The student news site of Portola High School

Portola Pilot
The student news site of Portola High School

Portola Pilot
The student news site of Portola High School

Portola Pilot
Junior Luke Porter and senior Mathias Lee committed to the Naval Academy, and junior Abby Miller committed to the Air Force Academy to pursue their passions and desire to serve their country. “I'm honestly super excited to work in the military after graduating,” Miller said. “I know that might be a weird thing to say, but that is something that kind of drew me to the military academies: it’s knowing that after I graduate, I have a job for at least five years. I honestly think that jobs in the military are just so incredible, and they're so honorable. I don't really want an office job and being in the military is definitely kind of a way to find a job with a larger purpose.”

Answering the Call to Command: Meet Three Military Academy Commits

Hannah Ko and Maya Tedini | May 3, 2024

In a convergence of athleticism, patriotism and leadership, a trio embarks on a journey as they commit to prestigious military academies. Junior Luke Porter and senior Mathias Lee committed to the United...

Taylor Swift’s 11th studio album, “The Tortured Poets Department,” is a melancholic reflection of Swift’s identity and past relationships. This album is arguably more dreamy compared to Swift’s previous ones, going along with the “Folklore” style with a more synth-pop vibe.

Taylor Swift Proves She “Can Do It With a Broken Heart” in Eleventh Studio Album

Claire Chan and Maitri Allani | May 2, 2024

Taylor Swift’s double album “The Tortured Poets Department” and “The Anthology,” released on April 19. The album is composed of 31 songs total, with 16 songs on “The Tortured Poets Department”...

Attacker and sophomore Olivia Ganes scoops the ball and cradles it through two players from Irvine High. Ganes was able to play more aggressively during this game, according to head girls’ lacrosse coach Julie Primero. “Olivia scoring three goals was crazy,” utility player and sophomore Claire Hsin said. “I'm super proud of her for that.”

Girls’ Lacrosse Uses Adaptive Strategy to Secure Victory Against Irvine High

Sky Nguyen and Kelly Yeh | May 1, 2024

Girls’ lacrosse (12-8) defeated Irvine High 11-8 in an away game on April 22. However, the Bulldogs will not advance to the second round of CIF Division 2 after a 16-4 defeat in the first round against...

When Caitlin Clark, the No. 1 pick of the WNBA draft, was revealed to receive a significantly lower wage than Victor Wembanyama, last year’s NBA No. 1 pick, injustice towards female athletes became evident to sports viewers. “It needs to balance out a little bit more, especially now with Caitlin Clark and everything that she's done for women's college basketball,” prospective Wellesley college girls’ basketball player and senior Emaleena Elson said. “She's brought in so many more viewers and so much more attention to the WNBA. So at the end of the day, if the wage gap is about viewers, then shouldn't it be more balanced now?”

A ‘Slam Flunk’ in Sports: Caitlin Clark Controversy Stirs up Gender Pay Gap Discussion

Kayley Winata and Sonia Wang | May 1, 2024

Being on par with many of her male counterparts in the NBA and being the overall top scorer in NCAA Division I basketball for both men's and women's, one would expect athletes like Caitlin Clark — the...

Taking sick days when you are not sick makes it unfair for students who are actually ill and harder for teachers to fairly create make-up tests. “It's getting harder for us to distinguish sick students because students are just saying they're ill when in reality they're not,” AP Physics and engineering teacher Anthony Pham said. “We're at a point where we should consider just always having a different, harder exam for students no matter what the scenario might be, which will really hurt students that are actually sick and who need the time to recover before they can study.”

A Doctor’s Note on Test Day Keeps the ‘Sick’ Students Away

Stephanie Hwang and Jordan Hata | April 29, 2024

For some students, it feels as though there is never enough time to fully prepare for a test, especially if they are juggling a rigorous schedule with multiple AP and honors classes. As a result, Portola...

For decades, artist rivalries have pervaded the hip-hop scene. While Drake’s beef primarily concerns artists Future, Metro Boomin and Kendrick Lamar, controversial rapper Kanye West has injected himself into the beef with the April 22 release of his “Like That” remix. It appears West’s fear of missing out is at play here, as he was initially unrelated to the drama.

