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
Shaina Taebi

Shaina Taebi, Backpage Editor

Shaina Taebi is the Backpage Editor for her third year in the Portola Pilot. For her final year she is excited to spend class time drawing more editorial cartoons and hopefully writing some interesting stories. Beyond the classroom she is most likely rewatching Hearstopper, screaming along to a Harry Styles song, or getting a headache from oil paint fumes.

All content by Shaina Taebi
Portola Pep Squad’s competition team poses after the CIF competition. The team felt it was important to boost their energy when entering the competition. “We just made sure that the energy was up and that everyone was like, ‘No matter what, were excited to be here, and were excited to compete for this team,’” co-captain, flier and senior Gabriela Sarabosing said. “And whatever happens, happens as long as we know that were putting in our best.”

Portola Pep Squad Goes ‘Full Out’ at CIF State Competition

Shaina Taebi | February 5, 2024
Clubs would greatly benefit from being offered a second chance to restart their clubs in second semester. “I think that allowing these clubs to have a second chance would help them appreciate their culture and their passions, and allow students to draw closer and to keep some continuity in our own likes and values,” president of the Black Student Union and senior Gabe Mutsvangwa said.

Clubs Should Be Given a Second Chance in Second Semester

Shaina Taebi and Marianne Chan | January 18, 2024
Unconscious biases can affect anyone, including teachers, according to social studies teacher Shameemah Motala. Though she did not use anonymous grading at first, grading for the AP exams taught her to implement anonymous methods into her own class.

[Photo] It’s Time to Start Evening Out the ‘Grading’ Field

Michael Sun and Elizabeth Gao | January 17, 2024
Art projects can add a splash of color to coursework that is otherwise considered mundane or repetitive, increasing students’ enjoyment in the class. Visual arts teacher Mat Pace says that giving students’ chances for original artistry can enrich learning experiences and provide balance in more arduous classes. “Taking a break from a heavy math class would be nice to just focus on a spectrum of color or something thats so different than what theyre doing,” visual arts teacher Mat Pace said. “We can put a mathematical equation in almost anything as well, so maybe when theyre thinking about that art project they’re thinking how math relates to that.”

[Photo] Teachers Should Liven Up Regular Coursework with Creative Art Projects

Parmin Zamani and Jordan Hata | January 12, 2024
The Ultimate Gift Giving Guide

The Ultimate Gift Giving Guide

Shaina Taebi and Claire Liu | December 22, 2023
As the world continues to evolve, the notion of lifetime appointments to the U.S. Supreme Court stands at odds with injecting fresh perspectives and safeguarding justice. Enacting 18-year term limits would be one way to avoid the gerontocracy associated with partisan politics.

[Photo] It is Time to Establish Terms of Office Limits in the Supreme Court

Michael Sun and Elizabeth Gao | December 2, 2023
With the early registration, students feel pressured by CollegeBoard to spend their money on an exam they may not take.

[Photo] AP-ush Exams: Early Registration Hurts More Than Helps

Stephanie Hwang, Assistant News Editor | November 3, 2023
The college counselor business has proliferated in recent years, in light of the increased competitiveness of college admissions. Yet, students pay thousands of dollars for these services that do not necessarily guarantee admission. “Theres no definite template as to say this college will accept me because of this,” junior Ananya Vuppula said. “I think you just have to be genuine in what you do and dont do it just because a college tells you to.”

[Photo] Challenging the Cost of College Counselors: Are They Truly Worth It?

Aditi Salunkhe and Elise Ngo | November 1, 2023
Senior Amber Lea practices her trumpet in the music room during office hours. In the Fall Instrumental Concert, Lea performed a trumpet solo that won praise from her peers and mentors. “Every time we were just blown away because the amount of projection that she had, the amount of confidence and just her tone, it just felt so mature for someone that only played the instrument for that long,” Nguyen said.

Amber Lea puts Mozart to rest with her ability to play eleven instruments

Shaina Taebi, Backpage Editor | October 29, 2023
Pep Squad dances on the sidelines in the midst of the game. “Honestly, our team has gotten really good at handling the adrenaline aspect of it because it’s one thing hitting in a wrestling room where your coach is watching,” co-captain and senior Evyn Kingsley said. “It’s completely different when the stadium lights are on you and there’s a whole student section that’s watching you.”

