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
Mia Jong

Mia Jong, Co-Managing Editor

Mia Jong is the Co-Managing Editor for her third and final year on the Portola Pilot. She loves to create, whether it be with a paintbrush and canvas or a pen and paper, and she can’t wait to make more memories with her fellow Pilot members. In her free time, you can find her penny-boarding at the park, attempting to learn Korean or debunking the “best Yelp-reviewed eats.” She believes everyone has a unique story to tell and hopes to give a voice to the Portola High community through her writing.

All content by Mia Jong
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.

[Photo] Make Your Mark: Why the Panorama Survey Deserves Student Attention

Alice Ahn and Kelly Yeh | March 17, 2025
Music_Podcast

[Photo] S5 Episode 6: Nostalgic Memories: Favorite Childhood Shows

Stephanie Hwang, Co-News Editor | March 14, 2025
The Katie Wheeler Library is located in North Irvine and has open access to print and media services, originally being a ranch house owned by James Irvine II. The structure was designated as a historical landmark by OC Park in 2008, according to The Historical Marker Database, and much of the decision to lease the library was due to community advocacy. “I would encourage all the young students to actually voice their concerns, come to city council meetings, reach out, write to us and let us know what your needs are so we can better serve you because the purpose of the City Council is to serve as residents and enhance your life,” said city council member Melinda Liu.

Irvine City Council Votes to Keep the Katie Wheeler Library Open

Mia Jong | January 24, 2025
Three years after its initial release in 2021, “Squid Game” debuted its second season on Dec. 26, breaking Netflix records with 68 million views in its premiere week, according to Forbes.

[Photo] ‘Squid Game’ Season 2 Builds Anticipation for the Next Installment

Parmin Zamani and Hannah Ko | January 9, 2025
“Moana 2” rehashes the original film in an uncreative way, falling flat in plot structure and storytelling despite captivating visuals and upbeat songs. Unlike the original “Moana” (2016), the sequel included songs that were eerily similar to the first and shallow new characters that fail to entertain.

[Photo] “Moana 2” Is a Sequel that’s Lost at Sea

Siri Kolanupaka and Sruti Allani | December 9, 2024
“Wicked,” a cinematic adaptation of the original musical, follows the story of Elphaba the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch as they explore their magical powers at Shiz University in the whimsical Land of Oz.

[Photo] ‘Wicked’ Movie Adaptation Leaves Audiences Spellbound by its Magic

Aditi Salunkhe and Nora Aljazzar | December 6, 2024
Freshmen fill out a study planner, one of Link Crew’s resources for finals week and a new activity implemented this year. “Definitely, there were some challenges during this event, but overall, it was pretty successful,” Link Crew board member and senior Drake DePasquale said. “I'm proud that we were able to inform a lot of freshmen about how finals week happens and how they can prepare.”

Mugs and Motivation: Freshmen Warm Up to Finals with Hot Chocolate at Link Crew Study Party

Mia Jong and Senna Kahf | November 22, 2024
Podcast Graphic

[Photo] S5 Episode 5: Inside Portola’s Electives — Balancing Student Interests and Practicality

Marianne Chan and Stephanie Hwang | November 7, 2024
For twins and freshmen Cal and Tessay Ulicny, playing sports together has always been a way for the siblings to bond, according to Tessa Ulicny. “We’ve done so many sports together,” Tessa Ulicny said. “We did soccer together, and we helped each other. And even now with water polo, we help each other. We help each other all the time to get better, and I love that.”

Twins Cal and Tessa Ulicny Make a ‘Splash’ on Varsity Water Polo

Mia Jong and Sonia Wang | October 31, 2024
Utility player and senior Ryder Tonkovich prepares to shoot a goal against El Segundo High in the first quarter. Different players are substituted in and out of the match to create the most effective team dynamic, according to head boys’ water polo coach Kate Avery. “Especially in those close, competitive games, we want to keep the six or seven players that are performing the best and have the best chemistry to maintain momentum.”

Boys’ Water Polo Pulls Off Thrilling Comeback Win Against El Segundo High

Mia Jong and Sonia Wang | October 1, 2024
The U.S. Men’s Gymnastics Team won bronze at the 2024 Olympics, which ended a 16-year-long Olympic medal drought, according to NPR. “Since it became kind of popular over the course of the Olympics, more boy gymnasts kind of see themselves represented in a very highly televised event, where usually it doesn't happen,” former gymnast and senior Hutchison said. “A lot of the promotion for gymnastics is focused on female gymnasts instead of male gymnasts, so it trending over time is really helpful.”

