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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

Ho, about to hit the ball in the third round with a forehand swing, concentrates deeply on getting the aim and direction over the net with his forehand swing.

Boys’ Tennis ‘Serves’ a Win against Irvine High

Kayleen Kim, Staff Writer | March 8, 2022

Boys’ tennis (2-2) competed against Irvine High, winning with a score of 13-5 on March 1.

Levinson needed to cast an actress who could portray the emotional volatility of an adolescent drug addict, in tandem with Rue’s mental health diagnoses — among them, ADHD, bipolar disorder, anxiety and depression — and shifting relationships with friends, family and lovers. “I think that the toughest part of writing [Zendaya’s] character and sort of portraying a character that’s dealing with addiction is understanding the root causes of it and the sensitivity behind it,” Sam Levinson said.

‘Euphoria’ Doesn’t Glorify Drug Use — It Humanizes It

Ryne Dunman and Kayla Moshayedi | March 7, 2022

***Content Warning: This article discusses topics of drug use. ***Spoiler Warning: This article contains spoilers for seasons one and two of “Euphoria.” Trauma and healing. Love and heartbreak....

These are Your Teachers’ Pettiest Pet Peeves

These are Your Teachers’ Pettiest Pet Peeves

The excruciating feeling of a cinematic experience ruined by the chatter of other theatergoers. The grating sound of fingernails slowly being dragged down a chalkboard, sending shivers up your spine. The...

McCarthy (shown here holding his lacrosse stick) instructs his players to select their jerseys ahead of their first league game against the Woodbridge Warriors on March 7.

Meet Matthew McCarthy: New Boys’ Lacrosse Assistant Coach

Aadi Mehta and Clara Ferreira Lopes | March 4, 2022

A new mentor steps onto the lacrosse field —  a former three-year high school varsity lacrosse player who led his team to championships as the team captain.  Matthew McCarthy was one of...

Former Portola Student Audrey Hsieh Lands Breakthrough Role in Netflix’s ‘Mixtape’

Former Portola Student Audrey Hsieh Lands Breakthrough Role in Netflix’s ‘Mixtape’

Grace Baek and Erin Choi | March 3, 2022

When Audrey Hsieh entered Portola High in 2018, she made a pact with herself: she would stop pursuing acting at the end of high school if she did not land a significant role. Nine years of fruitless effort,...

Lion dancers performed traditional lion dancing to Chinese music to help promote their club.

Cultures Pin Their Mark at Portola

Arshia Sista, Staff Writer | March 3, 2022

ASB celebrated a plethora of diverse cultures by hosting various lunchtime activities for Intercultural Week from Feb. 14-17. Student activities commissioner and senior Stella Jung led the event,...

Senior Mehar Gulati is seen helping in a local food drive as a form of seva. Seva refers to the act of selfless service for altruistic purposes on behalf of the betterment of the community. This is an important practice which many Sikhs, like Gulati.

The Saddening Reality of Sikh Representation

Dheeksha Bhima Reddy and Sidra Asif | March 2, 2022

Dastārs, religious head coverings that symbolize humility, are worn by many practicers of the Sikh faith – the world’s fifth-largest religion with over 25 million followers – and are just one of...

Senior Jun Yu’s favorite piece is a black and white photo of two boys running around Laguna Beach — a shot captured spontaneously. “I do love shooting photos that everyone else also shoots, like famous places or famous buildings,” Yu said. “But that shot was a very quick capture, and it was kind of an unexpected moment. So I think those moments create the best photos all the time.”

Senior Captures World through His Lens

Grace Baek, Asst. Sports Editor | March 1, 2022

A couple hundred snapshots of sunsets and beaches fill senior Jun Yu’s Instagram page, @through_yu; it’s become his habit to travel out to Laguna Beach or the Santa Monica Pier every few weeks. Though...

Girls’ soccer gathers after winning the game as Pacific Coast League champions for the 2022 season. The Bulldogs are the furthest into CIF in Portola High soccer history.

Teamwork Shines as Girls’ Soccer Scores League Champion Title

Elise Ngo, Contributing Writer | February 28, 2022

Girls’ soccer (13-3-6) won 7-0 at its final league game against Beckman High in the home stadium on Feb. 4, securing their title as Pacific Coast League Champions.  The Bulldogs also won 2-1 and...

Despite issues associated with housing and over enrollment, UC Berkeley remains a popular destination for students to receive a quality undergraduate education. UC Berkeley received the fifth-most applications in the nation in 2020, according to the U.S. News and World Report.

UC Berkeley Ordered to Cut New Undergraduate Enrollment by One-Third

Ryan Jung, Managing Editor | February 24, 2022

Applicants to the University of California, Berkeley received an email on Feb. 14 that the university may reduce its new undergraduate enrollment by at least 3,050 students for the 2022-23 academic year,...

AP Studio Art student and senior Summer Sim’s work “Let Boys Be Feminine” boldly states that individuals need not be bound by gender stereotypes. The feminine eye and mouth that define the piece highlight the importance of self-expression in ultimately discovering one’s identity.

All Coming Together: Seniors Tailor College Application Art Portfolios To Convey Powerful Themes

Justin Tang, Back Page Editor | February 23, 2022

Compared to creating a vibrant painting, a detailed sketch or a thought-provoking sculpture, compiling a portfolio of artistic work may seem to involve fewer artistic choices at first glance. However,...

By digitizing its testing format, the SAT finally takes advantage of twenty-first century technology. The paper-and-pencil format contributed to a lot of stress for students, mainly because it was not reflective of what students were used to in regular classes, according to the New York Times.

SAT 2022 Changes Are Great — But They Are Too Late

Aadi Mehta and Martin Yoon | February 22, 2022

In an effort to make the SAT more accessible and relevant to colleges, the College Board digitized the SAT standardized test on Jan. 25, which will take effect in 2023 internationally and 2024 in the United...

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