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
Claire Chan

Claire Chan, Front Page Editor

Claire Chan is the front page editor and news photo editor for her second and final year on the Portola Pilot. She is looking forward to making the best moments for her senior year. Outside of school, she enjoys solving the Rubik’s cube, making origami cranes, reading murder mystery books, and playing the kalimba.

All content by Claire Chan
The banner of the village and the Seven Samurai, which serves as a symbol of hope for the protagonists.

[Photo] Seven Samurai: A Japanese Classic 70 Years On

Jordan Hata, Staff Writer | May 6, 2024
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
“Dune: Part Two” was released in theaters on March 1 as a sequel to “Dune: Part One” released in 2021. Building upon the storyline laid out in "Dune: Part One,” the film dives deeper into the desert planet of Arrakis, forming a story of community, power and betrayal.

The Ascension of Paul Atreides: “Dune: Part Two” Captures Fascinating Transition from Hero to Villain

Claire Chan, Front Page Editor | March 27, 2024
Most people don’t consider dropping a class when it’s dragging them down. Here’s why they should.

[Photo] The Hard Question of Hard Classes: Drop or Stay?

Jordan Hata, Staff Writer | March 15, 2024
Portola High can implement a better rain protection system by opening up more space for students at school. “Because it’s a Southern California school, it’s an outdoor school, so there’s really not much to do to protect kids from the rain,” junior Lulu (Jingxin) Zhao said. “However, I think it would be good if we could open more classrooms during rainy days too, so kids don’t have to eat out in lunch or crowd in the gym.”

Rain, Rain Go Away: Advocating for School Protection

Maitri Allani and Claire Chan | February 20, 2024
Defensive center midfielder, captain and senior Jaydn Kohan kicks the ball to the other side of the field for her teammates to receive. “I think it was a fair result, but I also thought we had a chance to win if we got one or two of the chances that we had,” head girls’ soccer coach Joshua Stringer said. “Our goal was to kind of counter into the space that we created by defending a little bit farther back in the field.”

Girl’s Soccer Puts Up a Valiant Effort Against Northwood High

Claire Chan and Maitri Allani | January 26, 2024
Goalie and freshman Chantal Alexander kicks the ball back into the playing field after Northwood High’s soccer team tries to score a goal. “She is a little more aggressive, a little bit more dynamic. Every game she has grown, so she has a bright future at Portola,” head girls soccer coach Joshua Stringer said.

Girls’ Soccer Goalie and Freshman Chantal Alexander Defends Her Way to Success

Maitri Allani and Claire Chan | January 18, 2024
Rather than give in to the knee-jerk impulse to “flesh out” antagonists through tragic backstories, authors should focus on other aspects of their villainous characters. “The background story is just the background board,” sophomore and fiction lover Anyu Zhang said. “The character’s personality and performance are the most important.”

Unveiling the Untold Power of Villainy: Why a Tragic Backstory Is Not Needed

Claire Chan and Marianne Chan | January 9, 2024
Instead of using Elf on the Shelf as a holiday tradition that constantly watches children, parents should instead teach children the value of kindness and good behavior without attaching it to a creepy elf. “I think in general, you need to convince kids to have integrity themselves, rather than using some device to kind of manipulate them into that,” sophomore Tristan Kim said.

[Photo] Unveiling the Darker Side of Elf on the Shelf

Sonia Wang and Aditi Salunkhe | December 19, 2023
The 2023 Cricket World Cup final was the most watched match in the history of the tournament, boasting over 300 million spectators, according to ESPN. “It was fun,” senior Sehaj Sethi said. “Every ball, every run I was just hoping that Team India scores. It was really exciting, really thrilling.”

[Photo] The ICC Cricket World Cup Ends in Disappointment for Indian Fans

Maitri Allani | December 1, 2023
With parking permit prices at $80 dollars a year at Portola High, students should not be paying such a high amount and staff members should thoroughly check the cars in the parking lot for permits. If permits were affordable, parking spaces would fill up and others would not gain an unfair advantage over students who actually paid for the permit at full price.

Permit Prices: Why Our Parking System Needs Improvement

Claire Chan and Marianne Chan | October 2, 2023
Right after Spain’s historic victory at the World Cup, former RFEF President Luis Rubiales unconsensually kissed player Jenni Hermoso on the lips. “I felt vulnerable and a victim of an impulse-driven, sexist, out of place act without any consent on my part,” Hermoso said in a statement on Instagram. “Simply put, I was not respected.”

How the Hermoso Incident Revealed the Innate Misogyny in the RFEF

Maitri Allani and Claire Chan | September 19, 2023
Students would benefit greatly from mental health days, which gives students time to relieve their stress and enjoy themselves. Mental health is just as important as physical health, and Portola High should encourage this idea among students through a newly-implemented system similar to Northwood High’s “State of the Student” day.