Defying Gravity and Expectations, Men’s Representation in Gymnastics Soars to New Heights

Mia Jong and Dania Yamani | September 24, 2024
Portables on campus have varying levels of quality control — although some teachers have reported little issues, other teachers such as business teacher Katherine Dillon have had to deal with issues such as malfunctioning ACs. “My air conditioning wasn't working for the first two or three weeks, and it was reaching temperatures in the classroom of 87 degrees when we had students in the classroom,” Dillon said. “I had to go teach in the Learning Commons two times when it got unbearable.”

[Photo] The Pitfalls of the Portables: Maintain Better Quality Control for Portables

Sonia Wang and Senna Kahf | September 19, 2024
Participants play a best-of-three game with a 60-card deck, and the winner moves on to the next round. Erlandsson said that he often uses Charizard in his strategy as a power card, being a well-rounded card that is effective against different Pokémon types.

Who is That Pokémon Pro? Neo Erlandsson Catches the Top Ranks

Olivia Ganes and Mia Jong | June 6, 2024
Mares demonstrates his lettering while patrolling the campus. “[Calligraphy] wasn’t like baseball or football,” Mares said. “I just liked it. It’s kind of just one of those things that you can relax with.”

Meet our Campus Control Calligraphy Connoisseur: George Mares

Mia Jong and Catherine Li | June 3, 2024
Many of head baseball coach Bryan Resnick's videos have received millions of views, being a platform to connect with people from different states. “I put out a video about how to hit a home run, and I just started seeing it getting shared and shared and shared and just snowballed,” Resnick said. “I’m really most proud of just being able to build something that people enjoy.”

Home Plate Humor: Baseball Coach Resnick Mixes Comedy and Content Creation

Mia Jong and Sonia Wang | May 30, 2024
After a long day, these comforting animated films that bring the adventures of four-legged protagonists to the silver screen are the perfect way to unwind. Although not ranked within this review, other notable animated dog movies include “All Dogs Go to Heaven” (1989) and “Oliver & Company” (1988).

Having a ‘Ruff’ Day? Here are Five Animated Dog Movies to Watch

Mia Jong and Sonia Wang | April 16, 2024
Students themselves benefit most by actively participating in the exercises within their PE class. “Coaches or PE teachers get disappointed because it's like, ‘I'm not upset that you're not doing what I asked you to do. I'm upset that you're going to continue to be like this,’” PE teacher and Athletic Director Peter Abe said. “And that's only going to hurt you long term, which will lead to things that they can't even fathom in terms of illness and disease.”

[Photo] Yes, PE Classes Are Worth Your Effort

Mary Lee, Staff Writer | April 12, 2024
Recent movie musicals, including “Mean Girls” and “Wonka,” were not properly advertised as musicals, resulting in many audience members being surprised when the actors eventually broke out into song. “There was literally no singing in the trailer and I was very confused as a fan of the musical for Mean Girls,” senior Kody Lin said. “I have friends in theater that didn't know the movie itself was going to be a musical.”

[Photo] Movie ‘Thespian-age’: Hollywood Should Not Hide Movie Musicals

Sonia Wang and Catherine Li | February 29, 2024
Though BookTok encases a wide range of genres and titles, novels are often recommended more for their aesthetic rather than their content, according to Varsity. Many readers do not approach these books critically and can fall into harmful patterns of romanticization that bleed into real life. “I think that some books are promoted as romances when in fact they're promoting a lot of toxic relationships that people are now perceiving as commonly acceptable,” senior Zara Hommez said. “So I think it's important to draw the line between what is constituted as fiction and what is constituted as reality.”

[Photo] Novel Sensations: Booktok Fans Should ‘Read Between the Lines’

Mary Lee and Catherine Li | February 23, 2024
Pilot Podcast EP 3 Cover photo

[Photo] S4 Episode 03: Breaking the STEM Ceiling: Women Who Are Redefining Science

Kayleen Kim and Aditi Salunkhe | February 12, 2024
“Percy Jackson and the Olympians” premiered on Dec. 19, releasing weekly episodes until Jan. 30. The series is incredibly faithful to the book, only having subtle changes to accommodate for the pacing of a TV show. To ensure a seamless adaptation, Rick Riordan, the author of the books, was an executive producer and had unique input for how his writing would translate to the screen, according to Disney+.

Disney’s ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ Delivers a Mythical Marvel

Olivia Ganes and Mia Jong | February 7, 2024
The International Friendship Club hosts meetings every second Tuesday of the month and organizes meetings in accordance with national heritage months and Children’s International Summer Villages (CISV) representative schedules. “It’s important to create these connections because our world is currently so divided,” co-founder, club president and sophomore Chole Grace Chen said. “We want our club as a safe space where everyone from different cultures can be able to freely express themselves.”