The Latest Hip-Hop Craze: Dissecting Drake’s Beef

Michael Sun, Assistant Arts and Entertainment Editor | April 28, 2024

With the recent release of Drake’s long-awaited response track to fellow hip-hop greats Metro Boomin, Future and Kendrick Lamar, “Push Ups (Drop & Give Me Fifty),” the five-time Grammy award-winner’s...

Proactively deleting emails to reduce nonrenewable electricity usage raises awareness about the power plants where electricity comes from, according to AP Environmental Science teacher Courtney Moder. “It’s the next generation that has to figure out climate change,” Moder said. “It’s something that’s not really well known but is something that you can get people to get behind.”

Too Many Emails in Your Inbox? Support Environmental Sustainability by Deleting Them

Mary Lee, Staff Writer | April 26, 2024

A blue envelope icon and a large, looming number shows the sea of unchecked and undeleted emails that have piled up in your inbox over the past couple days, months or even years. These familiar experiences...

The rise in the coquette aesthetic has forced femininity to be characterized by dependent and delicate ideals, contrasting a society moving towards female empowerment. Though coquetry can bond girls and women, it is important to move away from such trends that constitute retrogression.

The Shadows Behind the Frills and Pink Bows of the Trending Coquette Aesthetic

Kayleen Kim and Ruhi Samudra | April 25, 2024

From stringing baby pink ribbons through the hair to wearing cottage-core style lace with sweet florals, romanticizing the coquette persona has seen a resurgence in pop culture and social trends. The aesthetic,...

Junior Bronson Pearson passes the baton to senior Rider Cooper, who acts as the anchor during the 4x100 relay at the Portola vs. Laguna Hills dual meet on April 9, allowing him to sprint to the finish and secure the win for the Bulldogs. “All my teammates have been super supportive by pushing me in practice and racing me,” Cooper said.

Senior Rider Cooper Shatters Records and Rises to the Top

Aditi Salunkhe and Sonia Wang | April 24, 2024

Senior Rider Cooper sprints down the track and passes his competitors to win the 100-meter race. As he crosses the finish line, knowing he gave it his all, the timer reads 10.39 seconds, a new school record. Since...

Many contemporary historical films have sparked controversy over how much creative license is too much and in what ways producers can balance both accuracy and art, such as in the film “Napoleon.” “I am a present proponent of creativity and being able to show things in a different way,” history teacher Heidi Martasian said. “But I think I like when the film says something at the start like ‘Hey, this is based on something, but it's not going to be fully accurate.’”

The ‘Reel’ Truth: Filmmakers Should Strive for Historical Accuracy in Cinema

Catherine Li and Ruhi Samudra | April 22, 2024

In “Napoleon,” a film exploring the life of French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte in theaters since Nov. 22, director Sir Ridley Scott faced numerous criticism from the cinephile community for his inclusion...

Junior Abbey Reichard throws a 4 kilogram ball into the air during the meet. Reichard’s team was very proud of her, according to teammate and junior Chrisma Agbor. “We were really excited, and we all ran up to her,” Agbor said.

Junior Abbey Reichard Breaks Shot Put School Record During PCL Double Dual

Olivia Ganes, Staff Writer | April 19, 2024

While preparing to throw a 4 kilogram ball straight into the air during the PCL Double Dual meet at Portola High on March 12, junior Abbey Reichard is skilled and confident in her ability to throw. As...

The new temporary Great Park music venue Great Park Live will open this July and feature picnic seating near the stage, according to Great Park Board Director and City Councilmember Kathleen Treseder, Ph.D. “It's going to take several years for the permanent amphitheater to be finished,” said Treseder. “We heard from a lot of residents that didn't want to go so long without live music, so we're putting up the temporary one to fill that gap.”

City of Irvine Plans to Open New Temporary Music Venue for Summer Festivities

Camille Clement and Madeline Chung | April 18, 2024

After the closure of the FivePoint Amphitheatre, the City of Irvine is developing a new temporary music venue called Great Park Live to open this summer. The venue will be smaller than the previous amphitheater...

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