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
Opinion
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has gained a stunning amount of traction on X, garnering 480 million views in August alone. “At least in my experience with political science, there's a correlation between people who consume political media and people who actually vote,” Social Studies Department Chair Jon Resendez said. “So, I think what you're getting is a not insignificant percentage of the actual voting population to see your media, and that feedback loop is going to continue to inspire him and his team.”
Gavin Newsom’s New Press Strategy Is Certainly “News-Some”
Claire Liu and Stephanie Hwang | September 23, 2025
As college admissions become increasingly competitive, students are pressured to be involved in as many extracurricular activities as possible. Oftentimes, students will create and join clubs not out of passion, but for the purpose of building their resume.
Club Culture at Portola High Raises Questions About Prestige Over Passion
Annie Xiao, Assistant Features Editor | September 23, 2025
The recession indicator: Analysts often make predictions about the economy based on consumer habits. Excessive consumerism, like the Labubu craze, is seen preceding almost every major recession as the population prioritizes spending on nonessential items, hoping that materialistic goods can provide joy in a way that self-actualization cannot.
Labubusted: Why the Hype Behind Labubus Is Problematic
Sammy Marcus and Zoha Syed | September 22, 2025
The new artificial turf on Portola High’s campus has beautified the campus while serving as extra space for students to gather and connect.
Replacing Natural Grass With Turf Enhances Portola High’s Environment
Sophia Kim and Kelly Yeh | September 18, 2025
With the rapid growth of artificial intelligence, students should pause to consider the value that real connections provide.
Comfort Over Connection: Why AI Relationships Should Not be Pursued
Edward Hoi, Staff Writer | September 17, 2025
Students should not participate in academic dishonesty; instead, building habits such as preparing for exams earlier can benefit them in the future.
Academic Dishonesty Undermines One’s Own Future
Mary Lee, Assistant A&E Editor | May 30, 2025
With the abundance of selective summer experiences, programs and opportunities, the months before summer vacation can feel like a mini college acceptance season as many students bank on these activities to enhance their college application or showcase their potential. However, given the wealth of non-exclusive opportunities such as local internships and merit-based initiatives, these programs shouldn’t be a contention point for a fulfilling experience or acceptance into prestigious universities.
Passion Over Prestige: The Truth About Elite Summer Programs
Suhana Kaur, Staff Writer | May 29, 2025
Students should try to stop discussing academics to promote a more positive learning environment for their peers.
Don’t Be Nosy — Keep Academics to Yourself
Kayley Winata, Centerspread Editor | May 21, 2025
Despite the recent popularity of the USC Speak Your Mind Challenge, there is a lack of people addressing the original reasons behind the movement. While new trends continue to spread, students need to pause and ask themselves, “Why does it matter?”
More Than a Trend: Mental Health Deserves More Than a Bucket of Ice
Sruti Allani, Staff Writer | May 14, 2025
Cramming is very much normalized in Portola culture, because all of us have so many things going on, because we live in a really high pressure environment,” Faisal said. “Sometimes it feels like you genuinely don't have time to study long term, and even if you do, it's not seen as a priority based on everything else that's going on at the moment.
Cramming Culture: A Pressure We Need to Put a Stop To
Sophia Kim, Staff Writer | May 9, 2025
A student places their phone in the designated classroom chart. With California schools cracking down on phone use, tools like these help minimize distractions and promote a more respectful, focused learning environment.
Hands Off Your Phones: Redefining Classroom Culture at Portola High
Alice Ahn and Kelly Yeh | May 2, 2025
Students often feel unheard in their school environment, but by taking the Panorama Survey seriously, they can make their voices count and drive meaningful change on campus.
Make Your Mark: Why the Panorama Survey Deserves Student Attention
Alice Ahn and Kelly Yeh | March 17, 2025
Students need to learn a second language in order to reap the positive effects people gain from language learning such as an improved level of cultural awareness and a boost in one’s brain reserves.
More Than Just a Requirement: Why Multilingualism Matters
Nora Aljazzar, Staff Writer | March 10, 2025
Americans are set to purchase about 75 million pounds of chocolate on Valentine's Day 2025, according to Tasting Table. This Valentine’s Day, lovers should opt for a thoughtful and personal way to express their affection rather than relying on pricey, mass-produced gifts.
Don’t Let Cupid Drain Your Wallet This Valentine’s Day, Opt For Meaningful Gifts Instead
Sonia Wang and Aditi Salunkhe | February 14, 2025
Science rolling chairs negatively affect student learning by creating distractions, according to chemistry student and sophomore Sayed Adil. “Every time I get up and sit down, it moves around,” Adil said. “It's distracting in class whenever we're finished with [a] test. Some people just fidget around with it and make some noises.”
‘Rolling’ into Frustration: Science Classrooms Should Replace Rolling Chairs
Sonia Wang and Senna Kahf | November 18, 2024
California Proposition 2 and 32 are heavily impactful to students both short-term and in the long-run. If passed, these propositions could negatively increase Californians’ tax debts but positively increase minimum wage.
The Pros and Cons of California Proposition 32 and 2
Nicole Lu and Moer Koey | November 6, 2024
As global events continue to unfold, students need to stay informed with facts and be vigilant in guarding against misinformation. “Whatever is happening in Ukraine or in Gaza has an immediate impact on our lives, and it is incredibly important to stay aware about what is going on in the outside world if we want to make a positive change,” Girnita said. “You want to be able to stay informed and contribute to your community in any way you can because the reality is we are not the leaders of tomorrow, we are the leaders of today.”
Students Should Stay Aware of Global Conflicts and Be Wary of Misinformation
Aditi Salunkhe and Moer Koey | October 30, 2024
Offshore wind energy is a key example of the complexities of renewable energy sources. The public should interpret the word “renewable” with caveats as there are many side effects, both positive and negative, along with a lack of information surrounding the newer technologies that fall under this category.
Renewable Energy Sources Are Not As Straightforward As You May Think
Mary Lee, Assistant A&E Editor | October 28, 2024
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The student news site of Portola High School
Opinion