Friendship through Food: International Friendship Club Creates Community by Sharing Cultures

Olivia Ganes and Mia Jong | January 16, 2024
Baseball has skyrocketed in popularity to become one of the most popular sports in Japan. Ohtani’s meteoric rise has become a source of national pride for many people, with his remarkable abilities captivating fans worldwide. “I don't think he's a regular human being, and I think he's incredibly remarkable that he could perform at such a high level,” Dodger fan and social studies teacher Jon Resendez said. “What I love about sports in general, though this is just a baseball example, is that sports have the power to break down a lot of these barriers that we create between ourselves and our communities.”

Breaking Bats and Barriers: Shohei Ohtani Redefines America’s Pastime

Mia Jong, Centerspread Editor | January 12, 2024
Color Guard is an extreme time commitment, with students giving up mornings for rehearsal, weekends for competitions, and Wednesday afternoons for practice. “Some people say color guard is not a sport, and that it's so easy,” color guard captain and junior Jimin Han said. “I want them to know that I really put my heart and effort into the sport.”

From Practice to Performance: Winter Guard’s Passionate Pursuit of Perfection

Olivia Ganes and Mia Jong | December 12, 2023
Social Studies teacher Jon Resendez stands with his 2022-2023 cohort of policy fellows. Each teacher was selected from across California based upon their commitment to the classroom, their ability to advocate for their students and their pursuit of innovation in teaching, according to Teach Plus California.

From Classroom to Change-Maker: Jon Resendez Advocates for Students and Teachers in Teach Plus California Fellowship

Olivia Ganes and Mia Jong | November 16, 2023
By extending the intermission time, classical music concerts can be more entertaining for younger listeners. Various groups can use different methods to increase audience interest in concerts, such as performer-audience question and answer sessions.

[Photo] A Call to the Classiness of Classical Music

Kayleen Kim, Managing Editor | November 8, 2023
Boys’ water polo captain, two-meter starting player and junior Luke Porter prepares to score a goal against Long Beach Poly High in the third quarter of a non-league match. “I'm really happy with how I've grown as a player,” Porter said. “I actually switched positions once I came to high school, and I've really grown a lot since I started so that's been really cool.”

From Splash to Success: Boys’ Water Polo Captains Answer Questions About Teamwork

Sonia Wang and Mia Jong | October 27, 2023
CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) is a gene editing technology used to modify DNA. Although CRISPR has the potential to treat human disease, the side effects and ethical implications are amongst the drawbacks of this dangerous tool, according to the New York Times.

[Photo] The Ableist Downside of CRISPR Gene Editing

Elise Ngo, Features Editor | October 11, 2023
Attacker and junior Ryder Tonkovich cocks his arm to score a point against Long Beach Poly High in the second quarter. The Bulldogs’ win against the Jackrabbits added to their long list of victories this season, allowing them to build their momentum and confidence, according to head boys’ water polo coach Kate Avery. “We have been playing some good teams and we've come out on top, which is great,” Avery said. “Our offense is looking really good. Our defense has been looking fine. We can always improve there. We are a defensive-minded team anyways.”

Boys’ Water Polo Dominates Their Game Against Long Beach Poly High

Sonia Wang and Mia Jong | September 28, 2023
Parasocial relationships become unhealthy when viewers start prioritizing their favorite celebrity over real-life interaction. In extreme cases, parasocial relationships can be traumatic for the viewer as well as the celebrity because it can lead to attacks on personal character, threats and stalking behaviors, according to “13 Fanning the Flames of Fandom: Celebrity Worship, Parasocial Interaction, and Stalking.”

When the Connection Turns Dark, Viewers Turn on Their Phones: The Dangers of Parasocial Relationships

Mia Jong and Sonia Wang | May 16, 2023
Seniors Elizabeth Bank, Sydney Badescu and Aryan Mittal showcase their passion projects based on their personal and academic interests. Over the course of the 2022-23 school year, they developed and refined their projects. “It was a lot of fun to have the opportunity to do something purely for fun in class and just have a project that I was really excited to work on,” Badescu said.

Senioritis? Not for These Seniors who are Pursuing Their Passion Projects

Mia Jong and Ruhi Samudra | May 4, 2023
Some fans of celebrities harass the winners, who won instead of their favorite for that category because they place so much importance on these awards.

