChenStaff Writer Illustration by Alicia ZhangStaff Illustrator Empathy is often seen as the pathway to connection, a virtue that all must strive towards. To arrive at an empathetic perspective, people must practice putting themselves in the shoes of another. However, in certain cases, some are unable to even fathom the perspective of another. A […]
The unseen consequences of coronavirus panic hoarding
Story by Noah KuhnAssociate News Editor Illustration by David SohnAssociate Design Editor Empty shelves. Lines around the block. Six feet of distance between individuals. Deserted public spaces. The coronavirus has completely upended life in Southern California in a wave of mass hysteria equally as dangerous as the disease itself. As Californians anticipate a complete lockdown […]
Reassessing the VPA requirement
Story by Noah KuhnStaff Writer Illustration by Nicholas FormanStaff Illustrator Arts are integral to humanity as an avenue for self-expression. Unfortunately, forcing art on those who are not enthusiastic about it causes it to lose many of these celebrated qualities. The UC system currently mandates that all applicants take one year of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA). […]
Sustainability demands conscious shopping
Story by Haelee KimAssociate Opinion Editor myconjoinedjourney.com Illustration by Alicia ZhangStaff Illustrator Certain American shopping habits have become increasingly commonplace as new, more desirable products flood the market every day. Specifically, many people have begun browsing online in the comfort of their own homes as opposed to shopping in person; clicking one “buy” button to […]
It is time to bury the “dead white men”
In 1999, Harper’s Bazaar magazine published the essay I Know Why the Caged Bird Cannot Sing by reporter and essayist Francine Prose, a critique of the quality of high school required reading. Prose argued that in high schools, a book’s status as a classic will often override the substance and relevance of the book. The […]
The self-destructiveness of comparison
Story by Sofia AlvaStaff Writer Illustration by Alicia ZhangStaff Illustrator Academic comparison is ubiquitous among SPHS students and high school students across the world; students often use comparison to measure success and take into consideration their peers’ GPAs, SAT scores, and the amount of APs they take. In fact, comparison is a natural reaction to a need […]
Encouraging proactivity over abstinence
Story by Caroline KimbelPrint Managing Editor Illustration by David SohnStaff Illustrator High school alcohol education, similar to sex-ed, preaches that abstinence is the best way to prevent danger. Classes often utilize scare tactics and demonize alcohol in an attempt to convince teenagers that they should never drink. The reality is, however, that most teenagers will be exposed […]
Student mental health and clashing priorities
One would think that schools would prioritize access to mental health services in a climate of seemingly everyday school shootings and ever increasing adolescent suicide rates. However, it is quite the opposite. According to Mental Health America, only about one in five kids in need of mental health services receive them. SPHS’ alarming lack of […]
Queer education belongs in school curriculum
Story by Cat FloresCo-Opinion Editor Illustration by Nicholas FormanStaff Illustrator Marginalized communities have long been subject to ignorance and whitewashing by the public education system. The LGBTQ+ community has been especially ostracized from this conversation, with only four U.S. states mandating LGBTQ+ history. Eight years ago, California was the first state to make changes to this system […]
Emphasis on STEM harms the humanities
Story by Cloe MaurerAssociate Feature Editor Illustration by Alicia ZhangStaff Illustrator Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education was officially added to the American vernacular in 2001. Since then, public high schools across America have decided that STEM education is the secret ingredient needed to churn out children equipped with the tools to propel the U.S […]
Politics should have a place in the classroom
The word ‘politics’ is one that teachers cautiously stumble around for fear of imposing their own opinions on students. Current events and important social issues are intentionally glossed over in order to keep the classroom “bias-free”. However, this exclusion of content leads to the deterioration of youth interest and involvement in government. Politics have a […]