[Photo] School-Wide Mental Health Days Should be Adopted

Madeline Chung and Elise Ngo | June 2, 2023
Jake (senior Nick Nieto) defends himself to his bandmates when they confront him over his addiction, which has been a continuing problem throughout his life.

Seniors’ Last Play is Anything but a ‘One Hit Wonder’

Maitri Allani and Claire Chan | June 2, 2023
Peter Pan (Alexander Molony) and Wendy Darling (Ever Gabo Anderson) fly off to Neverland in David Lowery’s live action adaptation “Peter Pan and Wendy.” The dark lighting of the scene eliminates the whimsical feeling that the scene is supposed to evoke.

Fly Away from ‘Peter Pan and Wendy’

Maitri Allani and Claire Chan | May 16, 2023
Junior Haaris Alam conducts virtual research on cells and their functions in University of California, Irvine’s online program with UCI associate professor of biomedical engineering Michelle Digman. Their team has plans to meet in person soon and study at a lab on campus. During quarantine, Alam created his own DIY gel electrophoresis kits to research from the safety of his own home.

Junior Haaris Alam Explores Biomedical Engineering through UCI Internship Program

Maitri Allani and Claire Chan | May 3, 2023
Spending many hours on a phone can lead to harmful effects like anxiety. Reading books allows students to reach a higher level of thinking and benefits them socially, according to NCBI.

Put Down the Phone and Read More Books

Claire Chan, Staff Writer | March 28, 2023
The Super Bowl is one of the biggest sporting events of the year and has a lot of influence on the general public (NBC). Due to the extreme prevalence of the game in pop culture, advertisers try their hardest to make the best commercials possible to grab the attention of their audience.

Super Bowl Advertisements: The Fumbles and the Scores

Maitri Allani and Claire Chan | February 16, 2023
Junior and small forward Kalynne Abraham Mendez makes a free-throw during the second quarter, bringing the score to 27-25. in favor of Woodbridge High, on Jan. 31. The Bulldogs and the Warriors were neck and neck throughout the game.

Girls’ Basketball Wins Tight Victory Against Woodbridge

Maitri Allani and Claire Chan | February 8, 2023
Giselle (Amy Adams) and Malvina (Maya Rudolph) see each other eye to eye as villainess opponents in Disney’s new “Disenchanted” film, the sequel to “Enchanted.”

‘Disenchanted’ Takes a Detour from Being Enchanting

Sidra Asif and Claire Chan | December 1, 2022
England’s cricket team celebrates joyously as they win the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final against Pakistan at Melbourne Stadium on Nov. 17.

England Bats Their Way to ‘Six’ess in the T20 Cricket Final

Maitri Allani and Claire Chan | November 30, 2022
Junior girls’ basketball player Kira Watanabe aims to shoot for the basket, as the Tillers attempt to block her from making the hoop, while sophomore Nanami Jackson and junior Kalynne Abraham Mendez try to help.

Girls’ Basketball ‘Shoots’ Ahead Against Tustin at the Start of the Winter Season

Maitri Allani and Claire Chan | November 29, 2022
Fans of serial killers will send love and support to their idols, while the victims’ loved ones are trying to grieve.

[Photo] Romanticizing Serial Killers Harms the Victims

Maitri Allani, Photo Editor | October 21, 2022
The Black Student Union club puts up a booth during club kickoff on Sept. 21. “When I first came to Portola, I was looking for clubs to join, and I looked at the club list to be a part of something and have a group of people to relate to,” club secretary and senior Jesulayomi Bello said. “I heard they were starting a Black Student Union, and I thought that it would be a lovely way for me to be a part of it.”

First Black Student Union Club on Campus Represents Black Joy and Perseverance

Sidra Asif and Claire Chan | October 20, 2022
California Vehicle Code 21950 states that the driver of a vehicle should always yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway, as shown in the sign. Gov. Newsom signed the Freedom to Walk Act to allow pedestrians to jaywalk without the penalty of a ticket, as long as they cross safely.

New Law Decriminalizes Jaywalking in California

Claire Chan, Staff Writer | October 17, 2022
Red lanterns hang in the air to represent the celebration of the Lunar New Year. Now that Lunar New Year is recognized as an optional state holiday, workers are granted eight hours of free time to celebrate.

Newsom Passes Bill That Recognizes Lunar New Year as State Holiday

Claire Chan, Staff Writer | October 14, 2022
While fast fashion is an affordable option for many people, it can lead to harmful environmental consequences.

[Photo] Overconsumption is Ruining The Environment

Jana Malek, Staff Writer | September 26, 2022
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The student news site of Portola High School
Claire Chan