Pep Squad Adds Sparkle to Barbie-Themed Game of the Week

Shaina Taebi | October 18, 2023
Senior class council practices their halftime show dance on the evening of Sept. 20. The builds seen in the background are a new concept, according to ASB adviser Kate Avery. “I will say none of the work is easy, but what was helpful is we have people like our senior president and VP and our junior President and VP,” Avery said. “They were all in ASB last year, and so they kind of understood what the expectation was, what the builds should look like and what we need going into them.”

A Behind the Scenes Look at the ‘Epic Adventure’ of the Homecoming Halftime Show

Ruhi Samudra and Shaina Taebi | September 25, 2023
Portola High should bring back the old pep rally schedule to reduce student confusion and maximize efficiency. 48 of 60 students polled on Instagram voted they preferred the old pep rally schedule over the new schedule.

[Photo] Bring Back Our ‘Pep’ with the Old Pep Rally Schedule

Parmin Zamani and Jordan Hata | September 22, 2023
Junior Yasmine Cheng first designed the senior mural by hand for the Class of 2024, which represents birds soaring over the sky. “I was just thinking of being free, being independent, choosing your own path, and when we leave high school, we basically can set our own course,” Cheng said. “I was trying to draw this piece and how I reflected on my past few years at this school.”

Soaring over the Sky: Junior Yasmine Cheng Creates Senior Mural for Class of 2024

Arshia Sista and Shaina Taebi | June 1, 2023
Karl Lagerfeld made insensitive comments about women in addition to fatphobic comments. In the midst of the #MeToo women’s rights movement, Lagerfeld was accused of sexually harassing models, according to Vox. “If you don’t want your pants pulled about, don’t become a model! Join a nunnery, there’ll always be a place for you in the convent,” Lagerfeld said in response.

Karl Lagerfeld’s Legacy Should not be Celebrated

Shaina Taebi, Centerspread Editor | May 23, 2023
Sophomore Skylar Nguyen has been practicing aerial silk since her freshman year and is continuing to grow her skillset with more difficult movements. “Usually when it comes to doing my drops the first time is always the scariest,” Nguyen said. “Im usually high in the air, so its not like anyone can really, like, help guide my back. Usually though, after practicing it a couple times, I get used to the height and the drop and the technique.”

Grace Through Silk: Sophomore Skylar Nguyen Finds her Art Form Through Aerial Silk

Arshia Sista and Shaina Taebi | May 15, 2023
The use of lip-synching in concerts is a hotly-contested topic by many people, with some arguing for its continuation due to the aid it provides artists’ health and others staunchly opposing it due to its inauthenticity.

[Photo] H2H: To Synch or Not to Synch

April 18, 2023
There has been a drastic decrease in reading for teenagers since the 2010’s. “I think a lot of times right now, the way that our brains are wired with social media and the way that we use our phones,” Misenhimer said. “We scroll just really quick and skim and just move through things really fast. Its really hard for our brains right now and for ourselves to sit down and focus on a book for a long period of time.”

Portola Student and Teacher Hatch the Love for Reading

Shaina Taebi and Elizabeth Gao | April 17, 2023
Miley Cyrus released her eighth studio album, ‘Endless Summer Vacation’ on March 10. The album debuted at number 3 on the Billboard 200 this week, selling 103,000 equivalent album units, according to Billboard.

[Photo] Miley Cyrus’ ‘Endless Summer Vacation’ Sounds Like an ‘Island’ Paradise

Maitri Allani, Photo Editor | March 24, 2023
Making offensive jokes and categorizing them as dark humor opens the gate for stereotypes and false generalizations that diminish certain groups. “If youre Jewish or youre Asian or youre LGBTQ or youre a woman, you know, theres all kinds of stereotypes in these ways that if you joke about them, it opens up the possibility of people from other groups joking about them” social studies teacher Veronica Grammier said.

Let’s Cut the Cord on these Comedian’s Open Microphones

Shaina Taebi, Centerspread Editor | March 3, 2023
Junior SJ Janolkar prepares for the DECA state competition with fellow Business Club members. After winning district vice president through a lengthy application and election process, Janolkar will be inaugurated at DECA state, which takes place March 3-6.