[Photo] Awards Shows are Not as Important as Artists’ Artistic Merit

Maitri Allani and Christine Pham | April 12, 2023

Tutorial: How to Make a Mini Donald Duck Clay Charm

Mia Jong, Photo Editor | April 11, 2023
Junior Terry You speedruns a level of “Plants vs Zombies” with the aid of his notes that he took on speedrunning from watching YouTube tutorials. “Since a child, like really young, I'm really interested in computer and especially in gaming,” You said. “But the thing is, I don't really play team fighting games because I feel like you rely on your team too much. I like to explore on my own, and especially in speedrun, you are learning about how each game is programmed.”

The Rise of a ‘Plants vs. Zombies’ Prodigy: Junior Terry You Speedruns His Way to the Top

Mia Jong, Celine Lee, and Annette Van Wyk | March 15, 2023
Junior Eric Liao and senior Nora Tang sort through the mini prints sold at Night of the Arts. As Visual Arts Board president, Tang was in charge of organizing the decorations and communicating with the board to choose the layout and music. “She communicates really well with all of us, and she's just a great person overall to work with,” vice president and senior Summer Hsieh said. “She's good at making decisions that are great for the Visual Arts Board and takes care of the technical stuff such as making spreadsheets and copies.”

The Art of Leadership: Senior Nora Tang Utilizes Creativity as President of the Visual Arts Board

Mia Jong and Sonia Wang | March 3, 2023
Junior Haaris Alam extracts nanocomposite from a Brabender machine in the Stony Brook University in New York to collect data for his Science Fair project. “I was really proud of my ability to be in the lab for hours on end, where I'm collecting data and learning about the different machinery,” Alam said.

Bulldogs Digitize Projects for IUSD’s 42nd Annual Science Fair

Mia Jong, Photo Editor | February 7, 2023
Skiers often have a much more enjoyable experience on the mountain, effortlessly coasting down flat slopes, while snowboarders are left behind, often losing their balance. Falling on a snowboard can be extremely traumatic, especially when falling forward since both feet are attached to the board, according to snowboarder and senior Chris Lee.

Settling the Feud in the Snow: Skiing will Always Remain Superior

Mia Jong, Photo Editor | January 4, 2023
Although listening to music while studying is popular among many students, others may be able to achieve success better through natural sounds such as those presented through “white noise.”

[Photo] Ranking The Best Study Music Genres For Upcoming Finals Season

Arnav Chandan, Sports Editor | November 16, 2022
Utility player and sophomore Ryder Tonkovich prepares to score in a league game against Northwood. The majority of varsity players such as goalie and team captain Grant Kramer are seniors, which motivates the team to work harder. “My mindset is that because I’m a senior, it could be any game or any practice could be our last practice,” Kramer said. “Because if you lose, you’re done.” (Photo Courtesy of Grant Kramer)

Boys’ Water Polo Makes Bulldog History as League Champions and CIF Runner-up

Mia Jong and Sonia Wang | November 15, 2022
Media platforms such as Netflix and Hulu often weaponize and manipulate the trauma of real people for financial gain, failing to provide accurate consideration for these real people’s lives. “I feel like it is impossible to only want to inform. You need people who finance these shows and documentaries, and they want to see certain things,” science teacher Michael Tang said. “I don’t think we can ever achieve objectivity or completely good intentions. It’s so tied to money; it’s so tied to fame.”

[Photo] Trauma Voyeurism: An Unethical Means of Gaining ‘Clicks’ in the Modern Age

Hannah Ko and Tara Vatandoust | November 7, 2022
While society often perceives trick-or-treating as a tradition reserved for younger children, teenagers can have great enjoyment from the festivities. Many people try to hand out extra candy to teenagers to encourage them to hold on to their childhood, according to Spanish teacher Kari Tubbs.

Trick-or-Treating Is Not Less Sweet as a High Schooler

Mia Jong and Tara Vatandoust | October 26, 2022
Students in the Portobellas a cappella group hold practices every Friday during office hours and are currently practicing “Waiting for the World to Change” by John Mayer. Before each rehearsal, the group members warm up their voices with singing exercises in a semicircle. Instead of a conductor, the group snaps fingers to keep time, according to junior Nithila Francis.

From Soprano to Bass, Meet Portola’s Student-Directed A Cappella Group: the Portobellas

Mia Jong and Sonia Wang | September 21, 2022
Students walking or biking home from school often had the sun directly on their faces, and temperatures regularly exceeded one hundred degrees throughout the school day, according to CNN. In the future, there are many actions students can take to reduce the frequency of heat waves and stay cool. Taking initiative by voting for climate policies and ensuring that one is hydrated are two easy steps for students, according to science teacher Leanne Lupone.

Record-Setting California Heatwave Disrupts School Activities

Mia Jong and Tara Vatandoust | September 12, 2022
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Mia Jong