[Photo] SoCal DECA is in Good ‘Company’ with Vice President SJ Janolkar

Elise Ngo, Social Media Team | March 3, 2023
Beyond being able to help current students, alumna and Rice University freshman Claudia Lin said she was eager to participate in the project because she wanted to represent her school and demonstrate the importance of being open to different college experiences. “I remember when I was in high school, and I was just very nervous and very like anxious about what college would look and what the future would look like,” Lin said. “And especially during the college offseason, I was super anxious. So I guess I just wanted to show people that its gonna be okay and at the end of the day, like, there are so many amazing schools out there, and its not just limited to one.”

Alumni Network Connects Graduates and Students

Shaina Taebi, Centerspread Editor | January 12, 2023
Citizens in China have started to break down the ‘wall’ of censorship and political control the Chinese Communist Party has placed upon its citizens. Protests for the removal of Zero-Covid, and more importantly, Chinese President Xi Jinping, reveal a rising wave of young, political dissenters that will shape China’s future political sphere.

[Photo] Protests in China Are Not about Zero-COVID; They Are About the Chinese Government

Michael Sun, Staff Writer | January 5, 2023
With a brand new and exciting journey for the math teacher, Alewine, Jennings, and Todd all express their appreciation for each other. “I would say it’s all fun, and we’re all close,” Alewine said. “We all can talk about different pregnancy things when we get together. Its like ‘What are you craving? How are you surviving? Are you tired? Have you had this doctor appointment?”

These Math Teachers are About to Have ‘Acute’ Children

Ruhi Samudra and Shaina Taebi | December 9, 2022
While artificially generated art can be produced at a faster rate, it is not comparable to the beauty of human-made art. “I think that [art] often ties into self expression and ties into processing how youre feeling or whats going on in the world and being able to communicate in that way, and those are pretty complex, big things to do,” visual arts teacher Kearci Thompson said. “So its not as interesting to most people that study art because were like, okay, [the AI] can do some of the things kind of well, but it doesnt have that human aspect that draws you in.”

AI Art Will Always Stay Artificial

Ruhi Samudra and Shaina Taebi | November 3, 2022
Special segment producer and senior Daisy Liao hooks up the camera to the stand for the shooting of the Belonging project in the green room. “Every single year, we can create a video like this where we get a bunch of many students into one video and ask them, ‘What does this emotion or what does the theme of this school year mean to you?’” Liao said.

Promoting Acceptance: The Belonging Project

Kayleen Kim and Shaina Taebi | November 1, 2022
The cover of Swift’s Moonstone Blue Version of “Midnight” perfectly captures the late night feeling and the title of the album. The vulnerability and various tones expressed within the album parallel the so-called, ‘late night thoughts’ one might experience at midnight.

‘Midnights’ By Taylor Swift Is Anything But Mediocre

Maitri Allani and Shaina Taebi | October 31, 2022
Tom Cruise returns as fighter pilot “Maverick” in a sequel to his hit film “Top Gun”. The film is expected to contain new technology such as camera operations, flight footage and film gauges that were created over a span of ten years, according to Cruise at the film’s world premiere on May 4.

[Photo] Prepare for Take-Off (Again) with ‘Top Gun’: Tom Cruise Flies as ‘Maverick’ 36 Years Later

Aadi Mehta, Staff Writer | May 20, 2022
Netflix’s new show “Heartstopper” is in Top 10 of all shows in all of Netflix series and has pulled in 929,000 engagements, according to Variety.

Netflix’s New Show is a ‘Heartstopper’

Arshia Sista and Shaina Taebi | May 18, 2022
Sophomore Zain Alzobiedie receives the football during a varsity game against University High on Oct. 8, 2021. Having picked up football as a second sport in his freshman year, Alzobiedie said he still has quite a bit to learn. “When I first joined football, I wasn’t going to prioritize it,” Alzobiedie said. “But then I realized that I wasn’t really good enough, so I put in a lot of extra work: lifted every day, worked every day. I always tried to be the best I could be.”

The Art of Inspiration: A Look Inside How Athlete Zain Alzobiedie Finds Motivation

Shaina Taebi and Justin Tang | May 10, 2022
Clothing companies have been caught multiple times enforcing toxic body images for many groups, including women. The idea of a “perfect” body often forces girls and women to push themselves in order to conform to this standard. “I mean, it starts with your own thinking and feeling you shouldnt have to feel like you need to fit into a smaller size or larger size, to feel pretty or to feel beautiful” sophomore Dea Gupta said. “Just accepting your own body and liking yourself- it should be enough for you.”

Include All Sizes, Not Just One

Shaina Taebi, Staff Writer | April 20, 2022
One of the Oscars’ most definitive characteristics is its rule of only allowing films with at least a limited Los Angeles theater release, according to the official website. However, with the rise of streaming upon us, online streaming originals from the likes of Netflix and Hulu have gradually gained traction among the public, with Apple TV+ specifically nabbing its first Best Picture trophy this year with “CODA.”

[Photo] 2022 Academy Awards Leave us Wondering if the Future of the Oscars Might Stray Too Close to ‘Nightmare Alley’ or Soar above the Sand ‘Dunes’

Tara Vatandoust, Staff Writer | April 1, 2022
S2 Episode 04: Womens Rights: Exploring Feminism during Women’s History Month

S2 Episode 04: Women’s Rights: Exploring Feminism during Women’s History Month

Dheeksha Bhima Reddy, Claudia Lin, Ryan Jung, Shaina Taebi, and Tara Vatandoust | March 31, 2022
For students who feel that AP Physics 1 is too daunting or that CP Physics wouldn’t be the best fit for their interests or abilities, Principles of Engineering can offer an alternative that involves a survey of the applications of physics. However, the focus is placed on fostering interest in engineering rather than making the course an intermediate course in physics, according to physics and engineering teacher Anthony Pham — a possible reason that it has gone under the radar for many students entering their junior year.

[Photo] ‘Hidden’ Classes: How Can Engineering Courses Be Better Promoted During Course Selection?

Kayleen Kim and Justin Tang | March 15, 2022
After senior Kian Miremadi won, he took a photo with the winning jackpot amount of $1,220.

Senior Kian Miremadi Takes Home Jackpot in Senior Assassins

Arshia Sista and Shaina Taebi | March 11, 2022
Top Row: junior Dheeksha Bhima Reddy, junior Arnav Chandan, sophomore Kayleen Kim, junior Sidra Asif, senior Clara Ferreira Lopez, senior Michelle Kim and senior Justin Tang. Bottom row: sophomore Shaina Taebi, junior Arshia Sista, sophomore Tara Vatandoust, junior Cara Chan, senior Ryne Dunman, senior Claudia Lin and adviser Brianna Rapp. Lin believes that it was a good learning opportunity for all who attended and competed. “Its just everyone coming together to kind of appreciate and celebrate journalism in the form of competition and also just appreciating other peoples newspapers,” Lin said.

Portola Pilot Makes History with First Newspaper Sweepstakes Award

Shaina Taebi, Staff Writer | March 10, 2022
Creating a more LGBTQ+ inclusive environment can be as simple as using someone’s preferred pronouns, avoiding the use of derogatory language or refraining from referring to someone by their deadname. “You could educate yourself. It doesnt have to be full-on like research, but just being aware,” a sophomore who would like to remain anonymous said.

Homophobia Is Not Making Anyone Less Gay

Shaina Taebi and Tara Vatandoust | January 11, 2022
The VAPA department dressed up as social studies teacher Wind Ralston. According to music teacher Desmond Stevens, he attempted to grow a beard similar to Ralston’s for the costume.

Staff Halloween Costume Competition Stirs up Good-Natured Rivalries

Shaina Taebi, Staff Writer | November 8, 2021
Senior Jiyoun Yoo often finds herself learning as she is in the middle of creating a new piece. She revises her pieces in order to perfect the small details, according to Yoo.

Jiyoun Yoo Taps Into Her Own Creative World

Shaina Taebi, Staff Writer | October 26, 2021
Students gathered in the mosh pit and formed a circle while jumping to the music, “Baby” by Justin Bieber. Most ASB members were found in the center of the pit holding flashlights, surrounded by the three other graduating classes.

Welcome Back Dance makes Comeback after COVID-19

Kayleen Kim and Shaina Taebi | September 3, 2021
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Shaina Taebi